Business
Universal UK theme park could rival Disneyland Paris in size
Danny FullbrookBedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire
Universal Destinations & Experiences/ComcastUniversal Studios’ UK theme park was given the green light this week, a decision creating buzz for families up and down the country who might one day want to go.
After months of discussions, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed gave planning permission for the park to be constructed in Kempston Hardwick, close to Bedford.
This isn’t just another attraction – it’s an attempt by the US entertainment giant to build one of the biggest theme parks in the world.
Universal mentioned in planning documents that a country like the UK should have at least two global theme parks, and this project was described as a “generational opportunity”.
But can Universal pull off something of quite this scale, going up against the likes of Disneyland Paris? As BBC News heard from locals, it might be a tall order – and not everyone is happy.
Bloomberg via Getty ImagesLiving on the doorstep of a theme park
“They haven’t bought enough land; what they should be buying is 2,000 acres somewhere and put their theme park in the middle,” says Claudia Pixley, 46, who lives in a bungalow on the road where the theme park entrance will be built.
“But as it happens, some of these roads around here are tiny village roads.
“Anything goes wrong on the M1 or the A421, this whole area is at a standstill… and then you want to put Universal Studios in the middle of that.”
She describes the project as “absolute madness” and says representatives of Universal have approached her about buying her home, where she’s lived for the last decade, but she wants to stay put in her “little slice of Eden”.
Nicola Haseler/BBCShe may well be one of few people in the area unhappy about the new park. According to Universal, in the Bedford area 92% of those who responded to its survey of 6,000 people were supportive of the development.
But it raises an interesting point about what might and might not be achievable in the grand vision for Universal UK to rival some of the biggest and best current theme parks.
Slated to open by 2031, the park is expected to draw 8.5 million annual visitors and could feature the tallest rides seen in Europe. The total size of the resort would be 268 hectares (662 acres), with the theme park 96.7 hectares (238 acres).
By comparison, Disneyland Paris is by several estimates just under 52 hectares (130 acres), though some of Disney’s other parks worldwide are far larger.
NurPhoto via Getty ImagesUniversal said its UK visitor numbers were expected to rise to 12 million by 2051, which could make it the most-visited park in Europe by today’s standards. According to Forbes, Disneyland Paris held that title last year with 10.2 million visitors.
However, even at opening, 8.5 million is more than three times the attendance of the UK’s biggest parks today:
- Legoland Windsor Resort, Berkshire: 61 hectares (150 acres), 2.42 million annual visitors (2023)
- Alton Towers, Staffordshire: 222 hectares (550 acres), 2.35 million annual visitors (2023)
- Thorpe Park, Surrey: 200 hectares (490 acres), 1.62 million annual visitors (2023)
- Chessington World of Adventures Resort: 52 hectares (128 acres), 1.5 million annual visitors (2022)
Can Universal UK shake things up?
For content creator Theme Park Kate, who specialises in theme parks and attractions on TikTok, Universal’s future attraction could be “a huge game changer within Europe” and the ambition with its size and rides is realistic.
“It will potentially be a theme park that can compete with the popularity of Disneyland Paris, which has dominated the European theme park market for many years now,” she tells BBC News.
The theme park fan speculated that the park would benefit from using intellectual property (IP) that has not been used at other locations around the world.
Theme Park KateShe adds: “Harry Potter has been done now at various Universal parks, but a new IP like the rumoured James Bond or Lord of the Rings will be unique to the park and bring in a large amount of fans that will want to see these brand new experiences for themselves for the very first time.”
Last year, a source told the BBC that the new park could include James Bond, The Lord of the Rings, Paddington and Jurassic World-themed rides – although a Universal spokesperson said it was too early to confirm this.
Theme Park Kate is hopeful this could have a ripple effect of boosting the country’s existing parks and forcing them to “step up their game” to match Universal.
YouTuber Jack Silkstone, who visits theme parks around the world, agrees with the sentiment. He lives “next door” to Thorpe Park – and his message to any unhappy Bedford residents like Claudia is that living on the doorstep of a theme park is “honestly a dream”.
