1. Thames Water crisis deepens as parent defaults on bonds
Lenders were asked to take no action to give it a "stable platform while all options are explored".
2. FTSE 100 tanks on weak macro data
The FTSE 100 index sat 69 points lower at 7,906 in late trading.
3. Shell increases production guidance, cautions on renewables losses
Reacting to the update, Jefferies highlighted that Shell’s trading guidance addressed investor concerns around gas trading normalisation.
4. ISAs hailed as one of UK’s ‘biggest success stories’ on 25th birthday
"ISAs are one of the UK’s biggest success stories, with around 22 million adults in the UK holding savings [worth] £741.6 billion," analysts said.
5. Macro data paints bleak picture for UK housing and retail markets
Retails faced their worst six months since the pandemic, house prices stagnated, but UK construction and US jobs data appeared positive.