Natwest and Barclays sweeten mortgage costs as Iran peace hopes ease interest rate fears May 29, 2026 Natwest and Barclays have become the latest lenders to sweeten up their mortgage deals, as hopes remain high that a peace deal will be reached in the Middle East that would bring calm to the interest rate environment. Both lenders have unveiled reductions in mortgage rates, with Barclays cutting its rates across the board by [...]
Top banks urge Rachel Reeves to expand small business lending scheme May 29, 2026 Top UK banks are lobbying Rachel Reeves to beef up the government’s small business lending scheme in a bid to unlock more capital to be lent to firms. A letter penned by UK Finance – the banking industry body that represents the likes of Barclays, Lloyds and Natwest – has called for the Chancellor to [...]
As it happened: Stocks rise on Iran peace hopes; Asda and Ocado deal May 29, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog. After investors kicked into sell-off mode on Thursday amidst spiking tensions as the US and Iran exchanged strikes, attention is quickly turning back to hopes of a peace deal this morning. US and Iranian negotiators are reported to have reached an agreement on a 60-day [...]
Nationwide accused of picking ‘unfair fight’ with member board candidate May 28, 2026 Nationwide has been accused of picking an “unfair fight” with one of its members who has sought to clinch a seat on the building society’s board. The mutual has opted not to recommend the candidacy of James Sherwin-Smith, who is running to be the first member to take a seat on Nationwide’s board in nearly [...]
Jamie Dimon opens door to a $20bn JP Morgan takeover May 28, 2026 Jamie Dimon has kicked the door open to the prospect of JP Morgan completing a major takeover that would shake-up the global banking landscape. The Wall Street boss raised the idea of the bank spending as much as $20bn (£15bn) as it looks to capitalise on the freed up capital from deregulation reforms. “I do [...]
As it happened: Stocks plummet on latest Iran war tensions; Neets crisis a ‘human tragedy’ May 28, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The US and Iran are back to exchanging fire in a major blow to hopes of peace in the Middle East. Tehran struck an American airbase overnight in its retaliation for the US striking a military site that it said “posed a threat to US forces [...]
As it happened: US-Iran peace hopes sends oil lower; Brits handed energy price cap blow May 27, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Global markets were able to take the new developments in the Middle East in their stride on Tuesday amid hopes a peace deal was on the horizon. The FTSE 100 ended the day in the green and despite some choppy trading oil prices eased. This [...]
Moneybox profit slides as wealth manager bets on ‘high levels of automation’ May 27, 2026 Moneybox saw its profit slide by nearly a quarter in the last year as the wealth manager invested “heavily” in new technology and bet on “high levels of automation”. The London-based fintech notched its third consecutive year of profitability but faced a 23 per cent drop in its pre-tax takings at £14.9m by the end [...]
An Inspector Calls at Nationwide’s annual general meeting May 27, 2026 In 49 days An Inspector Calls at the Nationwide annual general meeting and in this week’s column Samuel Norman looks at what he could be asking. Also on the agenda… after annual report season, it’s time for Starling to go full throttle on Engine. Not since the keen-eyed Inspector Goole shattered the comfortable illusions of [...]
Vulnerable bank customers could face ‘higher barriers’ to redress in Treasury overhaul May 26, 2026 Warnings are being raised over a planned Treasury shake-up of financial services rules after an impact assessment revealed vulnerable customers could be excluded from receiving compensation when wronged. The government unveiled its Enhancing Financial Services Bill at the King’s Speech, which paved the way for reform to consumer redress protections through changes in the Consumer Credit [...]