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Eleanor Butler

Business

Belgian insurer Ageas acquires UK’s Esure from Bain Capital for €1.5bn

The deal will create the third largest motor and home insurer in the UK.

Economy

China raises tariffs on US to 125% in latest trade war escalation

Beijing is responding to the US' decision to hike levies, although China said it's unwilling to go any higher.

Business

BMW’s China sales drop to lowest level in five years at start of 2025

The German carmaker announced a global sales decline of 1.4%, dragged down by weak China demand, while Trump’s auto tariffs loom over the year ahead.

Business

Italian rail operator reveals €1bn plan to tackle Eurostar monopoly

Eurostar currently holds a monopoly on routes between mainland Europe and London, but competitors are closing in.

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Business

President Trump orders review into Nippon Steel’s bid for US Steel

The two companies sued the US government in January after then president Joe Biden halted the Japanese purchase in the name of national security.

Markets

The West has big plans for nuclear power: Will geopolitics play ball?

As artificial intelligence ramps up energy needs, experts say we’ve reached a ‘nuclear revival’. Pledges are in place — but can supply chains support them?

Economy

China imposes retaliatory 34% tariff on imports of all US goods

China's move comes in response to US tariffs, totalling 34% on Chinese goods, announced by Washington this week.

Economy

French government set to lower growth target as Trump tariffs loom

The state’s revised forecast will be in line with predictions from the Bank of France, according to work minister Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet.

Business

France’s Crédit Agricole gains ECB nod to raise stake in Banco BPM

The green light comes as Italian bank UniCredit prepares to launch a buyout offer for Banco BPM, which could be complicated by CA’s stake.

Business

OpenAI secures $300bn valuation in funding round led by SoftBank

The firm has raised $40 billion, one of the largest ever funding rounds secured by a private start-up.

Business

Primark boss steps down over inappropriate behaviour allegation

Paul Marchant “acknowledged his error of judgement”, said Primark owner Associated British Foods on Monday.

Economy

Bank of England expected to pause rate cuts despite contracting output

Policymakers find themselves in a tight spot ahead of Thursday’s rate decision, with growth remaining sluggish and inflation stubborn.

Europe News

Trump proposes 200% tariff on EU alcohol imports in trade escalation

The move comes in response to an EU tariff on US whiskey imports.

Economy

US inflation cools despite Trump trade war threatening price lifts

Price pressures eased more than expected in February, a relief for US consumers concerned about looming tariff effects.

Business

AirBaltic CEO lauds new Starlink installation despite Musk controversy

The Latvian firm is the first European airline to introduce in-flight Wi-Fi powered by Elon Musk’s Starlink.

Business

Battery maker Northvolt files for bankruptcy in Sweden

Northvolt said it had faced “significant internal challenges in its ramp-up of production”.

Business

Virgin Group seeks to raise funding for cross-Channel Eurostar rival

Virgin Group wants to launch the new service by the end of the decade, initially running trains from London to Paris and Brussels.

Economy

ECB cuts rates for sixth time since June despite sticky inflation

The European Central Bank cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point to 2.5% on Thursday as inflation nears 2% and growth remains weak.

Markets

Gold prices are high - but here’s why investors are still flocking

Looming trade wars, along with increasing global debt, are driving investors to the precious metal.

Economy

Mexico will react to Trump tariffs on Sunday, President Sheinbaum says

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum said her government would announce retaliatory tariffs against the US on Sunday, moving slower than China and Canada in response to Trump's new trade policies.

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