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Aston Martin to cut 500 jobs as profit plunges 37% amid tariff pressures

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British luxury carmaker consulting on cutting 20% of workforce as revenue slumps 21% to £1.3bn, but expects material improvement in 2026 with Valhalla supercar deliveries

Aston Martin has taken a hit from tariffs.

Aston Martin

Aston Martin is set to slash its workforce by approximately a fifth after the company’s financial performance suffered from President Donald Trump’s unpredictable tariff policies.

The British manufacturer announced on Wednesday it had recognised a provision of £18.7m in relation to anticipated restructuring costs as it consults on reducing 20 per cent of its global workforce as part of an operational review.

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In its most recent annual report, the luxury carmaker, renowned for its connection with the James Bond film franchise, employed just under 3,000 staff, suggesting redundancies of more than 500 workers.

It has it HQ in Gaydon in the West Midlands as well as a factory at St Athan in South Wales.

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Pressure has intensified on the carmaker amid heightened international trade tensions. Over the past year, the group’s wholesale volumes dropped 10 per cent to 5,448 units.

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Meanwhile revenue plummeted 21 per cent to £1.3bn, pulling down profit 37 per cent to £370m, as reported by City AM.

Adrian Hallmark, Aston Martin chief executive, said: “In 2025, we navigated a highly challenging trading environment whilst delivering on critical operational milestones.

“An unprecedented backdrop of geopolitical uncertainties and macroeconomic pressures, including heightened tariffs in the US and China, weighed on our performance and ability to execute our plans effectively.”

Trump tariffs strike carmakers.

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Last May, UK car production tumbled to its lowest level since 1949 as manufacturers bore the brunt of the US’ trade policy. Following Trump’s introduction of substantial tariffs on foreign-manufactured vehicles, British companies including Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover were compelled to halt US-bound shipments from April.

In October, the manufacturer attributed a combination of economic pressures and the continuing impact of tariffs as it cautioned sales would decline year on year.

Aston Martin is forecasting a “material improvement” for the year ahead, with approximately 500 deliveries of its limited-edition hybrid supercar Valhalla and the advantages of its transformation strategy.

Hallmark described the commencement of Valhalla as the “highlight of the year”.

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“Looking ahead, I remain confident that our strategy and upcoming products will position us strongly for future success. In 2026, we expect to deliver a material improvement in financial performance and continue delivering year-on-year improvements over the short-mid-term with a focus on margin expansion and cash flow generation,” he added.

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Form 13G Templeton Emerging Markets Fund For: 25 February

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Form 13G Templeton Emerging Markets Fund For: 25 February

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Tesco to cut 180 jobs within its head office

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Tesco to cut 180 jobs within its head office

Chief executive Ken Murphy says Tesco must be “efficient and agile” to compete.

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Ingredient that replaces eggs receives kosher certification

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Ingredient that replaces eggs receives kosher certification

Umami United offers ProBake Binder.

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Coupang (CPNG) Stock Dips to $18.59 Ahead of Q4 2025 Earnings, Analysts Eye Regulatory Risks

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Coupang

Coupang Inc.’s shares traded near $18.59 on February 24, 2026, down modestly amid investor caution over potential regulatory scrutiny in Korea and the United States, as well as costs from its Taiwan expansion, with the e-commerce giant set to report fourth-quarter 2025 results on February 26.

Coupang
Coupang

As of February 24, 2026, Coupang (NYSE: CPNG) closed at $18.59, up 0.05% on the day after fluctuating in a range of $17.66 to $18.74 with volume of approximately 26.1 million shares. The stock has declined about 5-6% over the past week and remains well below 2025 highs near $34, reflecting a year-to-date pullback in 2026. Market capitalization hovers around $33-34 billion.

The recent pressure stems from broader concerns in the Korean internet sector and U.S. political dynamics. On February 24, shares slipped as investors weighed whether Coupang could become a bargaining chip in potential trade talks, following interim CEO Harold Rogers’ closed-door deposition before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on February 23. Regulatory investigations tied to a November 2025 data breach have also weighed on sentiment, contributing to share weakness.

Coupang is scheduled to release Q4 2025 earnings after market close on February 26, with a conference call at 5:30 p.m. ET. The Zacks consensus estimates revenue of $9.14 billion—up 14.78% year-over-year—while projecting EPS of $0.02, down 50% from the year-ago quarter. The earnings mark has declined slightly in recent weeks, signaling caution around profitability pressures from international growth and the data breach fallout.

The company has expanded aggressively into Taiwan, with costs contributing to margin compression in recent periods. Analysts note that while revenue growth remains solid—driven by core South Korean operations, Rocket Delivery, and e-commerce momentum—profitability faces headwinds from these investments. Q3 2025 results showed EPS of $0.05 on $9.3 billion in revenue, beating expectations, but Q4 guidance and commentary will be key to assessing the Taiwan trajectory.

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On the analyst front, views are mixed. UBS lowered its price target to $25 from $35 on February 19, 2026, while maintaining a Buy rating, citing regulatory scrutiny as a drag. Bernstein initiated coverage on February 5 with an Underperform rating and $17 target, reflecting caution in the Korean internet space. Consensus among 11 analysts leans Hold to Moderate Buy, with average 12-month price targets around $27.70—implying about 49% upside from current levels. High targets reach $40, low ends around $17.

