UK services sector shrinks at fastest pace since 2023; global shares tumble after US tech sell-off – business live

UK pawnbroker Ramsdens has agreed to a £206m takeover by FirstCash, with the shares rising nearly 31% and the offer carrying a 35% premium to the latest close. The deal takes the AIM-listed business private and highlights continued M&A interest in consumer finance and collateral-based lending franchises. For precious metals traders, the notable angle is Ramsdens’ exposure to gold buybacks: the company said it has benefited from the rising gold price this year, which encourages customers to sell unwanted jewellery that it can then resell at a profit. The article says the most recent spike came after US-Israeli missile attacks on Iran, when spot gold hit $5,400/oz. The PM relevance is indirect rather than market-moving, but it reinforces how higher gold prices can support recycling/scrap flows and retail gold buying activity. Near term, the story is more useful as a sentiment read on physical gold monetization than as a signal for XAU itself.