FTSE 100 held back by Shell and BP as pound hits three-year high June 24, 2025 The FTSE 100 edged up and the pound hit a new high as investors flocked back to risk on Tuesday, but London’s blue-chip index’s rebound was held back by the falling price of oil. The UK’s flagship index nudged up 0.3 per cent in early trading to around 8,7883. But significant gains were held back [...]
Qatar closes airspace as region braces for Iran response June 23, 2025 Qatar shut down its airspace minutes after markets in London closed, with City analysts fearing the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the US could yet escalate further. The UK government followed the US in telling its British nationals in the country to take shelter until further notice. The US said the warning was made out [...]
One twist left in the PHP and KKR bidding war for Assura June 23, 2025 The Assura bidding war between KKR and PHP looked to be sealing its final chapter on Monday – but analysts warn there could be one more twist in the saga. Assura said on Monday it had recommended its board to accept a fresh cash offer from PHP, which valued the firm at £1.79bn. The deal [...]
Spectris agrees to £3.8bn takeover but KKR threatens bidding war June 23, 2025 Industrial group Spectris has agreed to a £3.8bn takeover by US private equity Advent but a bidding war could be brewing as KKR mulls a rival offer. The FTSE 250 firm has been valued at £37.73 per share in the deal. Shares jumped 13.5 per cent as markets opened on Monday to around 3,726. Private [...]
Blow to London Stock Exchange as Scottish Widows plots huge selloff June 19, 2025 The London Stock Exchange has been dealt another hammer blow after it emerged one of the UK’s biggest pension funds plans to massively cut its allocation for UK equities. The Edinburgh-based business, which manages as much as £72bn in pension assets, intends to slash the UK equities allocation in its highest growth portfolio from 12 [...]
AIM turns 30: Delistings, doubt and a dose of optimism June 19, 2025 AIM turns 30 today, but birthday celebrations are bound to be overshadowed by swathes of bleak data on the market’s performance. London’s junior stock market has had a woeful period, with projections indicating the index will shrink by a fifth as a result of delisting plans. The number of companies listed on the City’s Alternative [...]
AIM boss: Inheritance tax sums don’t add up June 19, 2025 As AIM celebrates its 30th anniversary the market’s boss is eying a crucial birthday present from the Treasury: tax clarity. AIM shareholders were thrust into the tax spotlight last month after a leaked memo revealed Angela Rayner proposed Chancellor Rachel Reeves slap a series of taxes savers. Scrapping the inheritance tax exemption for AIM shares [...]
Shell and BP: FTSE 100 giants get analyst backing after oil surge June 18, 2025 FTSE 100 oil heavyweights are back in analysts favour after oil prices surged from the intensifying Middle Eastern conflict. BP and Shell shares have jumped around three per cent in the last week and climbed further as President Donald Trump weighed in on the attacks in Israel and Iran. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ [...]
Pisces edges closer to fruition after Avenir launches securities register June 17, 2025 Pisces edged a step closer to fruition today after one of Britain’s best-known share registrars launched a new set of products set to be compatible with the new market framework. London-based Avenir Registrars has launched its new “Register-lite” suite of products, designed to accommodate the needs of growth companies, including those who may be considering [...]
Peel Hunt: UK stock market held back by ‘lack of self esteem’ June 16, 2025 The boss of City broker Peel Hunt has said London markets are being held back by a “domestic lack of self esteem”. Steven Fine, Peel Hunt’s chief executive, told City AM the UK believes it is in “a lot worse shape than the rest of the world does,” which has led to a cheapening of [...]