After years of diplomatic arm-wrestling and mounting security concerns, Keir Starmer’s government has given China’s “mega embassy” the green light. Communities Secretary Steve Reed approved the controversial diplomatic hub near the City on Tuesday morning, ending months of delays and sparking immediate backlash from opposition parties, security hawks, and local residents. The decision—made after the planning application was “called in”—has reignited debates about national security, underground cables, and whether the UK is selling out for trade deals.

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UK inflation just threw economists a curveball. December’s consumer price index (CPI) hit 3.4% – higher than the 3.3% forecast – and it’s sending a clear message to the Bank of England: pump the brakes on those interest rate cuts.

London’s poshest postcodes just had their worst month since the financial crisis. Inner London house prices crashed 4.6% year-on-year in November—the steepest fall since 2008—as Budget speculation and affordability pressures sent the market into a tailspin.

FTSE 250 housebuilder Taylor Wimpey just doubled down on its digital strategy, signing a fresh deal with property portal Zoopla. The move comes as the company posted stronger home completions for 2025 but warned that weak buyer demand isn’t going anywhere fast. With first-time buyers staying cautious and Budget uncertainty lingering, Taylor Wimpey’s betting that better marketing data and higher-quality leads can help offset a tricky market ahead.

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Last week’s top story

The gloves are off. Trump’s tariff threats over Greenland sent the FTSE 100 and Wall Street tumbling on Tuesday as European leaders scrambled to respond without triggering a full-blown trade war. With the President doubling down on 10% levies against eight European nations including the UK, markets are ditching the old “TACO trade” playbook. Turns out, Trump 2026 isn’t chickening out. Here’s what’s happening and why your portfolio might be feeling the heat.

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Fancy buying Tesla shares at 3am on a Sunday? The New York Stock Exchange might soon make that possible. The exchange just announced plans for a blockchain-based platform enabling round-the-clock trading of tokenised stocks and ETFs—pending SEC approval. With instant settlement, stablecoin funding, and dollar-denominated orders, the NYSE is betting big that investors want markets that never sleep. Welcome to the future of trading.

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