Space stocks lift off as investors eye Space X moment April 8, 2026 Retail investors are increasingly backing the space economy, with new data showing the sector moving to a more established part of long-term portfolios. Figures from Hargreaves Lansdown show Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) investors remained broadly bullish through the first quarter of the year, despite a wobble in March following tensions in the Middle East. Among the [...]
Close Brothers and First Rand look to park motor finance row April 8, 2026 After countless speed bumps, sharp handbreak turns and a fair few false starts, the two banks that took the motor finance scandal to the top finally look to put it in the rearview mirror. Close Brothers and Aldermore owner First Rand have sought to wrap up the over two-year long saga after the financial watchdog [...]
Instagram account featuring Faf de Klerk recruiting players for North Korea April 8, 2026 North Korea is looking to attract British English teachers by enticing them to the dictatorial state with the promise of elite rugby contracts. A social media account that features a similar recruitment drive for Chinese rugby has posted an advert, seeking rugby players for the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea (North Korea)’s Pyongyang Reds team. [...]
‘Significant backlog’ for Tribunal cases as new workers’ rights come into law April 8, 2026 Concerns have been raised about the “ongoing and significant” backlog at the Employment Tribunal as new worker rights come into play this week. The Law Society, while welcoming the launch of the Fair Work Agency (FWA), raised concerns that the new agency will be equipped to tackle the case backlog. Between Monday and Tuesday, a [...]
Oil slides and stocks surge as US hails ‘chance at peace’ April 8, 2026 Global markets breathed a much-needed sigh of relief on Wednesday morning after it emerged Donald Trump reached a temporary ceasefire agreement with Iran, just hours before a high-stakes deadline in which the US president had threatened to destroy bridges, power plants and swathes of Iranian infrastructure. On Tuesday Trump set a dramatic ultimatum that “a [...]
Energy bills threat recedes but retail and hospitality remain on brink April 8, 2026 Retail and hospitality leaders are optimistic that the Iran-US ceasefire could spare them from the worst energy bill shocks, but are urging the government to address an array of other cost pressures. British businesses had warned that the soaring energy prices caused by the war in the Middle East could be devastating if the conflict [...]
‘Beautiful thing’: Trump moots US-Iran tax for ships in Strait of Hormuz April 8, 2026 President Trump has floated the prospect of a “joint venture” with the Iranian leadership on administering a tax on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz in a new peace deal for the region. Trump said both the US and Iran could jointly tax ships passing through the stretch of water, which is critical for [...]
AFC Wimbledon seeking fan investment at £26.8m valuation April 8, 2026 League One side AFC Wimbledon is seeking further investment at a valuation of £26.8m through crowdfunding. The Dons, who sit 16th in the third tier of English football, have registered themselves on investment platform Republic, offering up a maximum allocation of £68,125. The site states that this is an “opportunity to invest in AFCW PLC [...]
Son of world’s richest banker challenged US law firm over $35m legal bill April 8, 2026 Alberto Safra survived a bitter fight over his father’s $23bn fortune. Then the legal bill arrived, all $35m (£26m) of it. Safra, son of Brazilian billionaire Joseph Safra, now deceased, was billed over $35m for less than two years of work over a ‘bitter multibillion-dollar estate feud’ and one of the largest inheritance battles in [...]
Blue Owl Capital outlook cut to negative amid private credit woes April 8, 2026 The outlook on Blue Owl Capital’s flagship fund has been downgraded to negative by a leading ratings firm in the latest blow to the industry as it continues to be plagued by investors pulling money from funds. Moody’s Ratings changed its outlook from stable to negative after “significantly higher-than-peer redemption requests in the first financial [...]
