The proportion of UK mortgage lending requiring minimal deposits has reached its highest level since the 2008 financial crisis. First-time buyers are increasingly turning to 100% loan-to-value products, navigating associated financial risks amid a challenging housing market.
Accessory retailer Claire's has ceased trading in all 154 of its standalone stores across the UK and Ireland, leading to over 1,300 redundancies. The closures, effective from 27 April, follow the company entering administration twice in the past year, attributed to fierce online competition and evolving consumer tastes.
Chinese regulators have prohibited Meta's acquisition of AI start-up Manus, valued at approximately £1.48 billion, citing foreign investment controls. This decision follows months of scrutiny and demands the transaction's withdrawal.
