Category: 3. Business

The Brighton Pier Group has announced that Brighton Palace Pier is being offered for sale. In response, the council has reiterated that it’s a seafront worth investing in.

Brighton Palace Pier is a cultural icon and a much-loved attraction, central to the city’s identity and the local visitor economy. As a Grade II*-listed landmark, the Pier attracts millions of visitors each year, supporting jobs and businesses across the city and contributing significantly to Brighton & Hove’s reputation as a leading UK destination.

Councillor Jacob Taylor, Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Finance and City Regeneration, said: “Brighton & Hove is a city on the rise – full of energy, creativity and opportunity. Brighton Palace Pier is an iconic part of our seafront, and its sale is an important moment.

“We’re confident that, alongside major investments like the restoration of Madeira Terrace and new leisure spaces at Black Rock and Hove Beach Park, Brighton & Hove will continue to thrive. This is a city with a proven track record and a bold vision for what’s next.

“While it is privately owned, we will work closely with the current and new owners to ensure the pier and our seafront continue to thrive.”

Brighton & Hove was recently recognised on the world stage by Time Out magazine as one of the top 50 cities globally and ranked among the top three destinations in the UK, and its reputation as a welcoming and vibrant place to live, work and visit is stronger than ever.

In 2024, Brighton & Hove attracted 12.2 million trips, generating an impressive £1.39 billion for the local economy and supporting more than 25,600 jobs across accommodation, retail, catering and entertainment.

The council continues to collaborate with partners, businesses and the community to transform public spaces and support a strong, sustainable tourism offer and a seafront to be proud of.

The city’s Seafront Development Board also plays a key role in shaping regeneration, unlocking investment and guiding a long‑term vision for the whole waterfront.

The Rt Hon Lord Bassam of Brighton, who chairs the Seafront Development Board said: “The Palace Pier is a jewel in our crown, a much-loved part of Brighton’s heritage and a key attraction for visitors. Its future matters to us all.

“The sale presents an opportunity for new investment and innovation to protect our heritage and keep it accessible while also supporting a modern, thriving economy.

“We need to work together and look for the right investment to keep Brighton & Hove a world‑class destination for residents and visitors alike.”

The airport said the new rates would become its “single biggest non-operational cost”.

“Unfortunately, like other airports, some of the cost will be passed on to consumers,” they said, adding that the decision was “needed to balance protecting people’s jobs as well as its commitment to improving the customer journey” with plans to reach net zero targets by 2030.

The spokesperson said it was hoped the price increase would “discourage high volumes” of customers using the drop-off car park and instead mean people are more likely to use public transport.

The Bristol Airport flyer is one option for passengers, with the bus costing £9 for an adult return from Bristol or £7 for an adult return from Weston-super-Mare.

The airport spokesperson said passengers could also make use of a free shuttle bus from its waiting zone, with the zone’s capacity set to double.

In conformity with market best practices, Air Liquide announces today that its Pre-FY 2025 results communication document is available on the company’s corporate website under the “Investors” section:

 

https://www.airliquide.com/2025-annual-results

 

This quarterly document aims to assist in the financial modeling of the Group’s performance.

 

The FY 2025 results will be published on February 20, 2026.

 

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks wavered on Wall Street Friday to kick off the new year as early gains led by technology stocks failed to hold up.

The S&P 500 fell 0.1% after having been up as much as 0.7% at the start of trading. The benchmark index is coming off a gain of more than 16% in 2025.

The Nasdaq composite fell 0.3%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average managed a gain of 84 points, or 0.2%, as of 11:09 a.m. Eastern.

Major indexes are closing a mostly tepid, shortened holiday week. Markets were closed Thursday for New Year’s Day.

Markets in Europe and Asia made strong gains. Indexes in Britain and South Korea hit records.

Technology stocks were steering the market, especially companies with a focus on artificial intelligence, continuing the trend that pushed the broader market to records in 2025.

Nvidia jumped 1.3% and was the biggest force trying to push the market higher. Broadcom jumped 1.9%. But a 0.2% drop from Google’s parent company Alphabet and a 2.1% fall for Microsoft helped to counter those gains.

Those technology companies are among the most valuable companies in the world and their outsized valuations give them more influence on the market’s direction. That includes sometimes pushing the market up and down from hour to hour.

Technology companies have been a major focus because of advancements in artificial intelligence technology and the potential for growth within the sector. Wall Street has been betting that demand for computer chips and other items needed for data centers will help justify the big investments from technology companies and their pricey stock values.

