Tankers report being fired upon as Tehran closes Strait of Hormuz again April 18, 2026 Merchant vessels have said they were hit by gunfire as they attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz, the first indication that Iran’s re-closure of the waterway has been enforced. Iran’s military reimposed restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz again after accusing the US of violating the deal to reopen it, throwing the world’s energy [...]
‘Concerned but not surprised’: Three-quarters of UK landlords and sole traders miss digital tax launch April 18, 2026 Only a quarter of sole traders and landlord who need to sign up for the UK’s new digital tax system have done so, despite the scheme already having come into effect this month. From 6 April, anyone who earned more than £50,000 in the 2024/25 tax year from property or self-employment income was required to [...]
What next for LIV Golf and Newcastle United after Saudi PIF strategy shift? April 18, 2026 With Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund updating its strategy, what next for the PIF-owned Newcastle United and LIV Golf? Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund last week published the latest iteration of its Vision strategy, which will cover the remainder of the decade. The strategy’s publication had been expected for some time. When the last planning [...]
Women’s health strategy won’t end medical misogyny – but the markets could April 18, 2026 The government's new women’s health strategy is good policy, but it will not close the health gap. That's where the City comes in.
‘Bond market tantrum risks’: Gilt traders brace for Labour leftward pivot as Starmer future uncertain April 17, 2026 Bond traders are bracing for the prospect of a surge in gilt yields as uncertainty over the future of Keir Starmer’s term in office could pave the way for a more left-wing successor. A Starmer defenestration could be just weeks away amid renewed scrutiny over the botched appointment of Peter Mandelson as Washington ambassador and [...]
Energy price cap: Household bill spike could be lower than originally feared April 17, 2026 The household energy price cap is expected to rise by a lower amount than originally feared despite price volatility caused by the Iran war, according to the latest forecasts. The cap is expected to be £196 lower according to Cornwall Insight, who confirmed its prediction for Ofgem’s cap now stands at £1,837 for a typical [...]
Easyjet tops FTSE 100 risers as airline, travel shares rocket after Hormuz reopening April 17, 2026 Airline and travel shares listed on the London Stock Exchange have rocketed after Iran said it has reopened the Strait of Hormuz, potentially signalling an end to weeks of chaos to the tourism industry. London-listed Wizz Air and Easyjet surged nine and eight per cent on the news, after the blockage to the crucial shipping [...]
FTSE 100 jumps as Strait of Hormuz fully open following ceasefire April 17, 2026 The Iranian regime has reopened the Strait of Hormuz following a ceasefire in the Middle East between numerous warring nations. Tehran’s foreign minister said on Friday afternoon: “In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire”. Traffic [...]
‘Relentless pressures’: More hospitality firms forced to shut even before Iran war April 17, 2026 The rate of corporate collapse in hospitality surged in February in signs the sector was struggling to stay afloat even before the Iran war brought further cost pressures. The number of accommodation and food service firms declaring insolvency jumped by 22 per cent to 270 in February, according to government data. This acceleration of the crisis [...]
Bank of England’s Breeden warns Iran war could set off bond and private credit crisis April 17, 2026 The energy crisis set off by Donald Trump’s war in Iran has made a financial crash more likely, according to the Bank of England’s financial stability chief, who warned that private credit, sky-high sovereign debt and stock market exuberance posed salient threats to the global economy. Sarah Breeden, the central bank’s deputy governor for financial [...]