Heathrow not crowded but people walk in wrong place, says boss

Rachel ClunBusiness reporter PA Media The UK’s economy shrank unexpectedly in the lead up to the Budget, according to the latest official figures. The economy contracted by 0.1% in October, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, whereas economists had been expecting it to grow by 0.1%. The economy also shrank by 0.1% in the…

An inquiry into the role of the UK government’s economic forecaster is being launched by a group of MPs, after the body came under intense scrutiny in the run-up to the Budget. The Treasury Committee will examine the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) first 15 years and consider potential reforms, including any improvements or changes…

Simon JackBusiness editor Reuters Business leaders face a nervous final few days before the chancellor’s second Budget, having borne the brunt of a brutal set of tax hikes this time last year. Firms are still reeling from those: the £25bn National Insurance increase and an inflation-busting rise in the minimum wage. Confidence in boardrooms has…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. United Arab Emirates state energy company Adnoc has emerged as the frontrunner to buy Russia’s controlling stake in Serbia’s sole oil refinery, as Belgrade grows increasingly frustrated with Moscow’s foot-dragging under US sanctions. Adnoc, or…

Danielle KayeBusiness reporter Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images It’s been a roller-coaster year for financial markets – but US stock investors are heading into 2026 on a high note. US President Donald Trump’s global trade tariffs sent shockwaves through markets in the spring. But by summer, the US saw record highs fuelled by strong company…