Jack Silkstone“Everyone has some form of connection to the park – whether they work there themselves, they know someone that works there, they love to visit, or they aspire to work at the park when they’re older,” he says.
“It creates a real sense of community that then spills out into the wider surrounding towns.”
Jack sees the projected scale of the Universal UK park as a huge oportunity for the UK’s economy, and seems confident that the company can pull off its aims for scale.
“We’re very lucky, we’ve got some amazing, classic theme parks already in this country. But Universal are global leaders in the theme park industry; they do it different.”
‘Winners and losers’
Universal said it expected to directly create 8,050 jobs when it opens, with many staff coming from the surrounding areas.
Wixams, a town which will border the new theme park, will also get an upgraded four-platform railway station as part of the proposals.
Despite the concern expressed by some like Claudia that the area may not be able to cope with an influx of visitors, Bedford borough councillor Marc Frost says councillors have been assured that traffic surveys are complete and road infrastructure will be in place.
Universal’s engagement with local officials suggested they “genuinely want to work and get on with their neighbours”, he adds.
Another consideration for those in the local area is property prices – and some could fare better than others here, too.
Nick Kier, a partner at Lane & Holmes estate agents, says he already knows of some people who have already bought property close to the Universal site, which they plan to rent out to visitors in the future.
He explains “there are definite winners and losers in this scenario” and “you cannot expect, with that amount of investment coming in… that the prices won’t go up”.
“The people who are living here for a completely other reason will find it more expensive… That’s the losing side.”
At the same time, he acknowledges that local hotels for miles would be likely to benefit.
What’s clear is that the Universal park could dwarf much of its competition if all goes to plan, and while the impacts can be a double-edged sword, many are keen to see what its opening brings.
Business
Gold, Silver ETFs Sink Up To 10% As Precious Metals Rout Deepens; What Should Investors Do Now?
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Silver and gold-linked commodity ETFs extended their slide, falling as much as 10%, tracking sharp drop in precious metal futures on the MCX
Silver ETFs
Silver and gold-linked commodity ETFs extended their slide on Friday, falling as much as 10%, tracking a sharp drop in precious metal futures on the MCX for the second straight session.
The decline came amid a global sell-off in technology stocks and a strengthening US dollar, which wiped out most of the gains from a brief rebound earlier in the week.
Silver ETFs lead losses
Kotak Silver ETF was the worst hit, tumbling 10%, while HDFC Silver ETF, SBI Silver ETF and Edelweiss Silver ETF declined about 9% each. Bandhan Silver ETF limited losses to around 6%.
Among gold-linked funds, Angel One Gold ETF slipped 8%, while Zerodha Gold ETF fell about 5%.
Volatility persists after steep correction
Hareesh V, Head of Commodity Research at Geojit Investments, said gold and silver continue to witness heightened volatility after last week’s sharp selloff. The correction was driven by hawkish US Federal Reserve expectations following Kevin Warsh’s nomination, a stronger dollar, and steep margin hikes by the CME that forced leveraged positions to unwind. Profit-taking after record highs further amplified price swings, keeping sentiment fragile.
He advised bullion investors to remain patient and avoid reacting to short-term volatility driven by margin hikes, profit booking and policy uncertainty.
“Gradual, staggered accumulation can help manage timing risks, as long-term fundamentals such as geopolitical tensions, central bank demand and currency pressures remain supportive. Closely tracking the US dollar and upcoming Federal Reserve signals is crucial in this phase of elevated volatility,” he said.
MCX futures slide sharply
In Friday’s session, MCX silver futures for March 5 delivery plunged 6%, or ₹14,628, to ₹2,29,187 per kg. Gold futures for April 2 delivery also weakened, slipping ₹2,675, or 2%, to ₹1,49,396 per 10 grams.
Globally, silver remained extremely volatile. Prices rebounded as much as 3% after plunging 10% to below the $65 level, a more than six-week low. Despite the bounce, silver was still down nearly 16% for the week. In the previous week, it had fallen 18%, marking its steepest weekly decline since 2011.
