As it happened: FTSE 100 climbs as markets digest Bessent buyback August 21, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The FTSE 100 has closed 0.6 per cent higher after fresh research showed consumer confidence has risen to its highest level in nearly two years. The GfK consumer confidence index – which polls households on the way they view their finances and economic outlook – jumped three points [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 rallies after JD Sports drags on blue chips; oil jumps again August 20, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The FTSE 100 has slipped to a week low on Thursday, as JD Sports dragged on the index after warning on profit. The blue-chip index fell to 10,693 around midday, marking a 0.46 per cent drop on Wednesday’s close and a 0.7 per cent fall in the week [...]
Monzo faces outage as thousands of users unable to make payments or transfers August 19, 2026 UK fintech Monzo has suffered an outage that has left thousands of its users unable to use its banking services. The digital bank said it had “identified some issues” and initiated a stand-in backup service, which would allow users to still complete card payments and receive transfers. But some users have continued to raise concerns [...]
American Express tees up golf’s St Andrews as it expands its sports portfolio August 19, 2026 American Express this morning announced a partnership with iconic golf course St Andrews as the credit card behemoth expanded its sports portfolio further. The St Andrews Links will now be inter a sports sponsorship umbrella with the likes of NFL, Formula 1, Wimbledon, and Premier League club Brighton and Hove Albion. The deal will give [...]
As it happened: Miners fuel FTSE 100 recovery; oil jumps as Trump claims Strait of Hormuz August 19, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The FTSE 100 is falling on Wednesday as oil prices continue their march upwards and investors digest a jump in inflation. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) put the consumer price index inflation reading at 2.9 per cent for the 12 months to July. The previous inflation reading [...]
Klarna cuts revenue target as it forecasts softer European volumes August 18, 2026 Klarna has downgraded its revenue target for the year following unfavourable currency shifts and reduced activity from softer European volumes. The Swedish fintech unicorn said it expects to make between $4.08bn and $4.16bn for the current financial year, down from its previous forecast of over $4.34bn (£3.21bn). This came alongside a reduction in predicted gross [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 mixed; oil breaks $91 as Trump rules out new US-Iran ceasefire August 18, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Oil prices are marching higher after Donald Trump refused to extend the ceasefire between the US and Iran following its expiration on Monday. Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil prices – broke above $91 per barrel as tensions persisted over the Strait of Hormuz and a [...]
Monzo chair makes early exit after boardroom rift August 17, 2026 The chair of Monzo will make an early exit from the UK fintech next month following a period of a turmoil in the neobank’s boardroom. Garry Hoffman will step down from his role as soon as next month, ending his tenure over a year earlier than his nine-year term permits. He will be replaced by [...]
‘We have been ignored for most of our life,’ says FTSE 100’s newest bank August 17, 2026 Lion Finance thought of itself as the London Stock Exchange’s wallflower. But after its promotion the the market’s blue-chip index earlier this year, the bank is finally getting noticed. Shares in the group formerly known as Bank of Georgia have enjoyed a quiet ascent since the beginning of 2022. In that four-year window the stock [...]
JP Morgan boss issues bank tax warning to John Healey August 17, 2026 The boss of JP Morgan has issued a bank tax warning to John Healey as the Chancellor gears up to deliver his first Budget in October. Jamie Dimon, who has led Wall Street’s biggest bank since 2006, held a call with Healey on Thursday where the bank chief emphasised “getting public policy right” as crucial [...]