Time to recap….
The UK competition watchdog has opened an investigation into eight housebuilders following evidence they may be sharing commercially sensitive information.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched the probe amid concerns it could be affecting the development of sites and prices of new homes.
The CMA also warned that homeowners are often facing high and unclear charges for the management of facilities such as roads, drainage, and green spaces, and that the planning system is hampering house-building.
Shares in major housebuilders have fallen following the CMA’s announcement this morning, with Taylor Wimpey down 2.6% in afternoon trading and Persimmon off 1.8%.
In other news….
Retail sales at UK shops fell at a slower rate this month, while a measure of inflation dropped to its weakest in nearly three years, according to industry figures from the CBI.
Microsoft has struck a deal with French artificial intelligence start-up Mistral; it will see the US tech giant help to bring Mistral’s AI models to market.
A Franco-US bidding war is breaking out over UK logistics company Wincanton. French shipping firm CEVA Logistice lifted its existing offer, after America’s GXO made an approach which could lead to a rival bid.
Updated
The latest episode of our excellent series into myths around electric cars is live:
