Gold and silver prices plunge after Fridays losses

Hundreds of thousands of workers have taken take part in strike action across France on Thursday, after trade unions called for a day of protests against budget cuts. Organisers said one million people turned out, while the interior ministry put that number at 500,000, with 80,000 police officers deployed. Scuffles were reported in the cities…

Nick Edserbusiness reporter Getty Images The UK economy grew slightly in August, official figures show, as focus intensifies on what measures the government might unveil in next month’s Budget. An increase in manufacturing output helped the economy expand by 0.1%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, but the figure for July was revised down…

In Liverpool Rachel Reeves seemed to be floating a pre-emptive argument ahead of possible tax rises in her November Budget. The key line in the chancellor’s speech in relation to the Budget was her linking of tough decisions “in coming months” to global headwinds and a critical reassessment of the long-term productivity performance of the…

Simon JackBusiness editor Reuters A rescue proposal by lenders to Thames Water has been criticised by other potential bidders, frustrated to have been frozen out of talks on the future of the UK’s biggest water utility. Thames Water is running out of money and is living on an emergency lifeline from the group of lenders…