Shawbrook shares dive after profit jump on bullish AI plans March 12, 2026 Shawbrook Bank reported a jump in profit for the last year in its first set of first set of financial results since its landmark IPO in October. The London-listed bank reported a pre-tax profit of £340.5m, up from £293.8m the year prior as costs tumbled and the group’s loan book swelled. Still, the firm’s shares [...]
John Lewis reinstates staff bonus but remains ‘cautious’ March 12, 2026 John Lewis has returned its staff bonus after years of its suspension, as the retail titan turned a profit but remains “cautious” in a testing retail environment. The partnership, which also owns Waitrose, made a £134m profit in the year to January 2025, up six per cent from the year before, and notched growing sales [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Stocks drop as oil returns to near $100 after tankers attacked March 12, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The price of oil shot back above triple digits this morning, rising as much as nine per cent in Asian trading following the news two tankers were struck in the Gulf. An Iraqi news agency broke the news that 38 crew members have been rescued [...]
The Capitalist: Lloyds teases wannabe buyers with ‘homebuying tasting menu’ March 12, 2026 Lloyds launches a dining special, private jets welcome puppies on board and City AM takes home gold; catch up on the latest City gossip.
Closed shop? Not for long: How new laws are opening doors for trade unions March 12, 2026 The first wave of the Employment Rights Act hit the statute books last month, signalling a potential end to the decades-long decline of UK trade unions, but businesses are already feeling the turbulence, triggering a surge of work for City employment lawyers. The Employment Rights Act has caused turmoil in businesses, not just because of [...]
Mandelson files pose huge questions for Starmer March 12, 2026 What was Keir Starmer thinking? That’s not a rhetorical question; I really do want to know (because I cannot imagine) what the Prime Minister was thinking when he signed off the decision to send Peter Mandelson to Washington. It was the first week of February when, during an excruciating performance in the Commons, Starmer admitted [...]
Samsung bets on AI tools to win over stressed City workers March 12, 2026 Samsung is pitching its new Galaxy S26 range as a productivity tool for professionals who increasingly rely on one device to manage work, travel and everyday admin. The company has unveiled the S26 series, with UK vice president of product and marketing Annika Bizon describing the launch as a major step forward on hardware and [...]
The Cotswolds Distillery: Defining the brand of English whisky March 12, 2026 Whisky Business: City AM’s monthly look at the world of whisky. There are currently over 60 English Whisky distilleries operating across the country in various stages of evolution. There are 38 currently producing and selling spirit, with the remainder maturing new-make spirit that’s yet to hit the market. When the Cotswolds Distillery started out in 2014, [...]
Labour workers rights reforms could backfire for young workers March 12, 2026 Labour’s employment rights reforms could damage opportunities for young workers if the new laws reduce the number of flexible, entry-level roles, the UK’s top retail trade body has warned. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has called on the government to ensure the implementation of its reforms, which were passed into law in December, doesn’t hamper [...]
Women’s Super League fans spend more on matchdays than Premier League counterparts March 12, 2026 Football fans attending Women’s Super League matches spend more than those going to Premier League games, according to new research commissioned by Barclays. Fan spend per matchday, excluding tickets, averaged £145 for supporters in the WSL compared with £138 in the Premier League, the research found. Non-food spending – merchandise and match programme – was [...]