Walkden tower has been abandoned for months

A building project in Walkden has been left ‘in limbo’ after the firm carrying out the work went bust.

Building works on the corner of Bolton Road and Manchester Road mysteriously ground to a halt in January and are yet to resume. The plot was supposed to become a five-storey block for the elderly.

Housing 21, a not-for-profit care provider, commissioned social housing developers Alderley Group to build 46 independent living apartments for the over-55s. The planning application was given the greenlight by Salford council in December 2024, and construction on the project started last year.

The half-built steel tower has stood abandoned for several months after Alderley Group was issued a winding up order in January and ordered to liquidate its assets in June.

The websites are now defunct and Companies House is currently processing a statement of administrator’s proposal, which is one of the final stages before a firm is made insolvent or sold off to recoup funds invested by creditors.

According to Housing 21, the plans are still due to go ahead once they find a replacement contractor. But in the meantime, local councillors and residents are worried the ‘eye-sore’ site will attract fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour to the area.

Councillor Sammie Bellamy said: “I’m just so sorry for the residents having to put up with the eyesore. It feels like something we have very little control over but is having a big impact.

“I know it’s already causing issues for the Gill Medical Centre, who overlook the construction site.”

Construction is due to continue eventually, with a road closure order in place across Harriet Street, Manchester Road, and Bolton Road until December 2027. The roads are currently free, but could be blocked off once the construction recommences.

A Housing 21 Spokesperson said: “We can confirm work on the site has been temporarily paused whilst we source a replacement contractor to deliver the scheme. We are keeping all interested parties updated with progress and would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding.”

A Salford City Council spokesperson said: “We understand the concerns that residents have raised about this site. We will continue to keep the situation under review and work with relevant parties where appropriate and take the necessary action to help protect the local environment and support the community.”

To find all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more in your community, visit the Public Notices Portal.

The S&P 500 closed lower on Friday, dipping from a record high and weighed down by Applied Materials, while investors digested weaker-than-expected retail sales data. Applied Materials fell after its upbeat quarterly forecast failed to impress investors. The chip equipment maker’s shares have doubled in 2026 due to strong demand related to the buildout of AI data centers.

With investors nervous about high valuations ‌of AI-related stocks that ⁠have soared ⁠in recent years, chipmakers including Broadcom and Intel also dropped on Friday.

“A lot of the drivers in the market right now are around various parts ​of AI, and (Applied Materials) is an example of a company that had a ‘beat and raise’ but expectations were high and so the stock ​sold off,” said Thomas Martin, senior portfolio manager at GLOBALT Investments in Atlanta. Transit through the Strait of Hormuz appeared at a near standstill after two more ships were attacked there and the United States said it could maintain a naval blockade ​of Iran indefinitely. Those developments added to pessimism after a senior Iranian source said on ⁠Wednesday there ‌had been no progress in talks to build on a June agreement to end the ​war.

The S&P 500 energy index rallied, tracking higher oil prices. Reddit surged after the social media company was named a new ⁠addition to the S&P 500 index, effective August 18. July retail sales data came in weaker than expected, after an unrevised 0.2% gain in June, the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau said.

According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 lost 13.41 points, or 0.17%, to end at 7,785.58 points, while the Nasdaq Composite lost 73.86 points, or 0.28%, to 26,729.16. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 108.53 points, or 0.20%, to 53,732.53.While inflation related to high oil prices remains a concern, recent economic data has investors mostly expecting the Federal Reserve to hold interest rates steady at its September meeting. Traders see a 67% chance the Fed will keep rates unchanged at the September ‌meeting, with a 33% chance of a hike, according to CME’s FedWatch.
The University of Michigan’s preliminary consumer sentiment survey came in at 51 in August, below expectations of 54.5, according to economists polled ​by Reuters.
The aggregate earnings of S&P 500 companies have ⁠surged 52% in the second quarter, with much of that gain coming from Amazon , Microsoft and other AI heavyweights, according to LSEG.

With the S&P 500 trading just below record highs, the index is valued at about 20 times expected earnings. That is up from about 19 at the end of July and below 22 at the start of 2026. Workday dipped. The stock soared 18% on Thursday after Reuters reported that private equity firm Silver Lake was in talks to acquire the software firm. Shares of some drone makers gained after President Donald Trump said late on Thursday he would impose tariffs on imports of drones and their components. Red Cat and Unusual Machines both jumped.

