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Business

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Finance

After the US midterms, what will a lame duck Trump mean for the global economy?

Republicans’ crushing setback will play out in stock markets, inflation, interest rates and economic growth Donald Trump’s loss of control of the House of Representatives and the Senate has put the world economy on notice for an unpredictable final two years of his presidential term. After Democrats swept aside his Republican party in the midterm elections, analysts said the prospect of a highly erratic lame-duck president would have significant implications for financial markets, growth, inflation, government borrowing costs and living standards. Continue reading...

The Guardian
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Finance

Don’t let Poundland owner maximise its return at our expense, suppliers say

British companies that supply US-owned budget retailer face millions of pounds’ worth of losses if it collapses Suppliers facing millions of pounds in losses if Poundland collapses have said the chain’s US owner should not be permitted to maximise its return at their expense, as ministers attempt to intervene in the situation. The fate of the retail chain, its 12,000 staff and about 2,000 suppliers remains uncertain after it filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators at the high court last Thursday. Continue reading...

The Guardian
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Finance

CVS Health to split pharmacy chain from health insurance

CVS Pharmacy will be separate from CVS Health, housing major insurer Aetna and benefits manager Caremark CVS Health, the largest US healthcare conglomerate valued at $117bn, has announced its plans split off its pharmacy chain from its health insurance and benefits businesses, ending an era in which healthcare companies grew into vast conglomerates. In their announcement on Wednesday, CVS Health said they will split off its 9,000 pharmacies, in-store clinics and mail order prescription business into a business named CVS Pharmacy. Continue reading...

The Guardian
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Finance

‘It’s just vape shops, nail shops, charity shops’: can anything save the British high street?

It’s 20 years since Jo and Richard Hill bought anything in Rotherham town centre. Why have they and so many locals abandoned it for the nearest retail park – and what would it take to change their minds? On 22 May 1987, retail history was made in Rotherham. Parkgate Retail World, thought at the time to be the UK’s largest open-air shopping centre, welcomed shoppers for some one-stop retail therapy. The official opening was marked in swanky fashion with a “breathtaking” display from Marlboro’s red-and-white branded biplanes, followed by a “spectacular” laser show, the first in South Yorkshire.

The Guardian
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Finance

The worst two words in the dead of night? ‘Motorway closed’ | Adrian Chiles

You are shunted into side streets, crawling along, united with your fellow drivers in wordless despair. Last week, at 2am, my spirit broke The worst three words in the transport lexicon are often said to be “rail”, “replacement” and “bus”, in that order. But there’s worse. “Motorway closed” is worse. At least with rail replacement buses you get fair warning, on booking apps and whatnot. You can resolve to embrace the pain or, more likely, abandon the journey. Motorway closures, in the dead of night, invariably come as a nasty surprise. Waze, Google Maps, Apple Maps, etc can reliably get you fr

The Guardian
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Finance

UK interest rates increase expected after services sector activity accelerates

Purchasing manager’s index at eight-month high, bolstered by spending on AI as firms regain momentum lost to Iran war The Bank of England is expected to raise interest rates on Thursday after a closely watched survey showed growth across the UK’s services sector leapt last month to an eight-month high, bolstered by spending on artificial intelligence. S&P Global’s survey of the services sector in October showed businesses regained much of the momentum they lost after the start of the Iran war, but also felt the impact of a renewed spurt of input price inflation, which accelerated to a five-mon

The Guardian
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