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County Durham’s Banks Group returns to profit amid investment for future

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‘As we look back on our 50 years in business, we are proud to have supported many thousands of charitable, community and environmental causes’

Work has started on 109 new homes at the Cornfields site on the edge of Yarm

Work has started on 109 new homes at the Cornfields site on the edge of Yarm(Image: Banks Homes)

North East property and mining company Banks Group has returned to profit after its turnover rose sharply. The County Durham group has published accounts which show turnover of £43.4m, up from £27.1m seen a year earlier. The accounts, covering the year to the end of September 2025, report operating profit of £8.4m, having been a loss of £5.1m in the previous year.

Within the group, Banks’ mining division reported a turnover of £16m, there was £15.5m from Banks Homes and £10.8m from Banks Property.

Founder Harry Banks used the report to highlight how “the current planning system is unduly slow and unpredictable with significant delays across the UK leading to shortages in land available for much-needed new housing.” He added that Banks was investing in its operations to provide future growth.

The family-owned firm is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and has retained its headquarters in County Durham since being founded in Tow Law in 1976.

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Mr Banks said: “We’re immensely proud of our County Durham and North East heritage, which has been the foundation on which our growth, diversification and success has been based over the last 50 years. Our performance in 2025 was ahead of the previous year as we focussed on the future growth prospects for the business.

“We have continued to invest in our new house building arm, Banks Homes, which is well placed to deliver future growth and earnings, and believe we will deliver good growth and earnings in the coming years from the investments we are making across all our operations.”

Banks said it was working on housebuilding developments in West Rainton, Yarm, Wynyard and Hambleton in North Yorkshire. It was aiming to deliver an annual target of around 200 new homes a year by the end of 2027 and then 400 new homes a year by 2031.

The Banks Group has also continued to deliver grant funding to dozens of community groups and environmental projects across its operating areas during 2025.

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Mr Banks added: “As we look back on our 50 years in business, we are proud to have supported many thousands of charitable, community and environmental causes and to have helped to deliver long-lasting positive changes that make a real difference to people’s lives.”

The group’ headcount fell slightly during the year to an average of 168, but its wage bill rose to £11.9m, having been £10.7m in the previous year.

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

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SpaceX IPO: What to Watch the Rest of the Week

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Shares in Elon Musk's SpaceX are poised to start trading Friday.

SpaceX IPO: What to Watch the Rest of the Week

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One Stop Systems: The Growth Phase Is Just Beginning For This Smaller Defense/AI Gem

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One Stop Systems: The Growth Phase Is Just Beginning For This Smaller Defense/AI Gem

One Stop Systems: The Growth Phase Is Just Beginning For This Smaller Defense/AI Gem

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Square One Law expands into new offices in Leeds city centre

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‘This move gives Square One the space required to sustain our intended growth’

Square One Law is moving into the seventh floor of 7 Park Row

Square One Law is moving into the seventh floor of 7 Park Row(Image: Carter Towler)

Growing Newcastle law firm Square One Law is moving into new offices in the heart of Leeds. The company, which has its head office in the Fleming Business Centre in Jesmond, also has an office in Leeds where it offers clients services including banking and finance, dispute resolution, employment and intellectual property.

Now the firm is set to move from its office in One Park Row to 3,000sq ft of recently refurbished Grade A office space in 7 Park Row. The business is moving into the seventh floor of the building on a five-year lease, increasing its floorspace and boosting the firm’s ability to expand further.

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James Jackson of Leeds-based property consultancy Carter Towler brokered the deal.

Square One Law commercial property partner, Matthew Thompson, said: “This move into these fantastic, newly upgraded premises puts us precisely where we want to be – at the heart of a city we love. This move gives Square One the space required to sustain our intended growth, whilst also providing employees and visiting clients with the modern workspace and pleasant surroundings they deserve.

“Thank you to Carter Towler and particularly WSB, who acted on our behalf for helping us secure our spectacular new home.”

Mr Jackson of Carter Towler said: “The arrival of Square One Law at 7 Park Row is a resounding endorsement of the comprehensive multimillion-pound refurbishment recently completed at this special building. The transformation of 7 Park Row undertaken by the landlords has been superb – creating Grade A, amenity-driven, fully fitted & CAT A office suites in the heart of Leeds’ professional core.

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“It is also encouraging to see Square One Law performing so well and continuing to grow its presence in the market. The quality of its occupiers is an important ingredient in the success of 7 Park Row.”

The work was carried out by Augur Group and Firefly Capital Real Estate, who jointly acquired 7 Park Row in June 2024.

Inside 7 Park Row in Leeds

Inside 7 Park Row in Leeds(Image: Son Of Jack Photography)

Mr Jackson added: “The magnificent refurbishment of 7 Park Row has paid immediate dividends with both this and other recently completed lettings in the building. Only the 4,656 sq ft sixth floor now remains available to lease, either on a traditional CAT A basis or fully fitted.”

Elizabeth Ridler, partner at the Leeds office of property consultancy Knight Frank, joint marketing agents of 7 Park Row, added: “Park Row famously connects the financial and retail districts of the city centre and is one of the most sought-after business addresses in Leeds.

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“We have also launched the marketing of the basement floor, which will provide around 10,000 sq ft of space suitable for a variety of uses including leisure, medical and education. The newly configured space will have a capacity for up to 200 people and will be accessed via a new, highly prominent double height entrance on Park Row.

“Park Row has also been enhanced by the pedestrianisation of City Square, the planting of trees and the widening of pavements, making it an exceptionally attractive street.”

