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(Sharecast News) - Shares in chipmakers have surged in the first half of this year as investors piled into companies that make the hardware underpinning the AI boom, according to analysis. Investors have driven up the value of semiconductor and memory chip manufacturers, whose profits have soared during 2026, at the expense of some large software companies, which have fallen out of favour this year. - Guardian
Revised plans for HS2 should not be put into action until the government is confident they can be delivered, according to the public spending watchdog. The project to build the high-speed railway must be put on a stable footing to avoid a repeat of past failures, the National Audit Office (NAO) said in a report. - Guardian
A housebuilder constructing "flat-pack" net zero homes is scrambling to find a buyer after it was left on the brink of collapse. Agile Property and Homes, which erects prefab "eco-homes" made of materials such as straw and timber, has lodged an intention to appoint administrators after soaring building costs hammered its finances. - Telegraph
Andy Burnham must end Labour's addiction to taxes and embrace the private sector to revive Britain's flagging economy, the boss of Manchester airport has said. Ken O'Toole, who had a front-row seat for Mr Burnham's time as Manchester mayor, said that if the Makerfield MP gets to No 10 he should replicate the public-private approach that helped transform the northern city on a national scale. - Telegraph
A City grandee who previously led the boards of Barclays and Aviva is working with Revolut to help Britain's most valuable fintech company with its ambitious overseas expansion plans. John McFarlane is advising the London-based group's business in Australia, a market where Revolut has amassed one million customers since entering in 2020 and is earmarked for further growth. - The Times
Among the scores of businesses cashing in on the World Cup is a partnership between the FTSE 100 maker of Rizla and a small cult football fashion company. The rolling paper brand, owned by Imperial Brands, the Bristol-based big tobacco company, and Lover's FC released a selection of retro concept kits last month. - The Times
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