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UK firms hit by energy and supply shocks but confidence remains resilient

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UK firms hit by energy and supply shocks but confidence remains resilient

More than three quarters of UK businesses are already feeling the impact of the Middle East conflict, as rising energy costs and supply chain disruption begin to feed through into operations, yet confidence at the firm level remains notably resilient.

New research from Barclays, based on a survey of more than 500 business leaders, shows that 66 per cent of companies are experiencing pressure from higher fuel and energy prices, while half report moderate to significant disruption to supply chains.

The findings highlight the speed at which geopolitical instability is affecting day-to-day business activity, with shipping and logistics costs also rising for 43 per cent of firms, adding further strain to margins.

Companies are already responding by adjusting operations and cutting costs. Around 37 per cent have taken steps to reduce energy usage or improve efficiency across their supply chains, while nearly a third have increased prices to offset rising expenses.

Other measures include reducing discretionary spending and tightening overall cost control, with many firms expecting to intensify these actions over the coming months. More than a third are planning further price increases, signalling that cost pressures are likely to continue feeding through to consumers.

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The data suggests that while businesses are adapting quickly, the cumulative effect of higher costs and uncertainty is beginning to reshape decision-making across sectors.

Access to finance is emerging as a key factor in maintaining resilience. Barclays’ research shows that 41 per cent of businesses see support with cashflow management as essential, while 39 per cent highlight the importance of working capital and short-term credit.

Existing cash reserves are also playing a crucial role, with more than 80 per cent of firms identifying them as vital in navigating current conditions. Trade finance and cross-border payment solutions are similarly viewed as important tools for managing disruption in international markets.

Abdul Qureshi, head of business banking at Barclays, said the current environment presents a “convergence of pressures” for UK firms.

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“For SMEs, dependable cash flow and access to working capital are increasingly important, not only to keep operations running, but to safeguard future growth plans,” he said.

The impact of rising costs is already being reflected in consumer spending patterns. Barclays data shows fuel spending rose by nearly 11 per cent year-on-year at the onset of the conflict, driven by higher prices and demand.

At the same time, discretionary spending is beginning to soften, with spending on holidays and travel falling by almost 8 per cent as households adopt a more cautious approach to their finances.

This shift in consumer behaviour is likely to create additional headwinds for businesses, particularly those reliant on non-essential spending.

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Despite these challenges, the research reveals a striking divergence between business-level confidence and broader economic sentiment.

While 78 per cent of firms remain confident in their own prospects and 74 per cent are optimistic about their sector, confidence in the wider economy is significantly weaker. Fewer than half of respondents expressed confidence in the UK economy, with even lower levels for the global outlook.

This suggests that while businesses believe they can manage current pressures internally, there is growing concern about the external environment and its longer-term implications.

Most business leaders expect geopolitical uncertainty to weigh on investment and growth plans over the next year, although the majority anticipate only a moderate impact. A smaller proportion, around one in ten, foresee a significant constraint on their operations.

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Matt Hammerstein, chief executive of Barclays UK Corporate Bank, said firms are being forced to balance immediate challenges with long-term planning.

“Businesses are having to manage disruption today while remaining ready to invest and grow when conditions improve,” he said.

The findings paint a picture of an economy under pressure but not yet in retreat. UK businesses are adapting to rising costs and uncertainty, drawing on cash reserves and financial support to maintain stability.

However, the persistence of energy price volatility and geopolitical risk means the coming months will be critical.

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While confidence at the firm level remains strong, the widening gap with broader economic sentiment suggests that resilience may be tested further if external conditions deteriorate, particularly if cost pressures intensify or demand weakens.


Amy Ingham

Amy is a newly qualified journalist specialising in business journalism at Business Matters with responsibility for news content for what is now the UK’s largest print and online source of current business news.

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JPMorgan, Caterpillar Stock Among 11 Companies To Announce Dividend Increases In June

This article was written by

I’m an individual investor looking to grow my wealth over the long term. I’ve tried many different styles of investing over the last 25 years and have found that buying dividend growth stocks and reinvesting the dividends is one of the easiest ways to grow wealth over the long term. Over the years, I’ve owned stocks, options, ETFs, treasury notes, and mutual funds. I operate a blog, HarvestingDividends.com, that provides information on the S&P Dividend Aristocrats and other dividend growth stocks.