Margin hikes add pressure
The selloff spilled into domestic ETFs after sharp margin hikes in precious metal futures. On Thursday, commodity-based ETFs dropped as much as 21%, led by silver ETFs, while gold ETFs declined up to 7%.
Margins on silver futures were raised by 4.5% and on gold futures by 1% effective February 5, followed by an additional hike of 2.5% on silver and 2% on gold on Friday. As a result, total additional margins now stand at 7% for silver futures and 3% for gold futures from February 6.
“Markets often see sharp corrections after extended rallies. Broader risk sentiment and geopolitical cues can trigger profit booking in commodities, especially where positioning has been crowded,” said Nirpendra Yadav, Senior Commodity Research Analyst at Bonanza.
However, he added that industrial demand for silver remains strong, with a tight global supply environment and persistent deficits supporting prices over the medium to long term. Short-term intraday swings, he said, do not alter the long-term outlook.
Trade deal, macro cues in focus
Ross Maxwell, Global Strategy Operations Lead at VT Markets, said the India–US trade deal could improve risk appetite by easing supply-chain frictions and reducing tariff-linked inflation pressures.
“In this context, gold and silver will balance lower trade tensions against ongoing macro uncertainty. A clearer trade outlook can reduce risk aversion, limiting upside in precious metals,” he said.
Maxwell added that gold remains supported by concerns around inflation, currency stability and geopolitical risks, making it attractive as a strategic hedge rather than a short-term trade. Silver, he noted, also benefits from industrial demand, meaning improved global trade expectations could lend support through stronger manufacturing activity.
“While reduced tariffs may dampen fear-driven buying, both gold and silver are likely to remain structurally firm as long as economic and policy uncertainty persists,” he said.
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February 06, 2026, 12:08 IST
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New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25 PERCENT in its February 2026 monetary policy review, maintaining a neutral policy stance as inflation pressures remain under control and economic growth stays stable.
The decision was announced by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra after the three-day meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which began on February 4 and concluded on February 6.
Focus on Inflation and Growth
The MPC chose to pause after a series of rate cuts over the past year, preferring to evaluate how earlier policy changes are affecting borrowing costs, liquidity, and overall economic activity.
Inflation has remained within the RBI’s comfort range, giving policymakers room to maintain the current rate while monitoring global economic conditions and domestic demand.
The RBI’s monetary policy framework aims to keep inflation close to 4 PERCENT with a tolerance band of 2–6 PERCENT, which continues to guide interest-rate decisions.
Impact on Loans, EMIs, and Markets
Since the repo rate directly influences borrowing costs for banks, the decision to keep rates unchanged means loan EMIs are unlikely to change immediately. However, banks and financial markets will continue to watch RBI signals on liquidity and future rate moves.
The central bank has already reduced rates by about 125 basis points since early 2025, which helped support economic growth while inflation eased.
What Happens Next
Economists believe the RBI may now focus more on policy transmission and liquidity management rather than further rate cuts in the near term.
Governor Malhotra is expected to outline the RBI’s outlook on inflation, growth, and financial stability in the coming quarters during the post-policy press conference.