Tesla fell 0.6% after reporting falling sales for a second year in a row.

E-commerce giant Alibaba climbed 4.3% and Baidu, maker of the Ernie chatbot, jumped 9.4% in Hong Kong after it said it plans to spin off its AI computer chip unit Kunlunxin, which would list shares in Hong Kong early in 2027. The plan is subject to regulatory approvals.

Crude oil prices slipped. Prices for U.S. crude oil fell 1.1% to $56.77 per barrel. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, fell 1.2% to $60.13 per barrel.

Gold prices kicked off the new year with more gains. The price of gold rose 0.2%.

Treasury yields held steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.18% from 4.17% late Wednesday. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which moves more closely with expectations for what the Federal Reserve will do, slipped to 3.47% from 3.48% late Wednesday.

Wall Street will move past the mostly quiet holiday season after Friday. The first full week of the new year will include several closely watched economic updates. They will also be some of the last big updates the Fed sees before its next meeting at the end of January.

Next week will feature private reports on the status of the services sector, which is the largest part of the U.S. economy, along with consumer sentiment. Government reports on the job market will also be released. They will all help paint a clearer picture of how various parts of the U.S. economy closed out 2025 and where it might be headed in 2026.

The Fed has had a more difficult task because of the complex shifts within the economy. It cut interest rates three times toward the end of 2025, partly to help counter a weakening jobs market. But inflation remains above its target rate of 2% and cutting interest rates could add more fuel to rising prices. Consumers have already expressed more caution amid the squeeze from stubborn inflation and the U.S. trade war with much of the world has added more uncertainty.

The Fed has already signaled concern and caution. Wall Street is betting that the central bank will hold its benchmark interest rate steady at its January meeting.

AP business writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed to this report.

Crowds braved the cold weather to take part in a New Year tradition unique to an East Yorkshire town.

Scrambling, believed to have been held annually in Driffield town centre for more than 200 years, sees the town’s children visit shops in the high street where shopkeepers throw out sweets and let the children scramble for them.

Michelle Flake, town development officer at Driffield Town Council, said there was a “great turnout” for Friday’s event, with at least 50 children and 53 businesses taking part.

She added: “The kids left with very heavy bags.”

The Brighton Pier Group has announced that Brighton Palace Pier is being offered for sale and they have appointed Knight Frank to seek a buyer.

Brighton Palace Pier is a cultural icon and a much-loved attraction, central to the city’s identity and the local visitor economy. As a Grade II* listed landmark, the Pier attracts millions of visitors each year, supporting jobs and businesses across the city and contributing significantly to Brighton & Hove’s reputation as a leading UK destination.

Councillor Jacob Taylor, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and City Regeneration, said: “Brighton & Hove is a city on the rise – full of energy, creativity and opportunity. Brighton Palace Pier is an iconic part of our seafront, and its sale is an important moment.

“We’re confident that, alongside major investments like the restoration of Madeira Terrace and new leisure spaces at Black Rock and Hove Beach Park, Brighton & Hove will continue to thrive. This is a city with a proven track record and a bold vision for what’s next.

“While it is privately owned, we will work closely with the current and new owners to ensure the Pier and our seafront continues to thrive.”

Brighton & Hove was recently recognised on the world stage by Time Out magazine as one of the top 50 cities globally and ranked among the top three destinations in the UK, its reputation as a welcoming, colourful and vibrant place to live, work and visit is stronger than ever.

In 2024, Brighton & Hove attracted 12.2 million trips, generating an impressive £1.39 billion for the local economy and supporting more than 25,600 jobs across accommodation, retail, catering and entertainment.

The council continues to collaborate with partners, businesses, and the community to transform public spaces and support a strong, sustainable tourism offer and a seafront to be proud of.

The city’s Seafront Development Board, also play a key role in shaping regeneration, unlocking investment and guiding a long‑term vision for the whole waterfront.

Steve Bassam, the Rt Hon Lord Bassam of Brighton, chairs the seafront development board. He said: “The Palace Pier is a jewel in our crown,a much-loved part of Brighton’s heritage and a key attraction for visitors. Its future matters to us all.

“The sale presents an opportunity for new investment and innovation to protect our heritage and keep it accessible while also supporting a modern, thriving economy.

“We need to work together and look for the right investment to keep Brighton & Hove a world‑class destination for residents and visitors alike.”