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of FLO either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

I may take or change my position(s) in any of the stocks mentioned in this article in the near future.

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Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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Zomedica Corp. (ZOMDF) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

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OneWater Marine Inc. (ONEW) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Operator

Welcome to Zomedica’s First Quarter 2026 Financial Results and focus on the companion animal vet tech market. Today, we’ll examine the largest and most consistent segment in veterinary medicine, companion animal care and the role it plays in driving recurring scalable growth. We’ll walk through the market opportunity and how Zomedica is positioned within daily clinical workflows.

Before we begin, I want to remind current and potential investors that we will be making various remarks about future expectations, plans and prospects that are considered forward-looking statements. There are risks that actual results may differ from these statements. We refer you to the safe harbor statement on screen or to the Risk Factors sections of our public filings, which can be found on our website under Investor filings, EDGAR and SEDAR+. The statements are made as of today, May 29, 2026, and reflect our expectations as of today. Thank you for joining us for Zomedica’s investor webinar series. We’re excited to have you with us as we take a closer look at our company, our innovative product platforms and the passionate people driving our success. This series is designed to give you a deeper understanding of how we’re delivering value to veterinarians and to our shareholders.

At Zomedica, our mission is to deliver innovative diagnostic and therapeutic technologies that empower veterinarians to focus on what they love most, enhancing pet care and improving pet parent satisfaction. Equally important, we help vets with what they need most, streamlining workflow, increasing cash flow and boosting practice profitability. At Zomedica, our mission is guided by what we call our 5

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Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX) Presents at Bernstein 42nd Annual Strategic Decisions Conference Transcript

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OneWater Marine Inc. (ONEW) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX) Bernstein 42nd Annual Strategic Decisions Conference May 27, 2026 8:00 AM EDT

Company Participants

Michael Mahoney – Chairman, President & CEO
Ken Stein – Senior VP & Global Chief Medical Officer

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Conference Call Participants

Lee Hambright – Bernstein Institutional Services LLC, Research Division

Presentation

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Lee Hambright
Bernstein Institutional Services LLC, Research Division

All right. Hi, everybody. I’m Lee Hambright, U.S. medtech analyst at Bernstein. We’re very pleased to kick off the Strategic Decision Conference again with Boston Scientific. We’ve got Mike Mahoney, Chairman and CEO; and Ken Stein, Chief Medical Officer. Thanks so much, guys, for being here.

Michael Mahoney
Chairman, President & CEO

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Thank you for having us.

Question-and-Answer Session

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Lee Hambright
Bernstein Institutional Services LLC, Research Division

For those of you in the audience, if you have questions, you can enter them in the pigeon hole tool. I will try to work in as many as I can. Mike, maybe kicking off, you’re in your 15th year at Boston Scientific, and you’ve transformed the company from flattish growth when you joined to 16% organic growth over the past couple of years. 2026 is a little bit of a transition year. Maybe you could kick us off with a few thoughts on the state of the business.

Michael Mahoney
Chairman, President & CEO

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Sure. Good morning. Thanks for coming, everybody. As you said, we’re very proud of the company and what we’ve built over the years, the markets that we’re competing in. We think we still compete in markets that grow at least 8% as we said at our Investor Day last year. So we’ve really positioned ourselves in the right growth markets.

You’ve seen some recent announcements with the Penumbra shareholder vote and investment in MiRus and other investments. So we really invest for the company

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5,000+ slot reviews fuel demand for smarter casino comparison technology

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5,000+ slot reviews fuel demand for smarter casino comparison technology

With more than 5,000 individual slot reviews, comparison platforms can evaluate online casinos based on actual performance rather than just headline bonuses.