New data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that while overall delinquency rates improved for overall debt burdens, new delinquencies rose slightly for auto loans and mortgages and remained elevated for credit cards.

The New York Fed found that aggregate delinquency rates improved in the second quarter of 2026, with 4.7% of outstanding debt in some stage of delinquency.

“Delinquency rates across most products have held steady over the past two years,” said Joelle Scally, economic policy advisor at the New York Fed. “Still, new delinquencies for auto loans and credit cards remain at elevated levels, a trend we’ll continue to monitor.”

Credit card debt that is over 30 days delinquent has remained relatively steady at about 9% of outstanding balances since it reached that level in 2024, while auto loans are at about 8% and mortgages around 4%.

INFLATION COOLED IN JULY BUT REMAINED ELEVATED AS FED WEIGHS RATE HIKES

For debt flowing into serious delinquency, which is defined as 90 days or more past due, those transitions have held relatively steady over the past year but have edged slightly higher.

Credit card delinquencies were slightly higher than a year ago, rising from 6.93% to 6.97% when comparing the second quarter of 2025 to 2026, respectively.

The share of auto loans that entered serious delinquency also rose over that period, rising from 2.93% to 3% when comparing the second quarter of 2025 to 2026. Mortgages entering serious delinquency also ticked higher from 1.29% to 1.52% in that period.

AUTO LOAN REFINANCING: HOW IT WORKS AND WHEN IT COULD SAVE YOU MONEY

Student loans were a notable exception, with the resumption of reporting defaulted student debt causing some distortions after the pandemic era pause on defaults concluded.

When excluding charged-off debt, new credit card delinquencies have been at around 3% of balances since 2024, with the most recent reading at 2.95%. Credit card debt that reached 90 days past due accounted for 6.97% of the balance in the latest quarter, while those that are beyond 90 days past due were at 2.3%.

The New York Fed noted in its analysis that, from the third quarter of 2022 to the first quarter of 2026, the percentage of credit card balances that were more than 90 days delinquent increased from 7.6% to 12.8%.

FED DISSENTERS WARN INFLATION COULD BECOME ENTRENCHED WITHOUT MONETARY POLICY TIGHTENING NOW

That stock figure includes charged-off debt, the inclusion of which was noted by economists as differing from the flows into delinquency that reflect a relatively steady level of consumer health.

New York Fed economists said they found the “stock delinquency rate is rising because of a pool of stale, charged-off debts that lenders have been reporting for longer durations, rather than a fundamental worsening in the incidence of delinquency.”

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Operator

Good morning, everyone, and thank you for waiting. Welcome to Braskem’s Second Quarter of 2026 Results Conference Call.

With us here today, we have Mr. Helcio Tokeshi, Braskem’s CEO; Mr. Carlos Brandao, Braskem’s CFO; and Mrs. Rosana Avolio, Investor Relations, Strategic Planning and Global Market Intelligence Director.

We inform you that this event is being recorded. The presentation will be held in Portuguese with simultaneous translation into English. All participants can choose which language to listen to and see the presentation using the show captions and view options button respectively. After Braskem remarks, there will be a Q&A session. Please be advised that questions must be sent through the Q&A button. I will now repeat the same instructions in Portuguese.

We inform you that this event is being recorded. The presentation will be held in Portuguese with simultaneous translation into English. All participants can choose which language to listen to and see the presentation using the show captions and view options button respectively. After Braskem remarks, there will be a question-and-answer session. Please note that questions should be submitted in writing through the Q&A button.

The audio of this event will be available on the Investor Relations website after it ends. We remind you that the participants will be able to submit questions to Braskem, which will be answered after the end of this conference by the RI (sic) [ IR ] department.

Before proceeding, we would like to clarify that any statements that may be made during this conference call regarding Braskem’s business prospects, projections, operational and financial goals are beliefs and

WeWork Global on Friday divested a 2.5 per cent stake in flexible workspace operator WeWork India Management for Rs 244 crore through open market transactions.

According to the block deal data on the BSE, WeWork Global through its affiliate, 1 Ariel Way Tenant Ltd, offloaded 35 lakh equity shares in five tranches, representing a 2.52 per cent stake in WeWork India Management.

The shares were disposed at an average price of Rs 697.55 apiece, taking the combined transaction to Rs 244.14 crore.

After the latest transaction, 1 Ariel Way Tenant Ltd’s holding in WeWork India Management declined to 12.3 per cent from 14.82 per cent.

