Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as shares fall across Asia and bitcoin hits a seven-month low Britain’s stock market has opened in the red, as the sell-off in global markets reaches Europe. The blue-chip FTSE 100 share index has dropped by 101 points, or just over 1%, to 9,675 points, further away from the record high of 9,930 points set last week. “We are committed to ending the scandal of ticket touts.” Reselling tickets for profit is to be outlawed under plans due to be announced this week, the Guardian has learned, as the government goes ahead with a long-awaited crackdown on touts and resale platforms such as Viagogo and StubHub. Ministers had been considering allowing touts – and ordinary consumers – to sell on a ticket for up to 30% above the original face value, as part of a consultation process that ended earlier this year. Continue reading...

The focus should be on talking up this government’s achievements so far – and preventing a Reform victory, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

The focus should be on talking up this government’s achievements so far – and preventing a Reform victory, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee