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Fining errant corporations is welcome – but when consumers are also getting shaken down on their local high street, it’s time for a new and boisterous approachIt’s a story that warms the heart and lifts the soul: last week, Virgin Media was fined a record £28m by Ofcom for repeatedly preventing customers from cancelling their contracts. Its methods were insidious: deliberate call-dropping, unnecessary call transfers and constantly putting customers on hold. For anyone who has experienc

Thames Water says it has £515m cash in the bank as its debts swell to £18.5bnGood morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy.China grew 4.3% in the quarter to 30 June, one of the slowest rates on record, as sluggish domestic demand outweighed a surge in exports.While operationally the business is improving, we are also working with our creditors, regulators and government to complete our recapitalisation.10am BST: Eurozone indu

Recent strikes have sent oil prices climbing again, with average gas price per gallon up by 70 cents on last yearInflation cooled to an annual rate of 3.5% in June as the brief US-Iran ceasefire, which has since ended, brought energy prices down, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.The consumer price index (CPI), which measures a basket of goods and services, has been elevated since the start of the war, largely because of higher energy prices. After mostly stayin

Brent crude rises over $85 a barrel after US carries out third night of strikes against IranGood morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy.Oil prices rose more than 2% after the conflict in the Middle East worsened, with the US carrying out a third consecutive night of strikes against Iran. Two tankers came under fire in the strait of Hormuz.Stasis has taken over markets as investors wait for the latest twist in the Iran confl

Government had been forced to pay back duties to companies that imported goods into the US that were hit by Trump’s tariffsThe US government has already paid back tens of billions of dollars in tariffs it collected before the supreme court ruled them illegal, according to budget figures released on Monday.Tariffs – taxes on imported goods – have been a key part of president Donald Trump’s game economic plan since he took office again last year. Continue reading...

Robust action is needed to protect European industries from unfair competition. The alternative is social strife amid growing insecurityAccording to a recent analysis, China enjoys a surplus in its manufactured goods trade with the European Union that is roughly equivalent to Italy’s national income. That trade disparity, it is estimated, continues to grow by about 30% each year. The stark implication, according to a paper from Centre for European Reform, is that Europe, with Germany i

Roaming charges also scrapped and trading terms continue for medicines, cars, art, jewellery and other goodsBritish nationals can expect shorter passport queues at Swiss airports and border crossings after a £5.2bn trade deal was sealed by Keir Starmer, likely his last big international agreement as prime minister.As part of the deal they will be able to use e-gates from later this year, starting with exit checks at Zurich airport and with Basel and Geneva, a leading airport for busine

Record numbers find there is little demand for their skills, as entry-level tech roles are hit by AI and automationThis time of year is graduation season in China: traditionally a bittersweet period of solemn goodbyes and family celebrations as university students transition from campus life into adulthood. Now it also increasingly represents trepidation about the future.Each year, millions more graduates are thrust into China’s already saturated jobs market. The situation for this yea

Asian shares tumble with South Korea’s Kospi down nearly 10%Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy.It’s a gloomy start to the week as attacks between the US and Iran in the Gulf continue. Tehran said it had closed the strait of Hormuz, while Donald Trump insisted the key shipping passage remained open and US officials said 20 ships were escorted through the waterway in the past 24 hours.For now, we remain hopeful that

A legal case on behalf of some 700,000 people against the country’s biggest housebuilders could be a catalyst for much-needed industry reformEvery new government – at least for the past decade or so – has come into office with a promise to build more homes. New ministers don a hard hat, take a trip out to a recently completed development and smile indulgently as a bright young couple get given the keys to a smart-looking new-build. Then follows a speech about aspiration.The unspoken tr