BUSINESS LIVE: Revolution rejects Nightcap offer; Bunzl buys Nisbets; Victorian Plumbing revenues dip

Most water companies’ requests to hike consumer bills to as high as £900 a year by 2030 in England and Wales are expected to be rejected by the regulator Ofwat.

Suppliers want to charge customers up to 91 per cent more over the next five years – but some firms will get just half of their requested increases, reported The Guardian.

The Conservatives have promised the state pension will never be taxed under plans it dubs ‘triple lock plus’.

The personal allowance, the amount you can earn without paying income tax, will be hiked at a special higher rate for pensioners.

Revolution Bars has turned down a proposed takeover by fellow hospitality chain Nightcap, claiming it is ‘incapable of being delivered.’

The London-listed firm confirmed earlier this month that it had been speaking about a possible acquisition deal with Nightcap, whose founder is former Dragons Den star Sarah Willingham.

As a financial coach the question I am most often asked is “how much should I be saving?”. This is a question that requires further probing to give a tailored answer as there is no one-size-fits-all approach to personal finance.

However, there are some general budgeting tips that can help individuals create good saving habits, live debt free and enjoy their best, affordable, lifestyle.

Interest rates in Europe are set to be cut next week, stepping up pressure on the Bank of England to follow suit.

Policymakers at the European Central Bank (ECB) are preparing to lower borrowing costs from a historic high when they meet on Thursday.

The most important factors drivers consider when it comes to choosing a new electric vehicle (EV) have been revealed in a new survey.

Price and range are the two purchasing factors new EV buyers prioritise the most, scoring 52 per cent and 45 per cent respectively in the poll from Direct Line EV Insurance.

Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves will tomorrow promise to lead the ‘most pro-growth Treasury’ in history in a bid to attract business back to Britain.

In a speech to business leaders she will vow that a Labour government will give companies a ‘bedrock of stability’ in which to operate.

Savers with large pensions are keen to know whether Labour plans to curb how much you can save for retirement without facing a tax penality.

The Tory Government abolished the old £1.073million lifetime allowance last year, but Labour said at the time the party would bring it back if elected.

Diamonds have been the core of Anglo American since the modern company was created by Ernest Oppenheimer nearly a century ago.

In an industry where brands stand for little, De Beers is the great exception.

The British maker of Flora and Branston has been bought by an Italian food giant for £700million.

Liverpool-based Princes Group has been sold by Mitsubishi Corporation to Newlat Food.

Union bosses have warned the ‘Czech Sphinx’ could press ahead with plans to cut up to 1,000 posties if he succeeds in his bid to buy Royal Mail.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) is set to hold talks with the billionaire businessman Daniel Kretinsky in early June if a deal goes ahead.

The pound at 8am was 1.2772 dollars compared to 1.2771 dollars at the previous close.