Starmer Indicates Prospect of Fresh UK-Canada Trade Talks
The UK will seek to restart trade negotiations with Canada, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on his way to meet his counterpart, Mark Carney as he strives to strengthen commercial ties around the world to better insulate Britain's economy from the fallout of US President Donald Trump's tariff war.
'The world is changing on trade and the economy,' Starmer told reporters on Saturday on the way to the Group of Seven meeting in Canada. 'That means we need to do more securing our base at home and turbo-charging what we are doing on the cost of living and at the same time reducing trade barriers with other countries.' The premier added he'd 'been expressing that in my discussions with Mark Carney and he is in the same position.'
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Associated Press
21 minutes ago
- Associated Press
The Latest: Death toll grows as Israel and Iran trade attacks for third day
The death toll is growing as Israel and Iran exchanged missile attacks for a third consecutive day on Sunday, and Israel is warning that worse is to come. Israel targeted Iran's Defense Ministry headquarters in Tehran and sites it alleged were associated with Iran's nuclear program, while Iranian missiles evaded Israeli air defenses and slammed into buildings deep inside Israel. The region braced for a drawn-out conflict after Israel's strikes hit nuclear and military facilities, killing several senior generals and top nuclear scientists. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump also had a warning for Tehran, saying it can expect 'the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces' if it retaliates against the United States. Trump insisted that Washington had nothing to do with Israel's attack on Iran. Israel launched its attacks after weeks of escalating tensions between Israel and Iran over Iran's nuclear program. Iran announced Thursday that it planned to activate a third nuclear enrichment facility shortly after the U.N. nuclear watchdog censured Iran for failing to comply with nonproliferation obligations. ___ Here's the latest: Death toll grows in Israel At least 10 people in Israel were killed in Iranian strikes overnight and into Sunday, according to Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service, bringing the country's total death toll to 13. At least six people, including two children, were killed when a missile hit an apartment building in Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv. Daniel Hadad, a local police commander, said 180 people were wounded and seven are still missing. An Associated Press reporter saw streets lined with damaged and destroyed buildings, bombed out cars and shards of glass. Responders used a drone at points to look for survivors. Some people could be seen leaving the area with suitcases. Four people were killed when a missile struck a building in the northern Israeli town of Tamra, and another 24 were wounded. A strike on the central city of Rehovot wounded 42 people. Explosions in Tehran New explosions echoed across Tehran and were reported elsewhere in the country early Sunday, but there was no update to a death toll put out the day before by Iran's U.N. ambassador, who said 78 people had been killed and more than 320 wounded. Semiofficial Iranian news agencies reported that an Israeli drone strike had caused a 'strong explosion' at an Iranian natural-gas processing plant, in what could be the first Israeli attack on Iran's oil and natural gas industry. Israel's military did not immediately comment. World leaders are issuing urgent calls to deescalate. But Israeli's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel's strikes so far are 'nothing compared to what they will feel under the sway of our forces in the coming days.' Trump warns Tehran not to target U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. had 'nothing to do with the attack on Iran' and warned Tehran against targeting U.S. interests in retaliation. 'If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before. However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!' Trump wrote on Truth Social late Saturday. Nuclear talks called off Planned talks on Iran's nuclear program, which could provide an off-ramp, have been called off. The Arab Gulf country of Oman, which has been mediating indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program, said a sixth round planned for Sunday would not take place. Iran's top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, said Saturday that the nuclear talks were 'unjustifiable' after Israel's strikes, which he said were the 'result of the direct support by Washington.' Iran has always said its nuclear program was peaceful, and the U.S. and others have assessed it has not pursued a weapon since 2003. But it has enriched ever larger stockpiles of uranium to near weapons-grade levels in recent years and was believed to have been able to develop multiple weapons within months if it chose to do so.