Casinos offer more choices now than ever. But that choice can be a trap. A bonus seems generous, a slot page looks polished, and a five-star badge feels reassuring. Then come the details. Wagering rules bite, withdrawals take longer than expected, and RTP settings are not always obvious. The result is frustration among players and reduced trust in operators. Smarter casino-comparison technology addresses that problem by reading beyond surface-level claims. It turns large review libraries into practical checks on value, fairness, speed, transparency, and real user experience.

Data volume changes how casinos are assessed

Five thousand slot reviews create more than a content library. Used properly, they become a working map of casino performance.

A single review can say whether a game looks good or runs well on mobile. Across a larger review base, https://www.online-slot.co.uk/ fits into a wider shift toward comparison tools that show which operators publish clear RTP values, which providers offer multiple payout variants, and where complaints are concentrated.

Return to player percentages, volatility, certification, payment speed, customer support, and identity checks all of which affect the experience. Stronger comparison sites consider every page on a slot or casino as a number.

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They compare advertised RTP with supplier information, verify recognized studios, and track withdrawal concerns in user feedback. Certified RNG audits add another layer by confirming random outcomes under approved standards.

The pushes casino reviewing is closer to business analysis. The sharper question is how a site performs when money, verification, bonus rules, and customer support are tested.

Bonus terms face closer scrutiny

Bonus offers still attract clicks, but hidden costs often decide their real value. Wagering rules, maximum bets, excluded games, expiry windows, and withdrawal caps can quickly weaken a promotion.

When a £100 bonus carries a 40x wagering requirement, a player has to churn £4,000 before seeing any cash. Modern comparisons can no longer stop at game choice. They must factor in the specific conditions and eligible titles that define a bonus’s true value.

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A high-RTP slot may be blocked from wagering, some games may count only 10% toward completion, and one maximum bet breach can void winnings.

Plain language now matters commercially and from a regulatory standpoint. UK-facing operators operate under strict expectations for advertising, fairness, and transparency, while review platforms provide readers with clearer financial examples before they deposit.

Review platforms influence decision-making

Casino comparison sites shape player choices before registration. Most users will not read every term page, audit note, or payment policy, so they rely on review platforms to filter the details.

That influence carries risk. Rankings based on affiliate earnings can push players to casinos with inconsistent payouts or unclear promotions. The biggest casinos consider licensing, payout history, bonus descriptions, game selection, mobile usability, support, and complaints.

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One poor support ticket should not define a casino. Repeated withdrawal delays across many users should. For publishers, earned rankings build trust, keep readers engaged, and encourage return visits.

Technology supports deeper comparison

The most useful technology sits behind the page. RTP tracking APIs can compare payout data across game catalogs, whilecertified RNG audit records can be checked against supplier and licensing information. Text analysis can also flag risky bonus clauses before players miss them.

Two casinos may offer the same branded slot, but one may use a lower RTP version. A stronger comparison system records the provider, RTP figure, volatility, bonus eligibility, and play restrictions. Complaint analysis adds context by grouping repeated issues, such as slow withdrawals after verification.

The best systems do not replace editors. Data finds the pattern. Human review decides what it means.

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Operators respond to changing expectations

Poor comparison scores now carry a real cost for casino operators.

Acquiring a depositing player can involve paid search, affiliate fees, welcome bonuses, compliance checks, payment processing, email marketing, and support time. Losing that player due to unclear terms or a delayed withdrawal wastes the money already spent.

Retention is often cheaper than replacement. Clear bonus pages reduce disputes, visible RTP information builds confidence, fast verification improves the first withdrawal, and direct support protects review scores.

Conversely, vague promotions increase support pressure, weaken repeat deposits, and give comparison platforms reason to rank clearer competitors higher.

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A move toward performance-based evaluation

Casino comparison is shifting from broad praise to measured performance. Large slot review databases now support scoring on RTP visibility, RNG audit records, withdrawal behaviour, bonus fairness, mobile performance, complaint history, and support quality.

That makes each review less like a sales page and more like a record of how a casino actually operates. For publishers, structured comparison data is harder to copy than shallow rankings. For players, it means fewer surprises after sign-up. For operators, marketing may win the first click, but performance earns the repeat visit.

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