Budget 2026: Healey doubles bank tax to fund energy package October 28, 2026 John Healey has confirmed a “time limited” tax hike on the UK banking sector as a means to fund the government’s energy support package. The Chancellor will double the surcharge, which sits on top of corporation tax, to six per cent. The increase will begin in January and continue for 15 months. “I want to [...]
The anatomy of a bank tax: what can the UK learn from Europe? October 26, 2026 With days to go until John Healey delivers a Budget expected to target banks with a cash raid, Samuel Norman looks at the UK bank tax framework and other experiments across Europe. For years City lobbyists managed to bat away demands for a bank tax hike. As Chancellor, despite delivering two tax-heavy Budgets, Rachel Reeves [...]
Healey vows AI will not ‘leave workers behind’ in £600m Budget package October 24, 2026 John Healey has vowed not to let AI “leave workers behind” as he unveiled more than £600m in investment ahead of next week’s Budget, amid mounting concerns over AI-driven job losses. The Treasury will commit £10m a year to studying the impact of AI on employment, alongside hundreds of millions of pounds for cyber security, [...]
Barclays to axe 5,000 jobs by end of year after banking on AI savings October 22, 2026 Barclays will wield the axe on some 5,000 jobs in its global headcount as the firm ramps up its cost-cutting targets and leverages artificial intelligence. The FTSE 100 bank’s reductions will cover five per cent of the group’s global workforce and are expected to be mainly concentrated in support functions, including developers. “They’re across the [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 losses ease as oil higher after Saudi drone attack October 22, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM FTSE 100 liveblog. London’s blue-chip index is sliding this morning after a shaky week for trading. Oil pressures have climbed higher after a drone attack on Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oil field killed two people. The incident renewed tensions in the Middle East and heightened concerns over further disruptions to [...]
UK banks brace for sour loan spike as household savings run dry October 21, 2026 UK banks are bracing for a potential surge in unpaid debts as cash reserves at UK households plummet to their lowest levels in three years. The country’s top lenders are expected to provision a combined £4bn for loan-losses in 2027, according to an analyst consensus, but this risks coming up short as households are squeezed [...]
Barclays set for investment bank boost as Venkat’s overhaul in focus October 20, 2026 Barclays‘ investment bank could be in line for another major boost. But Samuel Norman takes a look at the progress investors will be wanting to hear on its latest strategy plans. When CS Venkatakrishnan laid out his sweeping restructuring of Barclays he promised a “simpler, better and more balanced” bank. Key to this was reducing [...]
Healey’s ‘mixed messages’ on bank tax leave City blindsided October 16, 2026 The City was left reeling on Friday following reports that John Healey was drawing up plans to tax banks in the forthcoming Budget. Industry heavyweights across the UK have fired warning shots as Healey weighs up different options to target the banking industry with a hefty cash raid. One City figure told City AM a [...]
FCA revokes ban on Libor traders after court overturns rate-rigging convictions October 16, 2026 The financial watchdog has revoked bans it had placed on four City traders convicted of rigging Libor and Euribor interest rates after the Court of Appeal overturned their convictions. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said on Friday it “has reviewed its regulatory action against individuals whose convictions have recently been overturned by the Court of [...]
Lloyds and Barclays shares fall as Healey ‘poised’ to hike bank tax October 16, 2026 Shares in Britain’s banking giants tumbled this morning after new reports suggested John Healey is set to raise taxes on lenders when he delivers his first Budget at the end of the month. Natwest dropped two per cent to 660.40p, while Lloyds was down around 2.5 per cent to 103.40p. Barclays slid 0.4 per cent [...]