China and Australia cut interest rates; Greggs sales improve as Mac and Cheese goes viral – business live

<gu-island name="KeyEventsCarousel" priority="feature" deferuntil="visible" props="{"keyEvents":[{"id":"682c18208f08d37c78c1d264","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy. ","elementId":"23b79db8-98e7-4fa4-a88c-ff2c0221bb75"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" China’s and Australia’s central banks have both cut interest rates to stimulate their economies and cushion the impact of US trade tariffs. ","elementId":"652d1f9c-abc2-427e-b10d-3503711900a8"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" China cut its benchmark lending rates for the first time since October, following Beijing’s sweeping monetary easing measures. The People’s Bank of China reduced the one-year loan prime rate by 10 basis points to 3.0%, and the five-year loan prime rate was cut by…

China criticises UK-US trade deal; Aviva’s £3.7bn acquisition of Direct Line faces competition probe – business live

<gu-island name="KeyEventsCarousel" priority="feature" deferuntil="visible" props="{"keyEvents":[{"id":"682431d08f08426112ae2b44","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy. ","elementId":"faca82ae-9a35-49a3-9f0a-283066999f95"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" China has reportedly taken aim at last week’s trade deal between the UK and US that could be used to squeeze Chinese products out of Britain’s supply chains. ","elementId":"181322d6-3c0e-4750-8eb6-bfe262a81eb4"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" The deal – the first struck by Donald Trump’s administration since announcing sweeping tariffs last month – was announced on Thursday, and includes strict security requirements for Britain’s steel and pharmaceutical industries. It could make it harder for…

UK watchdog secures changes from Asos, Boohoo, Asda on green claims; Xi Jinping meets US CEOs – business live

From 31m ago UK watchdog secures changes from Asos, Boohoo, Asda on green claims Millions of consumers can expect to see accurate and clear green claims when shopping for fashion items with Asos, Boohoo and George at Asda, Britain’s competition watchdog said. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the companies had signed formal agreements to change the way they display, describe, and promote their green credentials. The CMA launched an investigation into ASOS, Boohoo and George at Asda in July 2022, having identified concerns of possible greenwashing during an…

The Guardian view on the digital pound: an impetuous idea with a risky momentum of its own | Editorial

Two years ago, the House of Lords looked into whether the Bank of England should issue digital pounds to be held in electronic wallets. Peers were unconvinced, asking if this wasn’t “a solution in search of a problem”. Last December, MPs on the Treasury select committee said the same thing. The government’s response, however, was to tell the public to prepare for a “Britcoin” to be in use by the end of the decade. Physical money has been around for thousands of years for good reason. Cash is convenient, reliable and…