The German subsidiary of discount retailer Pepco has successfully completed its insolvency proceedings: the chain is resuming operations after a major restructuring. The number of stores has almost halved, RetailDetail.eu reported. The insolvency proceedings under Pepco Germany GmbH’s own management will end on 28 February, the company reports. This marks the end of a turbulent period for the retailer, which officially began on 1 October last year. In the past period, the discounter reduced the number of stores in Germany from 64 to 36 and the workforce from 500 to around 350 employees.

A paper mill in Hainsberg in the German state of Saxony has once again entered insolvency proceedings. On 5 February 2026, the Dresden District Court appointed lawyer Susanne Berner from the law firm Dr Berner & Partner Rechtsanwälte as provisional insolvency administrator, Pulpapernews.com reported. Over the coming weeks, she is expected to gain an overview of the financial situation at the long-established industrial company and examine possible options to stabilise operations. The Hainsberg plant has a long history and has experienced recurring financial difficulties over the years.

After the Supreme Court struck down the legal basis for President Trump’s sweeping tariffs on Friday, many U.S. trading partners saw the tariff rate on their goods lowered from what they faced before the ruling. But for others, like Britain and Australia, the math went the other way, the New York Times reported. Britain became the first country to reach a trade deal during Mr. Trump’s second term, and both governments emphasized the “special relationship” between the two countries.

Private-sector activity in the U.S. slowed in February as tariffs drove costs higher for firms, while Europe expanded at a stronger pace than anticipated as a rebound in industry signaled resilience against lingering headwinds, the Wall Street Journal reported. The S&P Global Flash U.S. Composite PMI—based on a survey of around 650 manufacturers and 500 service providers—fell to 52.3 this month from 53.0 in January. A reading above 50 indicates activity continued to grow.

Wyndham said Wednesday that it booked $160 million in charges tied to the mid-January collapse of its largest European franchisee, Revo Hospitality Group, Skift.com reported. The charge was a reminder of the unpredictability of the hotel industry's asset-light business model, in which hotel groups like Wyndham don't own the hotels they market to guests. Revo is a Berlin-based operator that manages roughly 22,000 rooms under Wyndham and other brands.

Global Counsel, the advisory firm co-founded by Peter Mandelson, is to collapse into administration, blaming the “maelstrom” caused by revelations about the former peer’s relationship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, The Guardian reported. Companies including Barclays, Tesco and the Premier League have all deserted Global Counsel, despite the company’s efforts to sever ties with Mandelson and the company’s co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser.

Warrington council has asked to borrow £354mn from the government to fund day-to-day services and stave off bankruptcy after years of warnings that the authority’s high-risk investments could threaten its financial viability, the Financial Times reported. The government last year sent in a team of experts to the Labour-run council, one of the most indebted in the UK, after a review concluded it had been making risky investments to avoid spending cuts.

The U.K’s rate of inflation slowed in January, furthering the chances of a rate cut by the Bank of England when policymakers next meet in March, the Wall Street Journal reported. Consumer prices rose 3.0% in January on year, compared with a 3.4% uptick in December, the Office for National Statistics said Wednesday. A fall in inflation suggests a rate cut by the U.K. central bank could come sooner rather than later.