Business
Energy boss says China’s tech marks ‘golden opportunity’ for UK
The head of Britain’s largest energy supplier has warned that the UK risks being “left behind” if it fails to collaborate with China on renewable technology, suggesting that importing Chinese wind farm innovations could create thousands of jobs.
Greg Jackson, founder and chief executive of Octopus Energy, recently accompanied Sir Keir Starmer on a UK delegation to China. He emphasised China’s significant advancements in technology and renewables, which he believes could provide Britain with crucial energy security.
This push for closer ties follows Octopus Energy’s recent joint venture with Chinese firm PCG Power, marking its first expansion into China.
The agreement will enable Octopus to trade renewable energy within the world’s largest clean energy market.
Furthermore, Octopus has previously indicated its desire to deploy wind turbines from leading Chinese manufacturers across its UK projects, utilising the country’s renewable technology to enhance Britain’s capabilities.
However, these potential collaborations are set against a backdrop of ongoing national security concerns regarding China, following a period of strained relations between the two nations.
Mr Jackson told the Press Association: “However you feel about China, it’s the second-largest economy in the world.
“In many areas it’s setting the global pace because of its investment in research and development, and technology.
“There are many people concerned about China’s motives or the way in which it’s run, but … if you don’t look at how to work with them, then you’ll get left behind.”
He added that working with China and gaining access to its technology was a “golden opportunity” that has the potential to bring down energy bills, create jobs and help boost the UK economy.
He told PA: “We need to be prepared to defend our own sovereignty and ensure our own security while working and trading with countries who can make people in Britain better off.
“There’s this obsession with whether or not we’re helping their economy, but the reality is we need to help our own economy.”
In September last year, Octopus struck a deal to co-operate on wind farm projects with Ming Yang Smart Energy Group in China, which could pave the way for UK firms to bring Chinese turbine machinery into Britain for the first time.
Mr Jackson said the firm is hoping to start bringing the turbine technology over in the next couple of years, which is said to be around 30 per cent cheaper than from Europe.
“We would hope to create thousands of jobs here to produce some of the wind turbines that the UK is planning on building,” he said.
He insisted security would be the firm’s “number one priority” in rolling out the technology, but that the UK needs to take action to reduce its reliance on imported gas and bring the cost of bills down.
“We should work intelligently and carefully with the appropriate security frameworks,” he said.
“They’re opening up to us in an appropriate way and we need to think about how we’ll work with them here.”
Octopus, which has 7.6 million customers in the UK, overtook British Gas to become the UK’s largest energy supplier earlier this year, with a market share of 24 per cent.
It also has an AI-powered platform, called Kraken Technologies, which is used by other global energy retailers to improve customer service and billing and is valued at around £6.4 billion.
The Government last month said it was investing £25 million into Kraken through the British Business Bank (BBB) ahead of the division being spun out in the next few months.
Business
US consumer price inflation hits 3.8% in April, highest in nearly 3 years as Iran war fuels energy costs – The Times of India
US inflation rose in April to 3.8 per cent as surging fuel costs amid the ongoing Iran-US conflict drove up consumer prices, hitting a three-year high complicating the Federal Reserve’s path on interest rates.Data released by the Labor Department on Tuesday showed the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.6 per cent in April after a 0.9 per cent jump in March, the biggest monthly rise since June 2022. On an annual basis, inflation accelerated to 3.8 per cent, marking the highest year-on-year increase, since May 2023.Petrol prices in the US are now more than 28 per cent higher than a year ago, according to official data. AAA estimates show average gasoline prices have crossed $4.50 per gallon, roughly 44 per cent above year-ago levels, squeezing household budgets and raising concerns about broader economic fallout.The spike in energy prices follows the escalation of hostilities between the US, Israel and Iran earlier this year. Markets were rattled after Tehran blocked access through the Strait of Hormuz — a critical global energy route that handles nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.Core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, remained relatively contained. Core CPI rose 0.4 per cent month-on-month and 2.8 per cent annually, suggesting that higher fuel costs have not yet fully spread across the wider economy.Food prices also edged higher in April. Grocery costs rose 0.7 per cent from March, led by increases in meat prices after a slight decline in the previous month.The latest inflation reading adds to uncertainty for the Federal Reserve, which had earlier been expected to begin cutting interest rates in 2026. Policymakers are now signalling caution amid fears that prolonged geopolitical tensions and elevated oil prices could trigger another wave of inflation.US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised the Fed for not lowering borrowing costs faster to support economic growth. Attention is now turning to Kevin Warsh, Trump’s nominee to succeed outgoing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, whose Senate confirmation is expected this week.Higher fuel costs are also beginning to weigh on corporate America. Appliance maker Whirlpool Corporation said last week that quarterly revenue fell nearly 10 per cent, warning that the war-driven economic slowdown had severely dented consumer confidence.
EBay has turned down a 56 billion US dollar (£41.4 billion) takeover move from GameStop, labelling the proposal as “neither credible or attractive”.
GameStop boss Ryan Cohen launched an unsolicited offer of 125 dollars (£92.40) per share – half in cash and half in GameStop stock – to eBay shareholders last week.
However, the online marketplace’s board confirmed on Tuesday that it had now rejected the move.
In a letter, eBay chairman Paul Pressler said it reviewed the offer but believes that eBay is a “strong, resilient business”.
He added: “We have sharpened our strategic focus, strengthened execution, enhanced our marketplace and seller experience, and consistently returned capital to shareholders.
“With its differentiated global marketplace and a clear strategy, eBay’s board is confident that the company, under its current management team, is well-positioned to continue to drive sustainable growth, execute with discipline, and deliver long-term value for our shareholders.”
GameStop, which runs around 1,600 shops around the US, said it started accumulating eBay shares earlier this year and currently has a 5% stake.
Mr Cohen had previously indicated he would take his proposal directly to eBay shareholders if the company’s board rejected the deal.
Business
India’s retail inflation jumps to over one-year high at 3.48 per cent in April – The Times of India
India’s retail inflation rose to a more than one-year high of 3.48 per cent in April from 3.40 per cent in March, driven mainly by higher food prices, according to data released by ministry of statistics & programme implementation on Monday. Food inflation, measured by the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI), also accelerated to 4.20 per cent in April from 3.87 per cent last month, indicating broader price pressures across household essentials. Meanwhile, inflation in rural areas stood at 3.74 per cent, higher than the 3.16 per cent recorded in urban India.Among key items, silver jewellery recorded the sharpest inflation at 144.34 per cent in April, though slightly lower than 148.42 per cent in March. Gold, diamond and platinum jewellery inflation also remained elevated at 40.72 per cent. Among key food items, tomato prices surged 35.28 per cent year-on-year in April, while potato and onion prices remained in deflation at minus 23.69 per cent and minus 17.67 per cent, respectively. The personal care and miscellaneous goods category recorded the sharpest inflation at 17.66 per cent, while transport inflation remained largely flat at minus 0.01 per cent. India’s retail inflation has now risen for the second consecutive month, inching closer to the Reserve Bank of India’s 4 per cent medium-term target. The RBI last month projected CPI inflation for 2026-27 at 4.6 per cent and warned that elevated global energy prices due to the Middle East conflict, along with possible El Niño conditions affecting the monsoon, could pose upside risks to inflation.
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