UK housebuilding in deepest slump since 2020 lockdowns; stock market rally falters amid geopolitical tensions – business live

<p>Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as UK construction sector shrinks for 12th month running</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/07/venezuela-oil-trump-us-latest">Venezuela ‘turning over’ $2bn in oil to US, Trump says, in move that could cut supply to China</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/jan/07/donald-trump-venezuela-greenland-oil-childcare-us-politics-live"><strong>Trump indicates that Venezuela is responding to demands for ‘total access’ for US oil companies – US politics live</strong></a></p></li></ul><p><strong><br></strong></p><p><strong>Newsflash: Britain’s construction sector continued to shrink in December, as housing, commercial and civil engineering activity suffered sharp falls again.</strong></p><p>Data provider S&amp;P Global has reported that activity across the UK construction sector, and new orders, both fell again last month.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/jan/07/oil-price-falls-trump-venezuela-supply-stock-markets-dollar-uk-construction-business-live-news-updates">Continue reading...</a>