Category: 3. Business

More than 250 British company bosses have urged Rachel Reeves to use her budget to make UK pension schemes channel extra funds into domestic businesses, increasing private investment by as much as £95bn.

In a letter to the chancellor, business leaders said the government must address a crisis in which pension investment in UK-listed companies has fallen from 53% of total equity holdings in 1997 to 4% this year.

The signatories, including major pharmaceutical, financial services and health firms, said that to reverse decades of investment overseas, Labour should tell pension fund managers they must invest at least 25% of their equity holdings in UK shares.

Reeves is expected to announce a string of initiatives to boost investment in her 26 November budget.

The chancellor has already championed the Sterling 20 initiative and Mansion House accord to coordinate backing for local and national infrastructure projects.

Under the Mansion House accord, fund managers including Aviva, Legal & General, and M&G agreed to invest at least 10% of their workplace pension assets in private markets by 2030.

However, the letter, coordinated by the London Stock Exchange Group and signed by the bosses of Revolut, JD Sports and Barclays, calls on Reeves to go further.

It said all defined contribution (DC) pension schemes, used by most employers and holding about £200bn in assets, should be required to change their rules.

“We urge you to be bold,” the authors wrote, adding that the chancellor could make pension fund managers include a minimum 25% allocation to UK assets part of every default fund, forcing savers to opt out if they rejected the plan.

“This policy would set the default level of UK domestic pension investment closer to that of international competitors,” the letter said. “Doing so would provide businesses with access to deeper and more reliable sources of capital in the UK.

“By 2030 overall investment in UK equities by DC pensions would increase by around £76bn from current levels in today’s money (or +230%) and potentially as much as £95bn,” the letter added.

Reeves would easily secure support for the rule change from the public, they said.

“Taking action would be in line with the perceptions of the British public. A recent poll commissioned by New Financial found that the public believes 41% of their pension is invested in UK companies or the UK stock market – 10 times the current level of investment.

“Moreover, 72% support government action to encourage more domestic investment through their pension schemes.”

Individuals could opt out of the plan by requesting their pension savings be diverted from the default fund, the letter said.

The latest investment figures show it may prove a popular option as individual investors seek high returns on their assets.

Investors spent £10.5bn on offshore bonds in the 12 months to the end of June, up from £5.1bn the previous year, according to data reviewed by the Financial Times.

Financial advisers blamed fears of higher capital gains tax for wealthier individuals channelling funds via Ireland, Luxembourg and the Isle of Man into tax-efficient bonds.

Fears that the US economy is slowing, with firms shedding jobs and imposing hiring freezes, sent Wall Street tumbling on Thursday.

The S&P 500 index of leading firms was down 1% as investors also highlighted concerns about the potential for a slump in the value of businesses that have benefited from huge investments in artificial intelligence. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 1.5%.

A report showed that last month was the worst October for US layoffs since 2003, which grabbed the attention of investors in the absence of official data delayed by the federal government shutdown.

Companies cut jobs and imposed hiring freezes, according to the global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

Chris Beauchamp, the chief market analyst at the trading platform IG.com, said: “The lack of US data and the ongoing government shutdown is making investors nervous.”

US markets have been rattled by a review of Donald Trump’s tariffs by the supreme court, which could result in the US president being forced to abandon his flagship policy.

A lack of official data has also forced the Federal Reserve to judge the state of the US economy with only a fraction of the information it would usually sift before judging the level of interest rates.

Beauchamp said the Fed and financial markets had found themselves “groping around in the dark” after the suspension of inflation and employment data.

Speaking on CNBC, the Fed board member Austan Goolsbee said the lack of official data on inflation during the government shutdown accentuated his caution about cutting interest rates further.

“I lean more to the, when it’s foggy, let’s just be a little careful and slow down,” he said.

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The survey by Challenger, Gray & Christmas found that employers announced 153,074 job cuts last month, compared with 55,597 in October 2024. It said US firms announced the termination of 1.09m roles during the first 10 months of this year, up 44% from the 761,358 cuts in 2024. Technology businesses led private-sector layoffs, it added.

