UK fintech chiefs switch growth plans as capital conditions wane April 20, 2026 Over seven in ten UK fintech chiefs are switching growth plans due to the country’s ailing capital conditions. Some 71 per cent of the sector’s top bosses said they have had to adjust growth strategies as a result of tightening capital conditions, according to a fresh report from fintech advisory firm Chatsworth and market researcher [...]
FTSE 100 jumps as Strait of Hormuz fully open following ceasefire April 17, 2026 The Iranian regime has reopened the Strait of Hormuz following a ceasefire in the Middle East between numerous warring nations. Tehran’s foreign minister said on Friday afternoon: “In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire”. Traffic [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Stocks jittery as Starmer makes play to reopen Strait of Hormuz April 17, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the City PM liveblog. The UK and France are set to co-chair a meeting with allies later today in a bid to strum up ways to re-open the Strait of Hormuz. The vital waterway, which sits off Iran’s coast, sees around a fifth of the world’s oil supply flow [...]
Ashmore share price plummets after Iran War leaves investors sitting on their hands April 16, 2026 Emerging market specialist Ashmore Group suffered a sharp drop in its share price during early morning trading, after the Middle East conflict brought earlier growth to a grounding halt and caused investors to “sit on their hands”. Shares tumbled 5.6 per cent in early trading to 209.4p, after the group reported a three per cent [...]
Wall Street scales to record highs as investors bet the end of the Iran war is in sight April 16, 2026 Wall Street surged to fresh record highs on Wednesday amid growing optimism among investors and traders that the end of the US-Iran war is near as both nations gear up to return to the negotiating table. The benchmark S&P 500 breached 7,000 points for the first time in history, after climbing 0.8 per cent over [...]
Easyjet shares grounded after revealing £560m hit from Iran war April 16, 2026 Easyjet expects to make a whopping loss in the first half of the financial year after the war in the Middle East led to major disruptions across operations. The budget airline said on Thursday it is forecasting a loss before tax of between £540m and £560m as the industry battles against rising costs. Shares in [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Entain leads modest stock jump; Surprise growth ‘pushed to rear view’ April 16, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the City PM liveblog. Markets are betting the latest round of peace talks will bring some resolution to the conflict in the Middle East. US markets managed to clinch a record high close on the latest news of peace talks but in London the FTSE 100 splintered and finished [...]
Silver prices hit record high amid dwindling demand April 15, 2026 Silver hit multiple record breaking highs last year, but soaring investor appetite ultimately offset demand for the metal from jewellers and industry. Silver rode the coattails of fellow precious metal gold which was coveted for its ‘safe haven’ status, and has extended its rally into 2026. The asset has surged 140.9 per cent over the [...]
Standard Life snaps up Aegon UK for £2bn to create savings giant April 15, 2026 Standard Life has snapped up the UK’s largest investment platform Aegon UK in a £2bn deal. The FTSE 100 giant – previously known as Phoenix Group – said the deal would create the UK’s top retirement savings and income business with near 16m customers and £480bn in assets under administration. Standard Life expects an annual [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Stocks jittery as Trump eyes Iran ‘grand bargain’; Reeves to meet Bessent April 15, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the City PM liveblog. Hopes of peace talks in the Middle East were back on the table this morning, though markets weren’t holding there breathe after weeks of bait-and-switches. Donald Trump described the war with Iran as “close to over” during an interview with Fox news. “I think it’s [...]