Despite the stake sale, WeWork Global through its arm will remain the largest public shareholder in the company.

Meanwhile, Motilal Oswal Asset Management Company Ltd PMS, Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund (MF), ICICI Prudential MF, HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company Ltd, and Citigroup Global Markets Mauritius bought an equal number of shares at the same price.
Shares of WeWork India Management fell 1.57 per cent to close at Rs 707.80 apiece on the BSE.In July, WeWork India reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 4.30 crore for the first quarter of this fiscal year due to higher expenses.

The company had posted a net loss of Rs 14.10 crore in the year-ago period.

Its total income rose to Rs 700.74 crore during the April-June quarter of this fiscal year from Rs 545.71 crore in the corresponding period of the preceding year.

In 2017, WeWork India began as a joint venture between WeWork Global (US-based WeWork Inc) and Embassy Group. After WeWork Inc filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US, it moved to sell off its India stake entirely.

WeWork India is majority-owned and promoted by Embassy Group, and is the exclusive licensee of the WeWork brand in the country.

South Korea’s Kospi index entered a bull market again today, defined as a 20% rise from a recent low. Since the index’s recent bottom on July 30, it is up nearly 22%, including Thursday’s 3.6% gain. That is a quick turnaround: Its launch back into a bull-market territory happened over just 10 trading sessions.

LONDON — Britain’s benchmark FTSE 100 index closed lower Friday, extending its losing streak to a fifth consecutive session, as weakness in mining and pharmaceutical stocks offset an initially positive open driven by cooling U.S. inflation data.

The index closed down 22.56 points, or 0.21%, at 10,750.11. Trading ranged between a session high of 10,789.71 and a low of 10,723.66, following a previous close of 10,772.67. The FTSE 250, which tracks a broader set of mid-cap companies, moved in the opposite direction, ending up 29.71 points, or 0.1%, at 24,867.42, while the AIM All-Share index closed slightly higher at 800.92.

Friday’s session began on a stronger note, with London stocks initially set to open around 0.3% higher after Wall Street closed at fresh record highs overnight. That optimism followed a softer-than-expected U.S. inflation reading, which eased concerns about the Federal Reserve pursuing further interest rate increases and helped lift global risk appetite heading into the European trading day. The FTSE 100 briefly climbed as high as 10,846 in early trading before steadily giving back those gains through the rest of the session.

Mining stocks emerged as the primary drag on the index. Antofagasta led the declines, falling more than 3.7% after the company cut its copper production outlook, according to Trading Economics data. Fellow miners Glencore, Fresnillo and Endeavour Mining all declined by more than 2%, while Anglo American slipped roughly 1.8%, as weaker industrial metal prices weighed broadly across the sector. Pharmaceutical stocks added to the pressure, with AstraZeneca and GSK both falling more than 2%, ranking among the session’s steepest individual losses.

Not every part of the market moved lower. The Sage Group, Experian and Relx were among the day’s top performers, posting gains of 3.92%, 3.81% and 2.69%, respectively. Energy stocks also showed relative resilience, with Shell and BP trading slightly higher as oil prices remained supported amid ongoing tensions tied to the broader U.S.-Iran standoff, which continued to weigh on sentiment even as Friday’s specific market moves were driven more directly by the mining and pharmaceutical sectors.

David Morrison, senior analyst at Trade Nation, said Friday’s decline capped off an underwhelming week for London shares, one that left analysts debating whether the pullback reflected typical seasonal thinness in summer trading or something more significant. “It looks as if momentum on London is picking up to the downside,” Morrison said, pointing to the accumulating losses across the week as a signal worth watching closely in the sessions ahead.

For the week overall, the FTSE 100 finished down 1.4%, a notable pullback for the index following a stretch of relative stability. The FTSE 250 posted a modest weekly gain of 0.1%, while the AIM All-Share climbed 0.3% over the same period, reflecting a divergence between the large-cap index, weighed down heavily by its outsized exposure to mining and commodity-linked stocks, and the broader market.

Friday’s session also unfolded against the backdrop of fresh UK economic data, with investors continuing to digest the latest gross domestic product figures released earlier in the week. Weakness in the mining sector had already been a recurring theme across the preceding sessions, with Thursday’s trading also dragged lower by declines in the same group of resource-linked stocks even as broader UK GDP data offered a mixed picture of domestic economic momentum.

