WPP shares jump as embattled advertiser draws takeover interest November 17, 2025 Shares in advertising giant WPP soared as markets opened on Monday following reports the firm was the subject of takeover interest. The FTSE 100 group is said to be in the centre of deals chatter with interest from French rival Havas, as well as private equity firms Apollo and KKR. WPP soared ten per cent [...]
Ubisoft issues sales warning as gamers’ habits change November 17, 2025 The UK arm of Ubisoft has warned its sales will be lower for its current financial year thanks to a combination of fewer new games being released and a major change in habits. The Guildford-headquartered division of the French giant has said gamers playing fewer titles and for longer means that newer games “are struggling [...]
Mixed shareholder reaction after huge £5.3bn FTSE 250 infrastructure merger November 17, 2025 Shareholders of two of the UK’s biggest infrastructure funds have had mixed reactions after the firms reached an agreement to merge in a blockbuster £5.3bn deal. FTSE 250-listed HICL Infrastructure and The Renewables Infrastructure Group (TRIG) said they had signed heads of terms on the business combination, in a move that will see voluntary winding [...]
Tech tailwinds boost Polar Capital as AI bubble balloons November 17, 2025 Asset manager Polar Capital reported a surge in earnings after the firm’s “meaningful exposure” to tech stocks provided a hefty tailwind. The London-listed business recorded a 21 per cent jump in pre-tax profit to £27.9m, this was up from £23.1m just last year. Whilst outflows soared to £690m, including a significant £632m concentrated in the [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Budget and bubbles continue to set agenda November 17, 2025 Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog. We are now just over a week out from the Labour government’s second Budget and last week rogue Westminster briefings sent ripples through markets. After continuous weeks and media outings teasing a manifesto-breaking income tax hike, the government rowed back with several reports pointing to [...]
Lady Mayor: I want to un-square the Square Mile November 17, 2025 We need to make it clear to everyone that the City is an open and welcoming place, regardless of background, writes Lady Mayor Susan Langley.
Three Budget pleas from a tech entrepreneur November 17, 2025 With a few key measures, the government could could demonstrate that it's behind entrepreneurs this Budget, writes John Cotterell.
New PE-backed consultancy launches with aim to fix ‘broken” system November 17, 2025 A new, AI-native consultancy firm has launched to address what its founders call the “broken” model of traditional consultancies, which they argue is costing businesses billions for ineffective AI projects. Backed by $15m (£11.4m) in private equity funding from NY-based Siguler Guff, UK-headquartered Valliance launches its “radical new model” of charging based on value delivered, [...]
Business activity rebounds but Budget nerves could damage growth November 16, 2025 UK private sector activity marked its largest monthly rise of the year in October, but momentum could be shattered by increasing Budget speculation. According to the latest business trends report from accountancy firm BDO, which measures businesses turnover and economic activity, output rose to 97.49 past month, up from 96.25 in September. This marked the [...]
Resident doctor strike turnout is down, NHS chief says November 16, 2025 Strike turnout is down, the chief executive of the NHS has said, as resident doctors continue their five-day action over pay and conditions. Sir James Mackey said there are “some really encouraging early indications” that fewer resident doctors are striking than in any of the previous 12 rounds of industrial action. Medics in England walked [...]