Business
$2 trillion wiped off crypto markets! Bitcoin halves since October; investor company shares sink to multiyear lows – The Times of India
Cryptogiant Bitcoin has suffered sharp losses since the beginning of 2026, tumbling over 20%. The digital currency has given up almost half of its value since October’s record peak of over $124,000, sliding to $67,000, now worth less than it was at the start of President Donald Trump’s second term. Bitcoin is often pitched as “digital gold” as its returns are just like gold, offering no dividends or profits and price driven by what investors are willing to pay. The world’s largest cryptocurrency was last trading 1.64% higher at $64,153.24 after a volatile session that saw prices swing between gains and losses, having earlier touched a low of $60,008.52. The global crypto market has lost $2 trillion in value since peaking at $4.379 trillion in early October, with $800 billion wiped out in the last month alone, Reuters reported. Bitcoin has declined 28% so far this year, while ether has lost nearly 38% over the same period.As the asset slid, shares of companies holding bitcoin and other digital assets also came under heavy pressure amid ongoing turbulence in the cryptocurrency market, fuelling concerns about stress across the sector. Publicly listed firms that piled into crypto last year, encouraged by US President Donald Trump’s supportive stance, are now grappling with intensifying market challenges.The decline comes as uncertainty over Federal Reserve rate cuts and concerns over AI company valuations weigh on risk assets, pushing bitcoin to its lowest level since November 2024.Strategy shares plunge to multi-year lowsMicroStrategy’s bitcoin-focused arm, Strategy, has seen shares tumble from $457 in July to $111.27 on Thursday, marking their lowest level since August 2024. The stock was last down more than 11%, according to Reuters.In December, Strategy cut its 2025 earnings forecast, citing weak bitcoin performance, and announced plans to create a reserve to support dividend payments. The company now expects full-year earnings between a $6.3 billion profit and a $5.5 billion loss, down from its earlier forecast of $24 billion.Other notable bitcoin buyers have also been hit. UK-based Smarter Web Company (SWC.L) fell nearly 18%, Nakamoto Inc (NAKA.O) lost almost 9%, and Japan’s Metaplanet (3350.T) dropped over 7%.Bitcoin wipes out gains since Trump’s electionBitcoin itself is down nearly 28% since the start of the year, with recent selling accelerating after Trump nominated Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve chair. Analysts cited by Reuters say that Warsh’s appointment could lead to a smaller Fed balance sheet, a negative for speculative assets like crypto.Bitcoin has erased all gains made since Trump’s election, when he pledged to overhaul policies toward digital assets. The cryptocurrency last traded at $67,651.“As Bitcoin continues its slide below the psychological barrier of $70,000, it’s clear the crypto market is now in full capitulation mode,” said Nic Puckrin, investment analyst and co-founder of Coin Bureau. “If previous cycles are anything to go by, this is no longer a short-term correction, but rather a transition… and these typically take months, not weeks,” Reuters cited the expert.Broader digital asset holdings also hitCompanies holding other tokens have been affected as well. Alt5 Sigma, which stocks the Trump family’s WLFI token, fell 8.4%. SharpLink Gaming, holding ether, dropped 8%, while Forward Industries, which holds solana, fell nearly 6%.Bitcoin fell to a low of $63,295.74 on Thursday, its weakest since October 2024, before rebounding slightly to $63,525, marking its largest one-day drop since November 2022. Approximately $1 billion in bitcoin positions were liquidated over 24 hours, according to CoinGlass data.Fed concerns and investor outflowsTrump’s Fed pick, Kevin Warsh, has added to market fears. Analysts say investors worry that a smaller balance sheet will remove liquidity support for speculative assets.“The market fears a hawk with him,” Manuel Villegas Franceschi from Julius Baer told Reuters. “A smaller balance sheet is not going to provide any tailwinds for crypto.”Deutsche Bank analysts highlighted massive outflows from institutional ETFs as a key driver of the decline. US spot bitcoin ETFs saw over $3 billion withdrawn in January, following $2 billion and $7 billion outflows in December and November, respectively. “This steady selling in our view signals that traditional investors are losing interest, and overall pessimism about crypto is growing,” they said.Tech sector weakness piles pressure on crypto segmentThe slide in cryptocurrencies has been compounded by a broader downturn in tech stocks, particularly software companies linked to AI. Bitcoin and other tokens have historically tracked risk appetite in technology markets, and the current weakness has intensified losses.“Concerns are being raised around the crypto miners and whether we could be looking at forced liquidations if prices continue to fall, which could lead to a vicious cycle,” said Jefferies strategist Mohit Kumar, as cited by Reuters. The analyst further added that crypto “should never be more than a very small portion of a portfolio, but its heavy retail ownership adds to overall market risk.”
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