Coupang’s core business benefits from strong market position in South Korea, with high customer loyalty through fast delivery and membership perks. The company continues investing in logistics, private-label products, and international markets to diversify beyond domestic reliance. Recent small-business initiatives, such as helping Pennsylvania companies expand globally via Coupang, highlight efforts to strengthen ecosystem ties.

Risks include competitive intensity from local and global players, potential trade policy impacts, and execution on profitability amid expansion costs. The data breach investigations add uncertainty, though management has emphasized containment and customer protection.

The February 26 earnings release will provide critical updates on revenue trends, margin progress, Taiwan performance, and 2026 guidance. Positive surprises on subscriber growth or cost controls could spark a rebound; signs of prolonged pressure might extend downside.

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Coupang remains a key player in Asian e-commerce, with its logistics network and customer-centric model offering long-term potential. As the company navigates regulatory and expansion challenges, investor focus will center on proving sustainable profitability in 2026.

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Sports village and hundreds of homes planned for Preston development

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Backers aim to create ‘high-quality’ hub for ‘local grassroots sport’

Longridge Town FC ground

Longridge Town FC’s ground(Image: Levitt Bernstein, via Preston City Council planning portal)

More than 200 homes and a raft of new and upgraded sports facilities could be created on the outskirts of Preston as part of a major residential and leisure development.

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The proposed Longridge Sports Village scheme would provide a “high-quality” hub for “local grassroots sport”, according to the organisations behind it.

Provision for football, gymnastics, padel and informal runs would sit alongside up to 220 new dwellings, all which would fall into the discounted ‘affordable homes’ category. More than 40 of the proposed properties are flats designed specifically for older people.

A 12-hectare site to the north west of the town has been earmarked for the project, adjacent to Longridge Town Football Club and Longridge Cricket Club.

Plans for the site – bounded by Inglewhite Road and Chipping Lane – first emerged last year when a public consultation was carried out into an initial blueprint.

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Now, Longridge-based Steel Work Construction and Preston social housing provider Community Gateway Association have submitted an outline proposal to Preston City Council, seeking planning permission for the project – which they say will plug “a recognised deficit in local sports provision”.

Their joint application sets out the specifics of the sporting plans, which include the creation of a seven-a-side 3G football pitch to serve the needs of Longridge Town’s junior club and the 300 players that make up its 20 teams. The facility would, it is claimed, put an end to the weather-related cancellations that beset the junior fixtures during winter – and would also be used by the senior team for training.

The existing grass pitch for the first team would be retained, with the clubhouse extended and improvements made for spectators.

Elsewhere, four covered padel courts are planned – for which there was “strong local support” expressed in last year’s public consultation, the application states.

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Meanwhile a permanent, purpose-built base is proposed for Longridge Gymnastics Club, which is currently forced to operate from rented facilities four miles out of town in Ribbleton.

A 1.5km “recreational running and walking route” also forms part of the plans – a facility that would be “integrated into the site’s network of green spaces for the benefit of the whole community”.

The plot sits in the open countryside, making it a location that would not usually be deemed suitable for significant development. However, the planning statement accompanying the sports village proposal stresses that it is not a “remote, isolated landscape”.

It adds that the surrounding area has become “an established focus for the town’s recent residential growth”, with planning permissions granted for new housing along Halfpenny Lane, Inglewhite Road, and Chipping Lane – making the sports village site “a logical and sustainable extension of the built-up area, rather than an intrusion into undeveloped countryside”.

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Meanwhile, an odour assessment undertaken on behalf of the applicants concluded there was only a “slight and not significant” risk of smells from the nearby pig farming operation at Belmont Farm affecting future residents and leisure users.

The proximity of the piggery was highlighted by the city council last year when it considered – and decided against – requiring an environmental impact assessment as part of the planning application for the sports village.

The assessment found that the southernmost parts of the site would be most affected by odours – and so that zone will not be used for residential development.

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River Point Farms adds to onion portfolio

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River Point Farms adds to onion portfolio

Individually quick-frozen line joins company’s fresh pack and fresh-cut offerings. 

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Co-founders launch espresso soda startup

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Co-founders launch espresso soda startup

Esspo is formulated with 120 mg of caffeine, 240 mg of L-Theanine. 

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CleanSpark (CLSK) Stock Surges 5.4% to $10.35 on AI Pivot Momentum, Despite Q1 2026 Loss Widening

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CleanSpark Inc

CleanSpark Inc.’s stock rallied 5.4% to close at $10.35 on February 24, 2026, rebounding from recent pressure as investors focused on the company’s strategic shift toward high-performance computing (HPC) and AI infrastructure, even after reporting a wider-than-expected net loss in fiscal first-quarter 2026 results released earlier in February.

