As it happened: Choppy finish for FTSE 100 as global markets rocked by AI sell-off May 19, 2026 Welcome back to the City PM liveblog. Businesses have raised the alarm over falling vacancies as new data showed a further weakening in the jobs market. Vacancies remained at a five-year low in April 2026, with a leading industry group saying recruiters were “pausing” plans to hire workers. The British Chambers of Commerce’s head of [...]
Markets have entered negative gamma – buckle up May 19, 2026 Dealers are forced being to buy rallies and sell dips, increasing volatility. That should serve as a warning. Although markets currently appear calm and resilient, beneath the surface they are becoming more fragile, says Helen Thomas Markets are entering a profoundly unstable moment for the global price of risk. The supply shock emanating from the [...]
Jamie Dimon’s iron grip on JP Morgan threatens investor rebellion May 18, 2026 Jamie Dimon’s iron grip on JP Morgan comes under the microscope at the Wall Street giant’s annual general meeting on Tuesday as the banking exec looks to fend off an investor rebellion. The world’s most influential banker is facing an activist offensive that targets splitting up the chief executive and chair role – two positions [...]
Cyberattacks hit UK businesses with £3.7bn in legal costs last year May 18, 2026 Large UK businesses were forced to fork out £3.7bn to defend legal action brought by shareholders last year over cyberattacks, according to new research from insurance giant Gallagher and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). Cyberattacks cost firms with over 250 employees an estimated £11.7bn in total, with litigation being the second largest [...]
As it happened: IMF lifts UK GDP and stocks reverse losses as bonds warned of ‘correction’ May 18, 2026 Welcome back to the City PM liveblog. The bond market is taking a breathe after mountains of pressure on Friday. The UK’s borrowing costs hit their highest since 2008, charging to 5.17 per cent during one part of the day’s trading session. This was topped once more on Monday morning, but since then yields have [...]
Klarna swings back to profit after delivering second $1bn quarter May 14, 2026 Klarna has sealed its first quarterly profit since its blockbuster IPO last year as the firm’s cost-cutting pays off. The Swedish fintech unicorn booked a $17m profit in the first quarter of the year, marking a swing from a $90m loss in the prior year. The return to the black was driven by a 44 [...]
Starmer drama: Traders bet against UK as short-selling on pound and banks surges May 14, 2026 Traders are betting against the UK as the political storm in Westminster continues to send jitters through asset markets. The pound has tumbled to a two-week low against the dollar, clinging onto the $1.35 mark on Thursday morning. Meanwhile, figures from IG revealed that short-positioning on the pound-dollar, a bet that the price will further [...]
UK businesses eyeing shift to ‘more predictable’ tax regimes May 14, 2026 UK businesses are considering relocating abroad for a more stable tax and regulatory landscape, according to new research from consulting and network Baker Tilly International. The group, in its annual mid-market survey conducted earlier this year, found that out of all nine markets and 1,500 business leaders surveyed, including in the US, China, and India, [...]
Uzbekistan national investment fund lists in London after $604m IPO May 13, 2026 Uzbekistan’s national investment fund has completed the country’s first ever public market debut, raising hundreds of millions of pounds at a valuation of £1.5bn, in London’s first major IPO of 2026. In an update on Wednesday, the National Investment Fund of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Uznif) confirmed it had completed its dual listing on both [...]
As it happened: Market jitters as Streeting set to make bid against Starmer May 13, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the City PM liveblog. UK borrowing costs are taking a modest breathe this morning after settling much higher yesterday after a session jam-packed with political turmoil. The 10-year yield on UK gilts spiked ten basis points to over 5.1 per cent on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the 30-year yield soared to [...]
