UK economy tipped to stall as Iran war chokes growth Economics The UK’s economy is expected to stall another month as the Iran war continues to choke growth and some industries face slowing output. Gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to have slipped again by 0.1 per cent in May, according to some economists. The UK’s growth update, delivered by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) [...]
The devastating prognosis for the UK’s public finances Economic News/Analysis While much of the media obsesses over Nigel Farage’s fight with a man dressed as a bin, I have something more sobering to discuss as we kick off the weekend. The Office for Budget Responsibility’s report into fiscal risks and sustainability, published this week, is comfortably the most alarming yet. This is an annual review [...]
Battersea Power Station misreporting claims scrutinised by accounting watchdog Accountancy The City’s accounting watchdog is scrutinising claims of financial misreporting at Battersea Power Station after the former chief executive alleged he was dismissed from his role for blowing the whistle on inflated property valuations, City AM understands. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is reportedly looking at claims made by the former boss of the iconic [...]
Fixing the £100,000 tax trap would be a bold first step – let’s not undermine it by taxing investment more July 9, 2026 Lord O’Neill is right to call for reform of the £100,000 tax trap, but taxing capital gains more heavily could end up costing the Treasury £8bn, says Michael Healy This week, a group of leading economists led by Lord O’Neill called for a fundamental overhaul of the UK’s tax system. Their argument that Britain has [...]
Sizewell B granted 20-year life extension July 8, 2026 The government has granted the Sizewell B nuclear power plant a 20-year lifetime extension, meaning it will now continue to generate electricity until 2055. Majority-owner EDF and investor Centrica said they had agreed terms with the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, in a deal that will see its owners paid considerably less for [...]
Vistry angers market with £30m loss as new boss faces turbulent start July 8, 2026 Vistry has attracted the ire of shareholders and analysts after it revealed a £30m first-half loss, as the firm stutters under its new chief executive. The FTSE 250 housebuilder delivered an unscheduled update to shareholders this morning, revealing that chief financial officer Tim Lawlor will quit in October after being headhunted by a “large privately-owned [...]
IMF offers UK modest growth upgrade despite fresh Iran war tension July 8, 2026 The UK economy is set to grow just one per cent this year, according to the The International Monetary Fund (IMF), following a modest revision from its previous gloomy prediction. The IMF said the consequences Iran war, which has led to continued disruptions across the economically-critical Strait of Hormuz, would soften momentum across the UK [...]
Why even gilts are outperforming the once unstoppable Magnificent 7 this year July 8, 2026 Plagued by sticky inflation and spendthrift politicians, the UK government’s bonds have spent years as an unloved asset class. But six months into 2026 and they have, so far, outperformed the Magnificent 7. Ali Lyon examines what has gone wrong for the so-called hyperscalers even as AI hype is greater than ever. Since the Bank [...]
UK borrowing costs surge as Trump declares Iran ceasefire over July 8, 2026 UK borrowing costs surged and the price of oil leapt to a two week-high on Wednesday after Donald Trump suggested his already-fragile ceasefire deal with Iran was over. The yield on ten-year gilts – the primary benchmark for how much it costs the government to borrow – stormed 11 basis points higher to 4.96 per [...]
Quinbrook Closes Oversubscribed GBP 587 Million Renewables Impact Fund II July 8, 2026 Investments will advance decarbonisation, improve security of energy supplies, and provide critical grid support across the UK and Ireland