The FTSE 100 fell 41 points or 0.4%. European stocks also fell. The Stoxx Europe 600 closed 0.7% lower, with tech stocks suffering the heaviest losses, and the Dax in Germany fell 1.3%.

Beauchamp said: “If the supreme court rolls back some of the tariffs then inflationary worries will subside to an extent, though this is a topic that will not come to fruition for weeks.”

BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 6, 2025 – Lockheed Martin has made a major breakthrough in artificial intelligence (AI) technology with the introduction of the STAR.OS™ solution, a powerful new tool that enables different AI systems to work together smoothly and effectively. This innovative solution has the potential to be used in future collaborations with private sector companies and solves a long-standing challenge in the field of AI by providing a common framework that makes it easier to combine different AI systems and services to achieve a common goal.  

The STAR.OS™ solution seamlessly integrates Systems, Tactical applications, Autonomy/AI, and Rapid deployment, providing a unified framework for AI deployments that support national security. The platform consists of three main components: a toolkit for developers (STAR.SDK™), a system that connects different AI systems (STAR.IO™), and a user-friendly interface that provides a clear view of how AI is being used in real-time (STAR.UI™). 

“With the STAR.OS™ solution, we’re taking a major step forward in our ability to bring together different AI systems and make them work together seamlessly,” said Mike Baylor, Lockheed Martin vice president and chief digital AI officer. “This will help us provide more effective and efficient solutions to our customers and ultimately help them make more informed decisions and stay ahead of emerging threats.” 

STAR.OS is a key part of Lockheed Martin’s efforts to integrate AI systems across different domains, making it easier to deploy AI capabilities and enhance mission effectiveness for the Department of War, U.S. government and beyond. 

Key Components of STAR.OS™ 

The STAR.OS™ platform is made up of three product lines, each designed to address specific challenges in AI integration: 

1. Service Development Kit (STAR.SDK™): A toolkit that helps developers create and deploy AI services quickly and efficiently, so they can focus on what they want to achieve rather than how to achieve it. 

2. Interoperability (STAR.IO™): A system that connects different AI systems and allows them to work together, ensuring they can communicate and share information seamlessly. 

3. User Interface (STAR.UI™): A user-friendly interface that lets engineers and operators see how AI is being used in real-time, and get insights into how it’s performing, with the help of built-in AI assistants. 

Making a Difference 

Early instances of the STAR.OS™ solution are being used to support the Department of War and other government customers, with successful integrations in areas such as detecting threats at sea and missile warning. At a recent internal hackathon as part of AI Fight Club™, the STAR.OS™ solution showcased its ability to integrate multiple AI services into a digital environment, demonstrating its potential to enhance mission effectiveness for the warfighter. 

STAR.OS™ is now available to federal and private sector customers as a unified framework for combining different AI systems and services. For more information about Lockheed Martin’s the STAR.OS™ solution, visit:  https://www.lockheedmartin.com/STAROS 

About Lockheed Martin 

Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security® vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at www.lockheedmartin.com.  

Media Contacts: 

Lockheed Martin: Trent Perrotto, +1 (321) 272-8027, trent.perrotto@lmco.com  

Passengers on British Airways flights will be able to access fast wifi onboard at no cost after the airline’s parent company signed a deal with Elon Musk’s satellite company.

The carrier said the free “reliable and lightning-fast” wifi from Starlink would be available to customers flying in economy, business or first class from next month.

BA’s owner, International Airlines Group (IAG), said it had reached agreement with Starlink to provide internet connectivity on more than 500 aircraft across its carriers, which also include Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling.

BA said the rollout of the technology was part of a £7bn “transformation” and would provide lag-free internet access to passengers from boarding to landing, even when they are flying over oceans or remote regions. Passengers will be able to connect multiple devices and they will not need a special login.

Sean Doyle, British Airways’ chief executive, described the launch of the Starlink service as “gamechanging for us and our customers, elevating their experience onboard our flights by offering them seamless connectivity from gate to gate. Especially on short-haul, this will really differentiate us from our competitors.”

