Tuesday newspaper round-up: UK business confidence, Nvidia, Vistry

(Sharecast News) - UK business confidence has fallen to the lowest level for more than two years amid growing concern over tax rises and Donald Trump's escalating trade war, according to a survey. Highlighting the risks to the economy, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) said the first quarter of the year had been "harrowing" for companies across Britain. - Guardian Senior Labour figures have urged the government to review Chinese investment in UK infrastructure in the wake of the British Steel crisis, warning that a rapprochement with Beijing could risk national security. Government officials insisted on Monday the country remained open to funding from Chinese companies even after a dramatic weekend during which ministers wrested control of the Scunthorpe steelmaking plant from the Chinese owners, Jingye. - Guardian

Writing in The Telegraph this month, the Prime Minister said that he would "use industrial policy to help shelter British business from the storm" as Donald Trump unleashed tariffs on the global economy. Sir Keir Starmer went on to criticise those who might find this approach "uncomfortable", arguing such a reaction was nothing more than clinging to "old sentiments". - Telegraph

Nvidia has announced plans to build its first supercomputer factories in the US as Donald Trump demands companies stop manufacturing overseas. The chipmaker, which is one of the world's most valuable companies, said it would set up more than 1m sq ft of manufacturing space as part of a pledge to build $500bn (£380bn) of AI infrastructure in the US over the next four years. - Telegraph

The chief executive of Goldman Sachs has become the latest Wall Street boss to sound the alarm over President Trump's tariffs, warning that the tit-for-tat trade war poses "material risks" to the US and world economy. David Solomon, who runs one of the world's biggest investment banks, said on Monday that "the level of uncertainty is up significantly". - The Times

Britain's biggest housebuilder spent almost £14 million last year renting forklift trucks from a plant hire business chaired by its chief executive. Vistry paid £13.8 million to Ardent Hire Solutions in 2024, almost double the £7.9 million it spent in 2023 and accounting for about a fifth of Ardent's annual turnover. - The Times