The FTSE 100’s struggles this week stand in contrast to the record-setting run enjoyed by U.S. markets over the same period, with the S&P 500 closing at a fresh all-time high Thursday after clearing the 7,800 mark for the first time in the index’s history. That divergence highlighted how sector composition has shaped each market’s performance differently in recent sessions, with London’s heavier weighting toward mining, energy and pharmaceutical companies leaving the index more exposed to commodity price swings and company-specific earnings disappointments than the more technology-heavy U.S. benchmarks.

Looking ahead, market participants are likely to continue monitoring commodity prices, particularly industrial metals, along with any further developments in the geopolitical situation surrounding Iran and its potential impact on oil markets, as key factors likely to shape the FTSE 100’s performance heading into the following week. With the index having now logged losses in five straight sessions, investors will also be watching closely for any signs of stabilization once the current run of company-specific pressures, particularly within the mining sector, begins to ease.

A popular hairstyling mousse sold to salons and consumers in multiple states is being recalled over a potential explosion hazard.

Henkel Corporation is voluntarily recalling certain 6.76-ounce cans of Schwarzkopf Professional Osis Grip Extra Strong Mousse, according to an Aug. 11 notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Germany-based company said a “potential packaging issue” could allow the product to leak from the aluminum cans while under pressure, creating an explosion hazard.

POPULAR REESE’S, ALMOND JOY ICE CREAM BARS RECALLED OVER LABELING ERROR

Henkel became aware of the problem after receiving one customer complaint and two reports from salons.

“Bruising on the hand was reported by the customer and no other injuries were identified,” the FDA noted.

Affected batch codes include:

• 2901X4577N, 2901X4578N, 290265P91O, 290665Q30O, 290855N31O, 290866R38P, 290994281N, 291046L06P, 291174W17N, 291435H76O, 291435H77O, 291455N33O, 291515A59O, 291515A99O, 291515B01O, 291555N33O, 291615B01O, 291616B68P, 291716B69P, 291825E960, 291925E96O, 292015B73O, 2928Y538BO, 2928Y539BO, 293066U32P

RECALL ISSUED FOR DOG AND HORSE MEDICATION AFTER GLASS FIBER FOUND IN VIALS

The recalled mousse was distributed through 21 distributors in Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Washington, according to the FDA.

It was also sold directly to hair professionals and consumers.

NEARLY 12 MILLION BOTTLES OF ROHTO EYE DROPS RECALLED OVER STERILITY CONCERNS, FDA ANNOUNCES

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Consumers who purchased one of the recalled cans are encouraged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

FOX Business reached out to Henkel for comment.

Corporate events offer a clear opportunity to showcase company values directly to industry leaders, potential clients, and business partners.

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Align Speaker Expertise with Strategic Goals

Every corporate event aims to hit specific targets, from boosting workforce motivation to announcing major commercial expansions. Industry research indicates that success depends on pairing speaker backgrounds directly with defined event objectives. Selecting an expert with relevant domain knowledge guarantees that every story shared resonates deeply with corporate attendees. Specialized knowledge adds credibility to your corporate message, making complex industry concepts accessible to all listeners.

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Plan Booking Timelines Far Ahead

Securing top corporate talent requires a forward-thinking strategy and early scheduling efforts. Booking industry leaders 6 to 12 months in advance is recommended to guarantee access to peak talent. Delaying outreach often leaves organizers with limited choices or compromised event schedules. High-profile presenters maintain packed schedules, so early contact protects your event date.

Early preparation provides ample time to coordinate presentation content, practice runs, and stage arrangements. Organizers can collaborate closely with speakers to tailor messages directly to attendee demographics. Long lead times guarantee smooth coordination and eliminate last-minute logistical friction. Thorough preparation gives marketing teams extra margin to build event publicity around confirmed keynotes.

Interactive Formats That Engage the Room

Modern corporate presentations are shifting away from traditional one-way lectures toward dynamic audience participation. Keynotes increasingly integrate elements that involve the audience directly, turning a speech into an experience[cite: 2]. Involving listeners directly maintains high energy levels throughout the presentation and keeps attention focused on core themes. Interactive presentation styles encourage attendees to reflect on how business concepts apply to their daily work.

Leaving time for audience interaction after a speech helps you forge valuable connections with potential clients and business partners. Direct conversations create genuine engagement, allowing prospective clients to clarify key concepts on the spot. Interactive sessions transform passive audience members into active participants in your corporate narrative. These open exchanges build commercial trust and strengthen long-term industry relationships.