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
With Lloyds shares red hot, investors should consider this AIM alternative
As Lloyds (LSE:LLOY) shares edges closer to what many investors would consider fair value, my attention is turning to alternative options in the UK banking sector. One AIM-listed name that stands out is Arbuthnot Banking Group (LSE:ARBB). It's much smaller, with a markedly different profile, but appears to be an attractive proposition. And while Lloyds remains a staple for income and stability, Arbuthnot offers a blend of value, growth, and yield. This could appeal to investors seeking something beyond the big high street banks. Looking at the numbers, the contrast between the two banks is striking. In 2025, Arbuthnot is forecast to deliver earnings per share (EPS) of 129.6p. At a share price of around 950p, this equates to a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 7.3. This is a notable discount to Lloyds. The larger bank is expected to post EPS of 6.5p and trades on a forward P/E of 11.8 for the same year. Moving to 2026, Arbuthnot's EPS is forecast to rise to 152.2p. This brings the P/E down to just 6.2. Meanwhile, Lloyds' EPS is expected to reach 9.1p, reducing its P/E to 8.4. By 2027, Arbuthnot's P/E is projected to fall to 5.5, compared to Lloyds at 7. Arbuthnot also wins on the dividend yield. The bank's dividend per share is forecast at 53p in 2025, rising to 57p in 2026 and 61p in 2027. That translates to a yield of 5.6% in 2025, moving up to 6% in 2026 and 6.4% in 2027. Lloyds, by comparison, is expected to pay out 3.4p per share in 2025, 4p in 2026, and 4.6p in 2027, for yields of 4.5%, 5.4%, and 6%, respectively. While Lloyds' income is well covered by earnings, Arbuthnot's payout ratios are similarly conservative. The latter's dividend cover is expected to remain above 1.9 times through the forecast period. Moreover, Arbuthnot trades at a price-to-book ratio of just 0.54 in 2024, well below Lloyds at 0.75, and both are below the sector average, suggesting value in the shares. Arbuthnot's revenue is expected to climb from £179.5m in 2024 to £182.6m in 2025, £193.7m in 2026, and £209.7m in 2027. Lloyds, meanwhile, is forecast to grow revenue from £18.4bn in 2024 to £19.4bn in 2025, and £22.1bn by 2027. In other words, I think we're looking at a similar growth story but just a very different size. While the absolute numbers are not comparable, Arbuthnot's growth rate is strong, and it continues to grow its loan book and deposit base at a healthy clip. Recent results show deposits rising 17% year on year, with a stable loan book and a loan-to-deposit ratio of just 57%. By comparison, Lloyds's is over 90%. However, Arbuthnot's size may heighten risks. It operates in a more specialised, relationship-driven niche and the economic outlook is uncertain, with the UK economy dragging and regulatory changes on the horizon. Nonetheless, this stock certainly interests me. Investors may want to consider this alternative. The post With Lloyds shares red hot, investors should consider this AIM alternative appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. More reading 5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50 One Top Growth Stock from the Motley Fool James Fox has positions in Lloyds Banking Group Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Lloyds Banking Group Plc. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Motley Fool UK 2025
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Forget the State Pension! Here's how to target a comfortable retirement income with £500 a month
In the UK, the full new State Pension is £230.25 a week, or a total of £11,973 a year. That's certainly a nice chunk of change to help out during retirement. But sadly, it doesn't come close to what's needed to live comfortably. According to the Pensions & Lifetime Savings Association, a pensioner needs to have an income of at least £43,900 a year to enjoy financial freedom once retirement comes a-knocking. The good news is investing just £500 a month can potentially help close the £31,927 gap when starting early. Let's start by crunching some numbers. By following the 4% withdrawal rule, to earn a £32,000 investment income, an investor needs to have a portfolio valued at around £800,000. Obviously, that's not pocket change. But reaching this target with £500 of capital each month is more than doable with a sufficiently long time horizon. On average, the British stock market has historically delivered annualised gains of around 8% a year. Investing £500 at this rate will eventually reach the £800,000 threshold within a period of 31 years. So for those planning to retire comfortably at 65, the best time to get started is at the age of 34. However, there are a few tricks to cut down the waiting time for those who are a little late to the party. Leveraging the power of a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) is likely a sensible move when it comes to retirement investing. That's because deposits are entitled to tax relief equal to an individual's income tax bracket. Assuming an investor's paying the basic rate, for each £500 deposit, they could end up with £625 of investable capital. And that extra £125 monthly bump is enough to cut the waiting time by around three years, allowing a later start at the age of 37. But what about those already in their 40s? This is where stock picking can potentially save the day. Instead of relying on index funds, investors can take matters into their own hands and craft a custom investment portfolio. There's no denying this involves a lot more effort and likely exposes an investor's wealth to greater volatility and risk. But by taking a measured and prudent approach, it's possible to earn considerably more than 8%. Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, neither does it constitute, any form of tax advice. Readers are responsible for carrying out their own due diligence and for obtaining professional advice before making any investment decisions. Let's look at Computacenter (LSE:CCC) as an example. The company's a value-added retailer of IT hardware, software, and services, predominantly helping hyperscaler data centres as well as other businesses and public sector agencies. With technology rapidly evolving, having a supplier who knows all the intricate details about the tools available and who can steer clients in the right direction has proven invaluable. As such, shareholders have enjoyed a fairly consistent stream of rising revenues, profits, and dividends. However, the firm's undoubtedly reliant on a few key clients, creating customer concentration risk. At the same time, ample competition has put pressure on margins over the years. Nevertheless, Computacenter's steady success has paved the way to a 13.4% average annualised return over the last decade. And at this rate, the journey to £800,000 in a SIPP is cut down to around 20 years. So for any 45-year-old looking to secure their retirement beyond the State Pension, hunting for Computacenter-like stocks while keeping risk in check and ensuring a balanced portfolio might be the solution. The post Forget the State Pension! Here's how to target a comfortable retirement income with £500 a month appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. More reading 5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50 One Top Growth Stock from the Motley Fool Zaven Boyrazian has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Computacenter Plc. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Motley Fool UK 2025
