US added just 29,000 jobs in September in sharp drop from last month’s gains
Posted on Friday October 02, 2026

Final jobs report before the midterm elections also shows the US unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.2%

US employers added just 29,000 jobs in September, a sharp drop from last month’s gains, and unemployment rose slightly to 4.2%, a sign of a cooling labor market in the final jobs report before the midterm election.

The numbers were under half of economists’ expectations of just under 70,000 new jobs. Most job gains were concentrated in the healthcare industry, which added 17,000 new jobs, while the information, financial and professional industries saw losses, according to the latest data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Read more...

G7 to release up to 100m barrels of emergency oil and diesel reserves
Posted on Friday October 02, 2026

Leaders agree a coordinated drawdown after surge in prices and Donald Trump’s threat to cut off US supplies

Leaders of G7 nations are to release up to 100m barrels of their emergency diesel and crude oil stockpiles after Donald Trump threatened to cut off supplies of US diesel.

The French President, Emmanuel Macron, said ministers from some of world’s largest economies had agreed to release stocks from their strategic oil reserves after crisis talks on Friday.

Read more...

Bosses of three firms that supply trains to UK railways made £3.5m last year
Posted on Friday October 02, 2026

Rolling stock companies, which also paid out nearly £400m to shareholders, accused of profiting at passengers’ expense

The chief executives of three firms that rent out trains to Britain’s railways were paid a combined £3.5m last year as they passed on almost £400m to shareholders in dividends.

Rail unions accused the rolling stock companies (Roscos) of raking in profits at passengers’ expense.

Read more...

Gordon Ramsay’s UK restaurants stay in red despite sales topping £100m
Posted on Friday October 02, 2026

Group says trading was helped by airing of Netflix documentary and opening of its 100th outlet

• Business live – latest updates

The UK arm of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants empire remained in the red last year despite sales topping £100m for the first time after a string of openings in a London tower.

The celebrity chef’s UK business, which has 34 outlets including the Savoy Grill, Pétrus and several Lucky Cat restaurants, narrowed losses to £5.8m from £9.4m the year before. Sales rose 3% to almost £101m.

Read more...

Recent lobbyist for Palantir had key role in helping Andy Burnham become PM
Posted on Friday October 02, 2026

Exclusive: Martha Dalton worked closely with Burnham’s team on byelection that secured his return to parliament

A recent lobbyist for the controversial $450bn US tech company Palantir played a senior role in helping Andy Burnham become prime minister, it has emerged.

Martha Dalton, whose company Lodestone worked for Palantir in 2024 and 2025, campaigned for Burnham in the Makerfield byelection that secured his return to parliament. She worked closely with his team on strategic communications and rebuttals, and was among supporters who clapped him into Downing Street in July.

Read more...

Kinky dating app Feeld’s founders share in record £3.8m dividend after sales jump
Posted on Friday October 02, 2026

Platform ‘for the curious’ says users outside the UK account for nearly 90% of its revenues

• Business live – latest updates
  

Feeld, a UK-based dating app aimed at non-monogamous, queer and kinky users, has reported strong sales growth and paid its largest-ever dividend as it attracts users from more “vanilla” rivals.

Revenues jumped by 32% to £64m following a surge in interest from what it called “open-minded people exploring love, desire, and alternative relationships in a safe, inclusive space”.

Read more...

Etihad’s statements on funding appear to contradict Manchester City’s defence
Posted on Friday October 02, 2026

• Airline denied links to Abu Dhabi government in 2015

• FA confirms it has powers to take disciplinary action

Manchester City’s defence in their appeal against the independent commission’s guilty verdict in more than 100 charges of financial rule breaches appears to be contradicted by previous statements made by their main sponsor, Etihad Airways, to the US government.

A key element of City’s appeal, which was confirmed by the club on Friday, is understood to be based on their claim that commercial contracts, which the commission concluded were part-funded by their owner, were in fact paid for by the Abu Dhabi government.

Read more...

Manchester City’s England players are worried about their futures, admits Tuchel
Posted on Friday October 02, 2026

• ‘It is of course a topic and we speak about it at dinner’

• Head coach has right-back dilemma for game in Croatia

Thomas Tuchel has suggested Manchester City’s England contingent are worried about the club being found guilty of breaching the Premier League’s financial rules.

Tuchel, who said he would be prepared to keep picking City players if they were relegated, revealed the case had been a major topic of conversation in the England camp before the Nations League game against Croatia. The head coach said there had been discussions during meals and delivered an honest response after being asked whether the situation had become a distraction.

Read more...