Computacenter joins FTSE 100 in reshuffle as index builds tech exposure June 4, 2026 The latest quarterly reshuffle of the FTSE 100 has seen Computacenter, Investec and Aberdeen promoted to the top-tier index of the City’s most valuable companies, bringing a constituent with some direct exposure to the artificial intelligence boom to the City’s most famous benchmark. Computacenter’s rise from the FTSE 250 to blue-chip status looks somewhat like [...]
‘Difficult year’ for discount retailer B&M as profits fall almost a half June 3, 2026 A series of updates from London-listed retailers has light on the battle for sales between online and traditional outlets, with household spending under pressure, writes Michael Hunter. FTSE 250 retailer B&M has revealed a drop of almost a half in annual profit in what it called a “difficult year”. It was the most eye-catching piece [...]
As it happened: Stocks jitter on stalling US-Iran talks; OECD unemployment warning June 3, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Markets are being pulled in countless directions from the conflicting information emerging around the conflict in the Middle East. The FTSE 100 managed to shrug off some of these jitters yesterday and secure a finish 0.3 per cent higher as the price of oil slipped. But this morning [...]
Freddie’s Flowers losses double after firm shuts London warehouse June 3, 2026 Freddie’s Flowers has incurred a more than doubling of its pre-tax losses after the firm closed its warehouse amid an outsourcing of operations. The London-based flower subscription business, which began operations in a gazebo in the garden of a residential street, posted a pre-tax loss of £2.1m in the year to August 2025, compared to [...]
Zero-hour crackdown could wipe out seasonal work, Labour warned June 2, 2026 Labour has been warned that its controversial crackdown on zero-hour contracts could eradicate seasonal work and put even 20-hour contracts under threat. The government has said it could class 20-hour weeks as a low-hour contract and force firms to offer permanent terms after as little as 12 weeks of work. Retail and hospitality firms have [...]
Patagonia faces PR backlash over trademark lawsuit with drag queen June 2, 2026 Patagonia is in hot water over its legal action against a drag queen, but as lawyers suggest, businesses face a double-edged sword when it comes to protecting their trademarks. A drag queen artist and environmentalist, Wyn Wiley, was sued by the US outdoor retailer Patagonia, which alleged the performer violated its trademark by going professionally [...]
TG Jones owner Modella puts jobs at risk in shoe retailer overhaul June 2, 2026 Modella Capital is set to put hundreds of jobs on the line as it pursues its latest drastic restructuring, this time of northern shoe seller Wynsors World of Shoes. The private equity firm which owns hundreds of former WH Smith stores has briefed staff on its plans for an overhaul at the shoe retailer it [...]
As it happened: Stocks shrug off stalling Iran peace talks; OBR warns Reeves June 2, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Markets were rocked yesterday after reports emerged from Iranian state media that Tehran was pulling out of peace talks with the US. A proposal that included a 60-day cessation of violence and a play to re-open the Strait of Hormuz has hung in the balance [...]
Inside Celonis, the German tech unicorn that won over a fifth of the FTSE 100 June 1, 2026 For a company valued at more than $13bn (£9.58bn), Celonis remains relatively unknown in Britain. Founded in Munich in 2011, the software company has become one of Europe’s most valuable private tech firms, with customers including AstraZeneca, ASOS, BMW and the UK Cabinet Office. The UK has become one of its three largest markets globally. [...]
Pub bosses warn tax hikes driving youth unemployment crisis June 1, 2026 Pub bosses have warned that Labour tax hikes are driving the youth unemployment crisis, which is pushing the UK towards an “economic catastrophe”. Several hospitality leaders have called on the government to reverse its increases to employer national insurance contributions (NICs), which pubs say are making it harder for them to hire young people. Last [...]