BUSINESS LIVE: AstraZeneca buys Gracell; Former Wilko stores witness 'amazing' sales

One in three Britons is planning to make a New Year’s resolution to tackle their finances in 2024 — and saving more for a rainy day is the most popular pledge.

As many as 25 per cent of those making a financial resolution plan to spend less, while 16 per cent plan to pay off at least some of their debts.

On a blustery day on Tyneside, Sir Nigel Wilson is in his element. The Legal & General boss is visiting the Newcastle Helix, a £350million urban redevelopment he helped finance.

Wilson, who grew up on a council estate in nearby Newton Aycliffe, is about to step down after more than 11 years at the top of L&G.

Stella McCartney’s fashion house slashed its losses last year as it pushed ahead with a turnaround.

The label, run by the daughter of Beatles legend Paul McCartney, said losses shrank to £10million in 2022 – compared with £32.7million in 2021.

AstraZeneca has agreed to buy a Shanghai-based pharmaceutical company for just under £1bn as it places its bets on China’s medical technology.

Britain’s biggest drugmaker yesterday said it would buy Gracell Biotechnologies for up to £950million.