Limited wifi access is currently offered to BA passengers on most of its aircraft through its .air service. Members of BA’s loyalty club are able to send messages and text-based emails onboard at no cost, while passengers who want to stream music, video and films during their flight and are not travelling in first class can expect to pay between £4.99 and £21.99 for a wifi package.

Starlink has a network of thousands of satellites and is operated by Musk’s SpaceX company.

Doyle and BA’s management have been working to turn the airline around after years of cost cutting, IT problems, strikes and mass redundancies. BA said use of artificial intelligence technology had helped it to bring its punctuality to the best levels since 2012.

In August, BA reported a jump in operating profits for the first half of the year, helping to push its owner IAG’s profit higher. IAG is due to report its results for the three months from July to September on Friday.

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BA’s announcement comes days after mobile phone operator Virgin Media O2 said it was partnering with Starlink to improve mobile network coverage in rural parts of the UK, by allowing consumers to automatically connect phones via satellites when no standard mobile signal is available.

(Bloomberg) — Volatility lashed Wall Street, with strong evidence of a cooling labor market pushing high-valuation tech stocks and crypto to big losses while bonds rallied on bets the Federal Reserve will cut rates.

Equities sold off for the second time in three days and 10-year yields tumbled the most in a month following Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. data showing the largest October job cuts in more than 20 years. The Nasdaq 100 slumped almost 2%, and a closely watched volatility index briefly hit 20.

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While bets on Fed cuts have powered the bull market in equities alongside the artificial-intelligence boom, concerns over lofty valuations have surfaced. Technical indicators are flagging reasons for caution while worries about an narrowing cohort of stocks driving gains have become louder.

If anything, the slide in equities appears to be taking some of the “froth” out of the market, said Chris Murphy at Susquehanna International Group LLP.

Traders are also keeping a close eye on a slew of policymakers slated to speak on Thursday.

Fed Bank of Chicago President Austan Goolsbee told CNBC that a lack of inflation data during the shutdown makes him more uneasy about continuing rate cuts. His New York counterpart John Williams said model estimates of the US neutral rate are lower than bond-market estimates, which he cautioned are unreliable.

The S&P 500 fell 1.2%. Tesla Inc. led losses in megacaps. Qualcomm Inc. became the latest chipmaker to deliver an upbeat forecast and still leave investors underwhelmed. Bitcoin lost 2.5%.

The yield on 10-year Treasuries slid eight basis points to 4.08%. Money markets are now implying an about 60% chance of a quarter-point rate reduction next month. A dollar gauge fell 0.2%.

With the scarcity of data caused by the US government shutdown, investors have turned to private figures for the latest readings on the economy.

Companies announced 153,074 job cuts last month, almost triple the number during the same month last year and driven by the technology and warehousing sectors. It’s the most for any October since 2003, when the advent of cellphones was similarly disruptive, said Andy Challenger, the company’s chief revenue officer.

“We are sticking to our view that the Fed will deliver a follow-up 25 basis-point cut in December because restrictive Fed policy can worsen the already fragile employment backdrop,” said Elias Haddad at Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

Meantime, Revelio Labs data showed the US lost 9,100 nonfarm jobs in October after gaining 33,000 the month prior.

“If anything, the data reinforces the difficulty in making a case that hiring is re-accelerating,” said Vail Hartman at BMO Capital Markets. “When combined with this morning’s Challenger data, we remain skeptical of the argument that the labor market is staging a re-acceleration into year-end.”

Don Rissmiller at Strategas says the US labor market is not collapsing, but it does not look robust to shocks either.

“While some FOMC members have been hesitant to commit to another fed funds rate cut at their December meeting, a wobbling labor market would likely force their hand,” he noted.

The US central bank lowered rates in October as a way to bolster the weakening labor market. But inflation, which at 3% in September remained well above the Fed’s 2% target, has also raised concerns among some officials that it will take longer to come down than they thought.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell last month counseled against trying to predict whether another reduction was likely in 2025.

