State-backed pension scheme plans to pump £1bn into start-ups July 8, 2026 The UK’s largest state backed pension scheme is planning to invest up to £1bn in venture capital by the end of the decade in a bid to boost returns for its members and fuel economic growth. The National Employment Savings Trust, dubbed Nest, said its plans to expand into high-growth private companies will begin with [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 slump as oil soars; Trump says Iran will be ‘hit hard’ tonight July 8, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Global markets are strapping in for a return to risk-aversion after the US and Iran traded strikes overnight following the breakdown of a peace deal in the Middle East. The US kicked off its “series of powerful strikes” late Monday night. The nation’s Central Command said the attacks [...]
Kemi Badenoch: AI firms ‘won’t come here’ if Britain overregulates July 7, 2026 Kemi Badenoch has warned Britain risks driving away the next generation of AI giants unless it lowers industrial energy costs or fixes London’s capital markets, arguing the UK cannot regulate its way to becoming a global tech leader. Speaking at the Politics UK Summit in Westminster on Monday evening, the Conservative leader said Britain was [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 rises to defy tech gloom; oil creeps up on fresh Iran tensions July 7, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Donald Trump warned the US will “finish the job” in Iran leaving investors unnerved as he renewed military threats following the funeral of Tehran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil – traded above $72 per barrel on the news, but [...]
As it happened: Stocks slide despite tech and data boost; Oil falls after OPEC+ ups output July 6, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Markets are dealing with a double dose of pressures to start of the new week as investors brace for a crucial earnings season in the artificial sector, whilst an increase of supply on the oil market weighs on prices. Over in Asia, stock markets slipped following a week [...]
As it happened: Stocks rise as oil lower; Iran threatens ‘forceful response’ over Strait of Hormuz July 3, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The rate of traffic flowing through the Strait of Hormuz is gradually picking back up in a major boost to the oil market. Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil prices – held steady at near $72 per barrel on Friday morning. It marked a similar level [...]
As it happened: Stocks rally after US jobs report; Oil tumbles to pre-Iran war levels July 2, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The peace relief rally across markets ground to a halt yesterday as investors were rocked by new tensions in the Middle East that threatened all-out war re-emerging between the US and Iran. Negotiations were handed a blow as Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Qatar [...]
Gold set for worst quarter in over 10 years as retail interest cools July 1, 2026 Gold is poised to enter its worst quarterly performance in over ten years, as retail investor enthusiasm fades and higher US interest rates loom, a far cry from last year’s continuous record-breaking prices. The price of the precious metal fell below $4,000 per troy ounce on Wednesday, hitting $3,978.5. On Tuesday it fell to $3,942.9, [...]
As it happened: Stocks fall as US and Iran clash over Strait of Hormuz; Fed chair says inflation risk is easing July 1, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Oil prices are holding steady above $73 per barrel after days of heightened tensions between the US and Iran ahead of peace talks in Qatar. Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil prices – posted its biggest quarterly decline since 2020 for the second quarter of the [...]
As it happened: Stocks jump on defence and metals boost; Oil on track to shed a fifth on US-Iran peace hopes June 30, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Oil’s speed of decline has taken a hit this week as investors were forced to pause at the renewal of strike action between the US and Iran. Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil prices – was steadying above $73 per barrel, holding onto some of the [...]