As it happened: FTSE 100 drops; bonds sell-off cools but oil holds firm September 2, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The FTSE 100 fell again on Wednesday as oil prices rose higher for the third consecutive session and keeping pressure on global markets. Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil prices – held around the $95 per barrel mark, securing it highest level since mid-July. It follows [...]
Fed chair Kevin Warsh faces Jackson Hole D-Day August 27, 2026 Kevin Warsh has opted for a less-is-more approach when communicating his feelings on interest rates and inflation. Ahead of his first set piece speech as Federal Reserve chair, investors want to hear more, writes Ali Lyon. When Federal Reserve chair Kevin Warsh steps up to the wood-panelled stage at this week’s Jackson Hole symposium, investors [...]
Economists urge Bank of England to halt bond sales as borrowing costs climb August 26, 2026 The Bank of England should abort its costly approach to unwinding quantitative easing, which is stoking the government’s elevated borrowing costs and costing the taxpayer billions of pounds, a group of analysts and bond investors have said. The government’s long-term borrowing costs have risen to levels not seen this century, amid unease at the country’s [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 recovers after oil surge dampens mood; Strikes in the Strait of Hormuz July 14, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Oil prices are marching higher after the latest wave of military action in the Middle East following the US reinstating its blockade on imports from Iran. Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil prices – surged above $84 per barrel on Tuesday, bringing gains for the week [...]
SpaceX kicks off bond sale as it looks to begin mass borrowing spree June 22, 2026 Elon Musk’s SpaceX has begun selling investment grade bonds for the first time in what is anticipated to be a mass borrowing spree in order to fund the company’s ambitious AI plans following its blockbuster Nasdaq listing. Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase & Co and Morgan Stanley are arranging calls with investors [...]
Borrowing costs fall as interest rate hike fears ease June 2, 2026 Government borrowing costs fell sharply on Tuesday, after a dovish speech from Bank of England governor and revived hopes of a Middle East peace deal led traders to pare back bets on central bank interest rate hikes. Gilts rebounded across the curve, outperforming their European peers. The UK’s two-year and 10-year government bonds fell as [...]
Rachel Reeves oversees borrowing spike as benefits spending offsets tax haul May 22, 2026 Rachel Reeves oversaw a surge in borrowing in the first month of the financial year as April’s figures hit the highest since 2020 on higher benefit spend. Government borrowing – which marks the difference between total public sector spending and income – topped £24.3bn in April 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). [...]
Pension fund snaps up cut-price government bonds amid Starmer sell-off May 13, 2026 One of the UK’s largest pension funds has jumped on the turmoil that speculation over Keir Starmer’s future has unleashed on the gilt market, scooping up government bonds at multi-decade low valuations. Standard Life has added to its holding of UK government debt, City AM understands, seizing on a sharp dip in the of the [...]
UK borrowing costs storm past five per cent after Starmer warns of ‘chaos’ if ousted May 11, 2026 UK government borrowing costs have stormed higher following an attempt from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to shore up support after a disastrous local election result. The yield on 10-year gilts rose nearly 10 basis points to over five per cent for the second time in mere weeks. It comes after Starmer sought to defy [...]
Gilt traders fear Labour electoral losses May 4, 2026 A widespread defeat for Labour in Thursday’s regional elections could trigger a “swing to the left politically” investors have warned, putting further pressure on government borrowing costs that are already at their highest levels since the financial crisis. Polling has suggested Labour is set to lose over 1,000 seats to other parties, including leftwing Green [...]