Despite his cautious rhetoric at the October policy meeting, Ulrike Hoffmann-Burchardi at UBS Global Wealth Management bets the US central bank will cut rates twice more by early 2026.

“Evidence of a cooling labor market will continue to mount, and recent inflation readings have not been sufficient to shift the Fed’s focus away from the weakening demand for workers,” she said. “Further rate cuts should lead to a decline in Treasury yields.”

Hoffmann-Burchardi says quality fixed-income offers an appealing combination of income and the potential to perform well in the event of slowing economic activity and further rate cuts. Income-based investors can also consider equity income or yield-generating structured strategies to improve cash returns, she noted.

Wells Fargo & Co. expects blue-chip companies — particularly large technology firms funding massive artificial intelligence investments — to borrow more from the US bond market next year, taking advantage of favorable financing conditions.

Corporate Highlights:

Microsoft Corp. is pursuing a more powerful form of AI called “superintelligence” it hopes will be capable of making advances in areas like medicine and materials science. DoorDash Inc., the US food-delivery app leader, said it will spend more on investments next year to build new products and bolster internal tools, weighing on its earnings forecast. Peloton Interactive Inc. issued a voluntary recall on about 877,800 units of its high-end Bike+ model in the US and Canada following reports that some seat posts broke, causing riders to fall off. Boeing Co. will avoid a criminal charge over two fatal 737 Max crashes after a federal judge paved the way for a $1.1 billion settlement agreement, handing the embattled manufacturer a victory in a long-running legal battle. Uber Technologies Inc. is in talks on a potential deal with Getir that would help the US company further expand its delivery operations in Turkey, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Lyft Inc. projected an acceleration in bookings this quarter, easing concerns about the ridehailing company’s efforts to expand globally and maintain customer loyalty. Lucid Group Inc. posted a worse-than-expected third-quarter loss as it grapples with sluggish production of its Gravity SUV and a challenging trade environment. Walt Disney Co. signed a new multiyear deal to make DraftKings Inc. the official betting site and odds provider for its ESPN sports networks, replacing a venture it had with casino operator Penn Entertainment Inc. Warner Bros. Discovery Inc., the parent of HBO and CNN, reported third-quarter revenue that missed analysts’ expectations, providing a glimpse into the company’s businesses as it puts itself up for sale. SoftBank Group Corp. explored a potential takeover of US chipmaker Marvell Technology Inc. earlier this year, people familiar with the matter said, in what would have been the semiconductor industry’s largest-ever deal. Texas officials have asked a state court judge to temporarily block Kenvue Inc. from marketing Tylenol as safe for pregnant women, and from issuing a dividend, escalating the company’s legal woes just days after announcing a major merger with Kimberly-Clark Corp. Eli Lilly & Co. and Novo Nordisk A/S secured deals with the Trump administration to slash prices for their blockbuster weight-loss drugs in exchange for tariff relief and wider access for Medicare patients. Novo Nordisk has again increased its offer for Metsera Inc., people familiar with the matter said, as its takeover battle with Pfizer Inc. for the obesity startup escalates. Moderna Inc. posted a narrower third-quarter loss than Wall Street expected, a sign that its cost-cutting measures are helping offset the decline of its Covid business. ConocoPhillips raised its total spending plans for the Willow oil and natural gas project in Alaska to as much as $9 billion, citing inflation and other rising costs. Under Armour Inc. said sales might fall as much as 5% this fiscal year, a bigger decline than Wall Street estimated and raising concern that the sportswear company’s turnaround effort isn’t making enough progress. Krispy Kreme Inc. reported positive cash from operations in the third quarter for the first time in three quarters — and its highest since late 2022 — as the doughnut maker progressed with its turnaround plan following the end of its US McDonald’s partnership in June. EchoStar Corp. reported a $16.5 billion impairment charge and agreed to sell more spectrum licenses to Elon Musk’s SpaceX for $2.6 billion as it works to unwind parts of its 5G wireless network. Celsius Holdings Inc. sank on concern near-term sales might be disrupted by a distribution channel change involving its newly acquired Alani Nu brand. Aquarian Holdings agreed to buy insurer and annuity provider Brighthouse Financial Inc. for $4.1 billion in cash. Snap Inc. surged after the company announced a $400 million partnership with Perplexity AI Inc. to incorporate its AI-powered search engine into Snapchat. Charles Schwab Corp. agreed to buy Forge Global Holdings Inc., a marketplace for buying and selling shares of private companies, for about $660 million. CarMax Inc. sank after terminating its chief executive over lagging sales and a nosedive of the stock that halved the used-car retailer’s market value so far this year. Tapestry Inc. raised its full-year outlook and reported quarterly earnings that beat expectations on the strength of its Coach brand — but the shares slumped, suggesting investors were looking for more. United Parks & Resorts Inc.’s third-quarter revenue missed estimates, as weather disruptions and softer discretionary spending weighed on attendance. Deutsche Boerse AG and Nasdaq Inc. risk hefty European Union fines after the bloc’s antitrust watchdog opened a full-scale investigation into a suspected cartel linked to listing, trading and clearing of derivatives. Canadian jet manufacturer Bombardier Inc. is considering mergers and acquisitions in the defense sector, seeking to capitalize on governments’ plans to spend heavily to rearm their militaries. Commerzbank AG plans to sell significant risk transfers worth €5 billion ($5.8 billion) in the fourth quarter as the German lender seeks to free up capital. HelloFresh SE shares pared most of their losses following a steep drop when short seller Grizzly Research LLC published a report that questioned its management and business model. The German subscription meals firm rejected the criticism. Renault SA presented its new battery-powered Twingo city car as Europe’s automakers try to offer more affordable electric vehicles to fight back against Chinese rivals. Air France-KLM reported earnings that missed expectations, hurt by strikes and higher taxes. Worldline SA Chief Executive Officer Pierre-Antoine Vacheron said a turnaround plan unveiled Thursday aims to permanently address deficiencies at the embattled payments provider following a €500 million capital raise. AstraZeneca Plc’s profit rose more than analysts anticipated last quarter, buoyed by demand for its blockbuster cancer and diabetes drugs. Diageo Plc lowered its full-year outlook for sales and profit as weak demand in China and the US weigh on the British distiller. A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S shares fell with investor disappointment over a smaller-than-expected improvement in the container-shipping giant’s full-year profit guidance. Volvo Car AB is seeking a long-term operating return of 8%, helped by new electric models like the EX60 sport utility vehicle and deeper ties with parent Geely. Nissan Motor Co. promised to build on a better second quarter despite longer-term forecasts signaling persistent challenges for the carmaker’s efforts to turn around its worst financial crisis in decades. What Bloomberg strategists say…

