Confidence among businesses has slumped to a 12-month low, according to Accenture and IHS Markit.
Inflation worries and fears that it could get harder to hire skilled staff are weighing on bosses.
Bumper payouts from mining companies drove global dividends to a three-month record of £301billion, according to fund manager Janus Henderson.
Experts are now predicting new highs of £1.1billion for the whole of 2021 after dividends collapsed during the worst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Ministers are preparing to intervene in Nvidia’s £30billion swoop on Arm in a move that could scupper the controversial deal.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries will this week order an in-depth investigation into the deal on national security and competition grounds.
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Global dividends have risen to a three-month record of £301billion as business confidence slumped to a 12-month low
