Breaking News, Business, Financial and Economic News, World News from EconoTimes

Become a contributor

Bookmark Econotimes

Fri, May 01, 2026 04:03 AM All times are UTC

Follow Series

©Econometrics LLC . All Rights Reserved.

Jonquil Lowe

Senior Lecturer in Economics and Personal Finance, The Open University
Also a personal finance practitioner, working with a variety of independent, consumer-facing organisations and financial services providers, including the Money Advice Service and Which?, carrying out consultancy, commissioned research, authoring financial capability materials and creating interactive financial capability tools.

Past head of Money Research Group at Consumers' Association/Which? and past editor of research journal, Consumer Policy Review (Blackwell's/Consumers' Association).

Some pensioners are pretty well off. But how many can afford to lose the winter fuel payment?

Sep 16, 2024 07:17 am UTC| Insights & Views Life

The governments plan to restrict pensioners winter fuel payment to households getting pension credit has been easily if grudgingly passed by parliament. This was despite a strong case for delaying the move to explore...

The Conservatives are pledging a ‘triple lock plus’ for UK pensioners – here’s what it means

Jun 04, 2024 06:31 am UTC| Politics

If re-elected, the Conservatives have pledged to introduce a triple lock plus that the party says would pull millions of pensioners out of paying tax. Their plan would ensure that pensioners tax-free personal allowance...

Budget 2024: experts react to the UK government’s last roll of the economic dice ahead of a general election

Mar 07, 2024 09:24 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

The spring budget of 2024 was widely seen as a chance for UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to inject some economic optimism into British politics ahead of a general election. Would he or wouldnt he cut income tax? (He wouldnt.)...

Six ways the upcoming autumn statement could affect your personal finances

Nov 19, 2023 05:55 am UTC| Politics

The UK chancellor Jeremy Hunt will have limited room for manoeuvre when he makes his autumn statement about the governments financial plans on November 22. The government is committed to supporting the Bank of Englands...

Pensions: how yours may have been affected by recent market turmoil

Oct 21, 2022 06:19 am UTC| Business

The early signs are that the financial markets have been appeased by the governments October 17 decision to reverse two-thirds of its September mini-budget tax cuts. Yields on gilts which represent long-term borrowing...

National insurance rise: what do upcoming tax changes mean for me? An expert explains

Mar 27, 2022 14:16 pm UTC| Economy

April 6 marks the start of the new 2022-23 tax year and the day most workers start to pay a new tax: the health and social care levy. For one year only, the levy will take the form of a 1.25 percentage point increase in...

Five top tips for managing your personal finances during coronavirus

Aug 01, 2020 14:58 pm UTC| Investing

When it comes to money, coronavirus has split the nation. Financial stress dominates for many of the 9.5 million employees on furlough, potentially facing unemployment as the scheme unwinds, and for those whose small...

Economy

Tokyo Inflation Slows Despite Energy Pressures and BOJ Policy Outlook

Tokyos latest inflation data showed mixed signals in April, highlighting the complex balance between rising global energy costs and domestic government intervention. Japan inflation trends remain a key focus for investors,...

US Stock Futures Rise as S&P 500 and Nasdaq Hit Record Highs Amid Earnings Optimism and Iran Tensions

U.S. stock futures edged higher বৃহস্পতিবার evening following record-breaking performances from the SP 500 and Nasdaq Composite, as investors weighed strong corporate earnings against ongoing geopolitical uncertainty...

US Dollar Weakens as Yen Surges Amid Japan Intervention and Central Bank Moves

The U.S. dollar declined notably in global forex markets, with the Japanese yen emerging as a key beneficiary following reports of currency intervention by Japans authorities. The dollar index, which measures the greenback...

Markets Stay Strong Despite Oil Shock Concerns as Earnings Drive Investor Confidence

Global financial markets continue to show resilience despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and disruptions in oil supply. Analysts note that while the conflict involving Iran raised fears of a major oil shock, energy...

WTI Crude Oil Prices Rise Amid Iran Conflict Uncertainty

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices edged higher at market open, gaining 41 cents or 0.43% to reach $105.50 per barrel. The increase follows heightened volatility driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions,...

Politics

U.S. Flags Vietnam as “Priority Foreign Country” Over Intellectual Property Concerns

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has officially designated Vietnam as a Priority Foreign Country in its latest annual intellectual property (IP) report, signaling heightened concern over the...

Japan Eases Arms Export Rules, Opening Door for Potential Ukraine Defense Support

Japans recent relaxation of its weapons export rules could pave the way for future discussions on supplying military equipment to Ukraine, according to Kyivs ambassador to Tokyo. The policy shift, led by Prime Minister...

FEMA Reinstates Employees After Dissent Letter, Signaling Shift in Workforce Stability

The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has reinstated more than a dozen employees who were placed on administrative leave in August 2025 after signing a public letter criticizing agency leadership and...

Iran Threatens Prolonged Strikes as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Drives Global Oil Surge

Iran has warned it will launch long and painful strikes against U.S. positions if Washington escalates military action, intensifying tensions in the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Tehran. The situation has...

Lula Plans New Supreme Court Nomination After Historic Senate Rejection

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is preparing to submit a new nominee for the Supreme Federal Court after the Senate rejected his initial choice, marking a historic political setback. According to...

Science

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

NASA Artemis II: First Crewed Moon Mission Since Apollo Takes Four Astronauts on 10-Day Lunar Journey

NASAs Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, marking humanitys return to crewed lunar exploration for the first time since the Apollo era. Carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, this historic 10-day mission...

NASA's Artemis II Mission: First Crewed Lunar Journey Since Apollo

NASA's Artemis II Crew Arrives in Florida for Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts chosen for NASAs Artemis II mission have touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the beginning of final launch preparations for the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years. NASA...

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

Technology

Apple Q2 2026 Earnings Surge as iPhone 17 Sales Drive Record Revenue

Apple delivered a strong fiscal Q2 2026 performance, reporting record-breaking revenue and profit growth fueled by robust iPhone sales and expanding services. The tech giant posted earnings of $2.01 per share on $111.18...

FBI Warns of China’s Expanding Hack-for-Hire Network Amid Extradition Case

The Chinese governments alleged hack-for-hire ecosystem is rapidly expanding and becoming increasingly difficult to control, according to a senior FBI official. Speaking on Thursday, FBI Assistant Director Brett Leatherman...

Taiwan Activates Backup Communications After Undersea Cable Break on Dongyin Island

Taiwan has activated emergency backup communications for Dongyin, its northernmost and strategically important island, after an undersea cable was damaged due to shifting shipwreck debris caused by severe weather. The...

Meta Raises 2026 Capex Outlook Amid AI Spending Surge, Shares Drop After Earnings

Meta Platforms has increased its full-year capital expenditure guidance for 2026, signaling continued aggressive investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure despite rising costs and market concerns. The company...

Amazon Stock Dips Despite Record Earnings as AI Infrastructure Spending Surges

Amazon (AMZN) shares slipped 2.6% in after-hours trading on Wednesday, even after the company delivered record-breaking quarterly earnings that exceeded Wall Street expectations. The decline reflects investor concerns over...