Author: SKYNEWS

The FTSE 100 has ended a long wait to achieve a new record high.The index, which comprises the 100 most valuable companies on the London Stock Exchange, closed Monday’s session on 8,023 points following a jump of 128 points or 1.6%. That was the highest closing sum since February last year when the 8,000 barrier was breached for the first time in its history.The previous record stood at 8,012.The performance on Monday was driven by a strong showing for companies across the board, particularly financial and consumer-linked stocks such as those for retailers. Money latest: Five big lenders hike mortgage…

Hundreds of users of the gay dating app Grindr have alleged the company shared their private information, including their HIV status, with third parties, a law firm said on Monday. Austen Hays said it was filing the mass data protection lawsuit at London’s High Court and claimed thousands of Grindr users in the UK may have been affected. The firm alleges users’ highly sensitive information, including HIV status and the date of their latest HIV test, was provided to third parties for commercial purposes.It said around 670 people had signed up to the lawsuit over breaches said to have taken place…

Comedian Peter Kay has been forced to postpone two shows at Co-op Live in Manchester due to the brand-new arena’s power testing falling “a few days” behind schedule.The record-breaking stand-up comedian had been due to open the new venue – which is now the UK’s biggest arena – on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The 50-year-old Phoenix Nights star said in a statement: “I’m truly gutted as I know how disappointing this will be for everyone with tickets, but obviously it’s a brand-new venue and it’s important that everything is finished and safe for full capacity audiences.”Fortunately, we’ve been…

The UK’s biggest water company has put forward an investment offer that could increase customer bills even more than the 40% rise it already requested. Thames Water, which serves 16 million customers in the south of England, has proposed increasing spending by £1.1bn and revealed another potential £1.9bn investment in its network as part of new business plans to regulator Ofwat. But, if approved, this could mean an additional £19 a year bill increase on top of its inital plan for bill payers to be charged 40% more.Money latest: Supermarket changes slogan after 20 yearsEven higher bills? Under the utility’s…

Parts of the UK are being treated to a dazzling display as the oldest annual meteor shower known to man streaks through the Earth’s atmosphere.The Lyrid meteor shower peaks during late April every year and was first spotted in 687 BC by Chinese stargazers. This particular display is known for its fast and bright meteors and produces around 18 an hour. How to watch the Lyrid meteor showerThe moon is nearly full tonight and will be Spring’s ‘pink moon’, which sadly looks the same as any other full moon. The brightness of the moon means you’ll need to watch more…

Warwick Davis’ children have reassured fans after they raised concerns about a post on his social media days after the news of the death of his wife.The 54-year-old Harry Potter star announced last week that his wife of 35 years, Samantha Davis, had died. Image: Warwick and Samantha Davis pictured at the 2015 National Television Awards. Pic: PA The actor caused concern among fans after a late-night social media post on Sunday in which he told his 662,000 Twitter followers: “I’m done here, Sgning off [sic],” followed by a broken heart emoji.The couple’s two children – Annabelle and Harrison -…

Actor Kevin Bacon has returned to the US high school where his movie Footloose was filmed more than 40 years ago.The 65-year-old visited Payson High School in the state of Utah to greet students following a years-long campaign which started on social media under the hashtag #BaconToPayson. According to news reports last month, the school had gone Footloose-crazy – holding a Footloose movie night, staging a Footloose musical, renaming the annual Mr Payson pageant after the actor, and even holding a competition for essays persuading Bacon to visit.The mission turned into a community-wide campaign to partner with the actor’s charity,…

A pack of private equity investors have left the starting grid in a race to buy TeamSport, the pan-European go-karting operator.Sky News has learnt that several buyout firms have tabled initial offers for the company, which is expected to fetch more than £150m. Insiders said on Sunday that EMK Capital and Livingbridge were among the private equity firms which had lodged first-round bids.TeamSport is owned by Duke Street, one of the UK’s best-known buyout firms and the former owner of Wagamama, and is the largest indoor go-karting operator in the country.Harris Williams, the investment bank, is overseeing the auction. TeamSport…

The Spice Girls have reunited for one night only in a bar for Victoria Beckham’s birthday.The fashion designer and singer – famously also known as Posh Spice – celebrated with her bandmates at Oswald’s club in Mayfair, London, on Saturday, after turning 50 on Wednesday last week. David Beckham had a front row seat to the reunion when Victoria, Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Geri Horner and Melanie Chisholm sang their single Stop.The five grinned as they danced and performed the track while David, who filmed the throwback moment, smiled and sang along.Posting the clip on Instagram on Sunday, Victoria called…

Liz Truss has acknowledged she and her government lost the confidence of financial markets following the mini-budget of October 2022 – but has refused to apologise to homeowners for higher interest rates.Talking to Sky News, the former prime minister blamed her downfall on the Bank of England, primarily governor Andrew Bailey. However, she said she did not meet Mr Bailey once during her time in office. “I actually had a meeting set up – I wanted to meet him,” she said. “But I was advised that would be a bad idea. And perhaps I shouldn’t have taken that advice.”But that…