FTSE 100 Live: US jobs smash forecasts; Stocks in green amid cloudy US-Iran peace talks Markets Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Speculation around a peace deal between the US and Iran is continuing to leave markets struggling for direction as hopes of an official agreement face roadblocks. A current draft of a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US has ambiguities that have to be clarified, an adviser [...]
As it happened: Stocks mixed as Trump warns takes ‘two to tango’ on Iran peace Markets Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Donald Trump has hinted a peace deal in the Middle East could come as soon as “over the weekend” in the latest back-and-forth of negotiations between the US and Iran. The President yesterday doubled down once more on his claim that Iran is set to [...]
UK in line for fresh US tariff hit as Trump proposes ‘forced labour’ levy Economics Donald Trump has proposed a fresh round of tariffs that would hit numerous nations including the UK as the President seeks to rebuild his sweeping wall of levies that were struck down by the Supreme Court. The US is exploring a tariff of at least ten per cent on imports from up to 60 trading [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Iran ‘pulls out of talks with US’ and threatens to strike Israel June 1, 2026 Iran has withdrawn from peace talks with the United States and threatened to launch an attack on Israel after the Netanyahu administration announced plans for an air strike on neighbouring Lebanon. According to a state-affiliated news agency, Tehran has vowed to hit back at northern Israel if Lebanon is hit by Israeli strikes and end [...]
Iran war triggers slump in selfies, ME Group warns June 1, 2026 Europe’s biggest photobooth operator has warned of a slump in selfies amid the fallout from the war in Iran. London-listed ME Group, which operates the Photo.me network of over 30,000 booths as well as an events selfie business, has reported a revenue decline as much as 17 per cent in the month of April alone, [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 plunges as Iran pulls out of US peace talks; Mandelson files released June 1, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Oil has nudged a touch higher to $93 per barrel this morning as uncertainty continues to cloud any prospect of a peace deal in the Middle East. The latest peace proposal between the US and Iran was said last week to be awaiting on the [...]
NATO military chief presses UK to accelerate defence pledges May 31, 2026 Nato’s military chief has urged Britain and other allies to speed up the delivery of their defence pledges. Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Nato’s military committee chair, said he is “frustrated” by the UK and its allies’ commitments to spend on defence which he said do not stand if there is no equipment to show for [...]
Trump yet to make ‘final determination’ on Iran war despite discussions May 30, 2026 US president Donald Trump is yet to make his ‘final determination’ on the war in Iran, despite holding a meeting with advisers on Friday to reach a decision on extending the ceasefire. Trump is yet to decide whether to move forward with a deal to extend the Iran ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, [...]