Gilt rout sparks calls for Bank of England to slow ‘unusual’ bond sale programme May 7, 2026 The Bank of England should slow the pace of its costly approach to unwinding quantitative easing, which is pushing up government borrowing costs and weakening the public finances at a time when both are under significant pressure, several top economists have said. The calls follow the UK’s sovereign debt being swept up in a dramatic [...]
Herald trust saved after Saba and Aberdeen ink deal May 7, 2026 Aberdeen and US activist hedge fund Saba have reached agreement for the Scottish investment juggernaut to manage Herald Investment Trust, ending a years-long arm wrestle over the trust’s future. In an eleventh-hour deal that will save Herald from being wound down, Aberdeen will recruit eight of the fund’s staff – including fund manager Katie Potts [...]
Poundstretcher seeks rent cuts in survival bid May 7, 2026 Discount retailer Poundstretcher is set to be restructured by its owner, Fortress Investment Group, to reduce property-related overheads and avoid closure. The plan will see the retail chain, which operates 298 stores in the UK, stabilise a “substantial fall in turnover” and rising leasehold costs, the Insolvency and Companies Court heard today. In the High [...]
Surj reiterates sports commitments following PIF’s partial retreat May 7, 2026 Surj Sports Investment has reiterated its commitment to its stakes in ATP tennis, T100 triathlon and broadcaster Dazn in the wake of cuts to some Saudi-backed events. LIV Golf has been rocked by the withdrawal of further financial support from the Public Investment Fund, while Saudi Arabia has also axed snooker and flag football competitions. [...]
Grosvenor estate: Ministers don’t get ‘basic economics’ May 7, 2026 The Duke of Westminster’s multi-billion pound estate has chided ministers for failing to grasp “basic economics” in their bid to tackle the housing crisis. Mark Preston, who represents the business interests of Hugh Grosvenor, the seventh Duke of Westminster and owner of a Mayfair property empire, said the government risks choking housing supply if it [...]
In pictures: The City AM Awards 2026 May 7, 2026 The great and the good of the Square Mile gathered on Wednesday night at the Guildhall to celebrate the best of UK PLC at this year’s City AM Awards. The night was hosted by Oli Barrett, and headlined by our Editor-in-Chief Christian May with a guest speech by Brent Hoberman. A total of 12 businesses, [...]
Tony Travers: London local election result could trigger housebuilding slump May 7, 2026 The result of the forthcoming local elections could trigger a further slump in housebuilding in the capital as a shake-up in council composition obstructs development plans. Voters head to the polls in every London borough today, with polling suggesting Labour is on course to shed dozens of seats and lose its grip on the capital, [...]
Samsung workers threaten strike over AI profits as market value hits $1 trillion May 7, 2026 Samsung Electronics is facing the threat of a major worker walkout, after unions demanded a bigger share of the company’s AI-fuelled semiconductor profits. Two Samsung unions are pushing for a seven per cent pay rise and a bonus scheme worth 15 per cent of each division’s operating profits, with workers threatening an 18-day strike later [...]
Climbing handed £1.4m boost to LA 2028 Olympic medal push May 7, 2026 Climbing has received the biggest boost after UK Sport increased Team GB funding by £4m for the LA 2028 Olympics and Paralympics. Canoeing, para canoeing and visually impaired judo programmes have also received significant uplifts in funding but by far the biggest increase – £1.43m – has gone to climbing. Teenager Toby Roberts won gold [...]
No, a pint does not cost £10 in London (see for yourself) May 7, 2026 Headlines appeared over the weekend that a London pint now costs £10. This leaves a bitter taste. Granted, look hard enough and you’ll find a private members’ club here, a chichi restaurant there, that has found customers with deep enough pockets to pay a fortune for supermarket lager. But this has always been true – [...]