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and special characters out of the summary. Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky's £3.6 billion takeover of International Distribution Services, the owner of Royal Mail, has passed a national security review, with the state retaining a "golden share" in the company. Unions have praised the deal, with promises of employee dividends and a say in company decisions, while shareholders are expected to approve the takeover despite concerns about weakening Royal Mail's finances and the long-term viability of...

In a legislative crisis, the US Congress must find a deal to keep the government open, with the House of Representatives voting down a funding bill supported by Donald Trump. The failed deal aimed to extend government spending, provide disaster relief, and suspend federal borrowing limits, but fell short of passing. Trump and Elon Musk criticized the bill, leading to a scramble for a new solution before a government shutdown deadline. Full Article

Teamsters delivery drivers at seven Amazon.com Inc. facilities launched a strike due to the company's alleged refusal to negotiate, impacting holiday deliveries. The union accused Amazon of unfair bargaining practices as shoppers rush to purchase gifts. The walkout highlights growing tensions between workers and the online retail giant during the busy holiday season. Full Article

The Bank of England kept interest rates at 4.75% due to concerns about stubborn inflation, despite predicting zero growth in the final quarter of the year. While some members of the Monetary Policy Committee favored rate cuts, the majority emphasized the risks of inflation persistence and the potential trade-off between inflationary pressures and economic weakness. The decision led to a decrease in sterling and gilt yields, with investors focusing on the possibility of further rate...

Analysts have slightly adjusted their dividend expectations for the FTSE 100, now forecasting a payout of £78.5 billion in 2024 compared to the previous estimate of £79.7 billion. Despite minimal growth in dividends this year, the index still offers a dividend yield of around 3.6%, which increases to 6.5% when considering buybacks and takeovers. Looking ahead to 2025, analysts predict a 6.5% increase in dividends to £83.6 billion, with some concentration risk as 10 companies...

Investors now own over 131,000 homes in the Las Vegas Valley, with sales of previously owned homes in November rising 4.8% from October. Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the NAR, notes that the housing market is gaining momentum, with increasing buyer interest and growing housing inventory. Despite rising prices and tightening supply, first-time homebuyers are making up 30% of sales, while cash sales remain strong at 25%. Full Article