Elevate Brand Perception Through Powerful Messaging

Presenters who deliver memorable messages rely on proven visual and structural tools to reinforce key ideas. Incorporating structured visual formats and clear takeaways guarantees high memory retention long after events finish.

• Research shows that people remember 95% of information from videos, compared to only 10% from text.
• Strong presentation skills empower audiences to see branding as more than image – as the key to influence and opportunity.
• Real-world case studies build immediate commercial credibility with decision-makers in the room.
• Clear action steps allow attendees to apply key concepts immediately within their organizations.

Combining compelling storytelling with structured visual aids elevates standard presentations into impactful brand statements. Commercial reach grows naturally when articulate presenters deliver practical, memorable takeaways.

Measuring Long-Term Impact From Keynote Presentations

Evaluating event success requires looking beyond immediate applause to track tangible business results. Gathering attendee feedback through post-event surveys provides clear data on message retention and brand perception changes. Tracking website visits, inbound leads, and contract conversions after the event helps quantify financial returns on event investments.

Repurposing keynote content across digital channels extends the lifespan of corporate events. Recording high-value speeches allows marketing teams to create short video clips, editorial articles, and social media posts. Sharing these key insights across digital platforms keeps your brand message active in industry discussions.

Selecting powerful speakers gives companies a clear advantage when communicating business goals to key stakeholders. Thoughtfully matched presenters build commercial trust, inspire action, and position organizations for long-term commercial success. Investing in experienced talent guarantees that every corporate presentation delivers measurable value and lasting audience impact.

A $900 million bet Google parent Alphabet took on Elon Musk‘s rocket company SpaceX in 2015 was worth roughly $94 billion at the end of June, a 100-fold jump, according to a Reuters report.

Alphabet is by far the largest single institutional shareholder in SpaceX following the company’s $86 billion IPO in June, a Reuters analysis of public quarterly filings found.

Other investors who disclosed their holdings after the IPO include early backer Fidelity Investments, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund — the Public Investment Fund — and Hancock Prospecting, the holding company controlled by Australian mining magnate Gina Rinehart.

The filings reveal the stakes SpaceX’s backers built as the company grew from a closely held startup into a publicly listed giant. Along with separate disclosures on early investments, including Alphabet’s, they show just how dramatically the value of some of those early bets has multiplied.

The 13F data is a snapshot as of June 30, filed up to six weeks later — it won’t reflect any buying or selling since then as per Reuters’ report. It also has limits given SpaceX’s vast investor base and the shifting timeline for when different stakes become eligible for public trading, the Reuters report said.

“It’s very, very difficult to tease out which of these institutions were holding pre-IPO shares,” said Steve Sosnick, market strategist at Interactive Brokers.
Alphabet had however revealed the $900 million investment in SpaceX in 2015, which has enabled measuring the extent of growth over time.Sosnick noted that the 13F filings don’t show investors’ lockup status or their plans for cashing in on pre-IPO gains.

Alphabet held 551.2 million SpaceX shares at the end of the quarter, valued at about $94.2 billion based on SpaceX’s June 30 price of $170.86, according to the filing. At Thursday’s price, the stake was worth roughly $77.9 billion, but still represented 86.5 times Alphabet’s original investment.

Fidelity Investments held 302.6 million SpaceX shares, followed by Gigafund Management with 171.8 million, Saudi Arabia’s PIF with 154.1 million, Baillie Gifford with 51.4 million and BlackRock with 51 million. Hancock Prospecting held 8 million shares.

The five largest reported holders made up for nearly three-quarters of SpaceX’s reported shares. Separately, SpaceX said Elon Musk owned a 48.4% stake in the company.

SpaceX was listed on June 12 at $135 a share. The stock closed at $141.29 on Thursday, up 4.7% from its IPO price but down 17.3% from its June 30 close.

Sosnick told Reuters that SpaceX remains one of the most actively traded stocks among customers at Interactive Brokers, receiving a “fresh jolt of buying last week when market fears about what would happen when the first lockup expiry arrived proved to be unfounded.”

SpaceX shares fell 3% on Thursday but remain up 30% since August 5. Retail investors turned net sellers for the first time since the IPO on Friday, selling a net $4.5 million worth of shares, according to Vanda Research, which tracks self-directed investors.