CleanSpark Inc
CleanSpark Inc

As of February 24, 2026, CleanSpark (NASDAQ: CLSK) traded in a session range of $9.59 to $10.60 with volume exceeding 25.9 million shares, reflecting heightened activity amid the recovery. Pre-market trading on February 25 pushed shares higher to around $10.56-$10.63, suggesting continued interest. The shares have shown volatility year-to-date in 2026 but remain elevated from 2025 lows, with a 52-week range spanning lower levels to recent peaks near $23 in prior periods. Market capitalization hovers around $2.5 billion to $3 billion, depending on intraday moves.

The February 24 gain came despite a challenging Q1 fiscal 2026 earnings report on February 5, 2026 (for the quarter ended December 31, 2025). CleanSpark posted revenue of $181.2 million, up 11.6% year-over-year but missing analyst estimates of around $194 million. The company reported a net loss of $378.7 million—significantly wider than prior periods—and an EPS of -$1.35, far below consensus forecasts of $0.09 to $0.26. Gross margins contracted to 47% from 57% year-over-year, reflecting higher operational costs during the transition.

Management attributed the miss to reduced Bitcoin mining contributions amid price volatility and investments in HPC infrastructure. However, executives emphasized progress in securing AI data center leases, with the first expected soon. The pivot positions CleanSpark to capitalize on surging demand for compute power, leveraging its sustainable energy model and existing facilities.

Analysts maintain a cautiously optimistic view. Consensus among 12-14 firms rates CLSK a Moderate Buy to Strong Buy, with average 12-month price targets around $19.19 to $20.60—implying 85-100% upside from the February 24 close. Sanford C. Bernstein raised its target to $24 from $20 in late 2025, maintaining an Outperform rating. Other updates include Chardan Capital lowering to $16 from $30 in early February 2026 while keeping a Buy, and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reducing to $14 from $18 but staying Outperform. Wall Street Zen shifted to Sell in November 2025, citing execution risks.

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The company continues expanding its fleet, with operational updates highlighting increased hashrate and energy efficiency. January 2026 metrics showed progress toward targets, though Bitcoin exposure remains a volatility driver. CleanSpark’s focus on low-cost, sustainable power differentiates it in the competitive mining and HPC landscape.

Upcoming catalysts include the next earnings report for fiscal Q2 2026, estimated around May 7, 2026. Analysts project an EPS of around -$0.25 to -$0.38 and revenue near $164 million. Investors will scrutinize HPC lease announcements, margin trends, cost controls, and guidance revisions amid the AI infrastructure boom.

CleanSpark navigates a transitional phase, balancing legacy Bitcoin mining with emerging HPC opportunities. While Q1 results highlighted profitability challenges during the shift, the AI pivot and analyst upside targets support optimism for recovery. With shares rebounding and trading at levels offering substantial potential if execution improves, CleanSpark remains a high-beta play in the digital asset and compute sector.

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Opinion: Gas up for energy insurance role

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Opinion: Gas up for energy insurance role

OPINION: The flexibility of gas cements its value as a transitional energy source.

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Greer signals tariffs may rise to 15% or higher for some countries

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Greer signals tariffs may rise to 15% or higher for some countries

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer signaled tariffs could rise for some countries early Wednesday, telling FOX Business they may increase to 15% or higher as President Trump continues his push for economic leverage.

“Even right now, we have the 10% tariff, it’ll go up to 15 for some, and then it may go higher for others,” Greer said on “Mornings with Maria.”

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“I think it will be in line with the types of tariffs we’ve been seeing. We want to have continuity in this program,” he added.

TRUMP ANNOUNCES ‘FINAL’ 25% TARIFF ON COUNTRIES DOING BUSINESS WITH IRAN REGIME

Jamieson Greer

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer speaks during an Economic Club of New York luncheon in New York on Sept. 30, 2025. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The comments come as U.S. trading partners, including the European Union, have sought clarity on how the administration plans to implement its revised tariff strategy following a recent Supreme Court setback.

Greer said the administration is preparing to launch a series of investigations under existing trade authorities in the coming days and weeks, including Section 301 probes targeting what he described as unfair trading practices.

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HOW SHOULD BUSINESSES APPROACH TARIFF REFUNDS?

Then-U.S. President-elect Donald Trump smiling during a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix, Arizona.

Then-President-elect Donald Trump smiles during Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest on Dec. 22, 2024 in Phoenix, Ariz. The president has vowed to work around the Supreme Court’s recent tariff ruling to continue implementing his global economic strategy. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

“These include things like people who use forced labor in their supply chains,” Greer explained, adding that the U.S. would also examine countries accused of building industrial excess capacity and flooding American markets.

Under the process, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative would issue a Federal Register notice, open a public comment period, and hold hearings, giving countries an opportunity to address those concerns before additional tariffs are imposed, he noted.

“We think that the deals that we’ve made with these folks actually tend to address, at least in part, some of the practices I’m talking about,” he said.

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“With Indonesia, for example, we will run an investigation. We’ll look at industrial excess capacity. We’ll look at what they’re doing in fishing and that kind of thing, and we’ll run that investigation, and then we’ll bump it up against what they’ve agreed to do and what we think the problem is. Then, we make a determination on what kind of tariff should apply,” he said.

“We expect to have continuity in what we’re doing,” he said. 

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