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Franklin Managed Income Fund Q1 2026 Commentary (FBFZX)

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Invesco AMT-Free Municipal Income Fund Q4 2025 Commentary (OPTAX)

Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN] is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 150 countries. Franklin Templeton’s mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the company offers specialization on a global scale, bringing extensive capabilities in fixed income, equity, alternatives and multi-asset solutions. With more than 1,300 investment professionals, and offices in major financial markets around the world, the California-based company has over 75 years of investment experience and over $1.4 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2023. For more information, please visit franklintempleton.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

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Elon Musk becomes world’s first trillionaire as SpaceX begins trading

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Elon Musk becomes world's first trillionaire as SpaceX begins trading
Elon Musk becomes the world's first trillionaire with SpaceX debut

Elon Musk just became the world’s first trillionaire.

With SpaceX opening on the Nasdaq at $150 a share Friday, his stake in the company is worth more than $766 billion. Combined with his Tesla stake, which is worth $280 billion, Musk’s net worth from both companies as of Friday is roughly $1.05 trillion.

The SpaceX IPO added more than $180 billion to Musk’s fortune. He’s now worth more than the next five richest billionaires in the world combined. His personal net worth is larger than the national GDPs of Taiwan, Ireland or Sweden.

Musk’s coronation as the first person in history to be worth $1 trillion is likely to add fuel to the debate over wealth inequality and the rise in power of America’s richest tech founders. Along with creating the world’s first trillionaire, the SpaceX IPO also minted thousands of new millionaires and several new billionaires among the employees and executives who own stock.

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Shares of SpaceX were trading about 20% higher shortly after their official debut, at around $164 apiece. That values the company at roughly $2 trillion.

Shares of Tesla were down about 1% midday Friday at roughly $395 apiece.

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Garrett Motion stock hits all-time high at 34.34 USD

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Garrett Motion stock hits all-time high at 34.34 USD

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Northwest European gasoline margins climb despite crude decline

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Northwest European gasoline margins climb despite crude decline

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Slideshow: Delivering delectable desserts

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Slideshow: Delivering delectable desserts

The dessert sector is making room for new cakes, doughs and creams. 

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Campbell’s, Buffalo Wild Wings launch soup collaboration

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Campbell’s, Buffalo Wild Wings launch soup collaboration

The Parmesan garlic-inspired soup contains 17 grams of protein. 

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Elon Musk becomes world’s first trillionaire following SpaceX IPO

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Elon Musk seeks $150B from OpenAI, claims company abandoned mission for profit

Elon Musk’s SpaceX began trading at $150 a share on Friday, above its listing price of $135 a share, making him the world’s first-ever trillionaire following the IPO.

The rocket and satellite company raised a record $75 billion, valuing the company at about $1.8 trillion, pushing the value of Musk’s stake in SpaceX to an estimated $690 billion. The company is trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker “SPCX” after pricing its IPO on Thursday.

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Combined with his holdings in electric vehicle maker Tesla, as well as other investments and assets, Musk’s net worth is now estimated at about $1.1 trillion.

SpaceX stock jumped after it began trading, rising to $168.75 a share before paring some of those gains to trade around $158 a share. It subsequently rebounded and reached a new high of $174.25.

OPENAI SIGNALS POTENTIAL STOCK MARKET DEBUT WHILE WEIGHING PRIVATE-COMPANY ADVANTAGES

Elon Musk arrives for the trial

Elon Musk founded SpaceX and continues to serve as its CEO. (Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

Investor demand for SpaceX has been intense. Reuters reported this week that the company attracted more than $250 billion in orders, while Bloomberg News reported Thursday that retail investors alone submitted more than $70 billion in requests for shares.

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The company is expected to allocate at least 20% of the offering to retail investors, according to Bloomberg — an unusually large portion for individual investors in a deal of this size.

FEDERAL JURY DELIVERS VERDICT ON MUSK’S LAWSUIT AGAINST OPENAI

SpaceX’s IPO raised $75 billion and was the largest IPO in history, surpassing the $29 billion IPO of Saudi Aramco in 2019.

The IPO cemented Musk’s status as the world’s richest person, pushing the value of his holdings toward $1 trillion, a milestone no individual has previously reached.

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SpaceX has grown into the world’s largest space company. (AFP via Getty Images)

Founded by Musk in 2002, SpaceX has grown into the world’s largest space company and a dominant force in commercial launch services. The company pioneered reusable rocket technology, helping lower launch costs and reshape the economics of the space industry. It has also become a key contractor for NASA and the U.S. government through civil and national security missions.

ANTHROPIC FILES CONFIDENTIALLY FOR IPO

Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet business, has emerged as a major growth engine, providing broadband connectivity to consumers, businesses and governments around the world. According to the company’s IPO filing, Starlink generated the majority of SpaceX’s $18.67 billion in revenue last year.

The public debut has long ranked among Wall Street’s most anticipated offerings. SpaceX spent years as one of the world’s most valuable private companies, with investors eager for an opportunity to buy shares in the business.

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SpaceX launches Starship on May 27, 2025

SpaceX is the leading provider of commercial space launch services. (Joe Skipper/Reuters)

According to the IPO filing, SpaceX will maintain a dual-class share structure that leaves control firmly in Musk’s hands. Class B shares will carry 10 votes each, while publicly traded Class A shares will carry one vote apiece. Musk is expected to retain roughly 85% of the company’s voting power following the offering.

Some 4,400 current and former SpaceX employees also stand to become millionaires through stock compensation accumulated during their time at the company, according to The New York Times, citing an analysis by investment platform Hill.com.

SpaceX executives ring the opening bell at the Nasdaq.

SpaceX CFO Bret Johnsen, center left, and President Gwynne Shotwell, center, during the company’s IPO at the Nasdaq MarketSite. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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If shares trade above their offering price following Friday’s debut, SpaceX’s valuation could climb even higher, potentially pushing Musk’s net worth beyond the trillion-dollar threshold while rewarding thousands of employees and investors who backed the company during its rise.

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This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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