“With the US government shutdown now the longest in history, and official economic indicators delayed as a result, private information on jobs is gaining in importance. And with the Fed focused on weakness in the labor market, the bond markets are uber-sensitive to the data.”

—Alyce Andres, Macro Strategist, Markets Live. For the full analysis, click here.

Some of the main moves in markets:

Stocks

The S&P 500 fell 1.2% as of 12:15 p.m. New York time The Nasdaq 100 fell 1.9% The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1% The MSCI World Index fell 0.8% Bloomberg Magnificent 7 Total Return Index fell 2.1% The Russell 2000 Index fell 1.7% Currencies

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell 0.2% The euro rose 0.4% to $1.1540 The British pound rose 0.5% to $1.3113 The Japanese yen rose 0.8% to 152.86 per dollar Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin fell 2.6% to $100,952.54 Ether fell 4.6% to $3,282.58 Bonds

The yield on 10-year Treasuries declined eight basis points to 4.08% Germany’s 10-year yield declined two basis points to 2.65% Britain’s 10-year yield declined three basis points to 4.43% The yield on 2-year Treasuries declined eight basis points to 3.55% The yield on 30-year Treasuries declined six basis points to 4.68% Commodities

West Texas Intermediate crude fell 1% to $59 a barrel Spot gold was little changed –With assistance from Denitsa Tsekova.

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