Thursday newspaper round-up: Bond markets, Nike, ElevenLabs
By Michele Maatouk
Date: Thursday 05 Feb 2026
(Sharecast News) - A government minister has defended long delays to a military spending plan that are also stalling the UK's next-generation Tempest fighter jet programme, but refused to say when it will be complete. The defence investment plan (DIP), originally expected last autumn, has faced repeated postponements amid warnings that the military faces a £28bn funding gap over the next four years. - Guardian
The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has launched an investigation into Nike over allegations that the sports giant discriminated against white employees and job applicants. The federal agency is demanding that Nike turn over information related to the allegations, including the company's "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion-related 2025 Targets and other DEI-related objectives", it announced on Wednesday. - Guardian
Bond markets are increasingly at risk of a worldwide meltdown after hedge funds piled a record £2.2tn into government debt, a global watchdog has warned. The Financial Stability Board (FSB), led by Andrew Bailey, the Bank of England Governor, warned countries are dangerously exposed to the threat of fire sales in the event of economic shocks. - Telegraph
The UK's reliance on China is making the country "the weak link" in the West, MPs have warned. In a damning report published on Thursday, the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee said a dependence on "hostile actors" such as China for investment and trade was alarming international allies. - Telegraph
A London-based business which uses artificial intelligence to generate realistic sounding human-like voices has raised $500 million in a deal which values it at $11 billion. ElevenLabs, one of the UK's most valuable private companies, said the latest funding round was led by Sequoia Capital, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. Its other backers include Andreessen Horowitz, also an American venture capital firm, and Matthew McConaughey, the Oscar-winning actor. - The Times
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