14 charts reveal the massive challenges facing UK and NATO defence spending April 7, 2026 Defence spending is casting a shadow over Downing Street. Military officers are in a state of despair. The choices facing Sir Keir Starmer are stark. The political calculus for the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has become more complicated than ever as the Iran war puts public finances in danger. Their difficulties go back to February 2025 [...]
Trump turmoil in Asia sends chills through Seoul while China keeps its cool April 6, 2026 The war in the Middle East has sent shockwaves through global markets, stoking volatility across exchanges and asset classes everywhere. But one region, Asia, has been particularly exposed, due to its position at the forefront of the daily trading cycle. As the latest on-the-ground headlines line up alongside President Donald Trump’s erratic social media posts [...]
From jet fuel to fertiliser – economic pain is heading West April 6, 2026 A quiet Easter Sunday was abruptly punctured when US President Donald Trump unleashed a brutal, expletive-filled ultimatum to the Iranian regime. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Tuesday will be power plant day, and bridge day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. “There will be nothing like it!!! Open the f***in’ strait [...]
US markets hold steady after Trump’s expletive weekend ultimatum April 6, 2026 US markets held their nerve on Monday, as Wall Street traders returned to their desks for the first full session after President Donald Trump’s explosive, expletive-strewn demands for Iran to re-open the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude oil held the $107-a-barrel mark. But the global benchmark eased overall, by $1.50 to $107.54. European stock exchanges [...]
‘Open the f**king strait’ – Trump issues brutal ultimatum to Iran April 5, 2026 Trump has ordered Iran once more to open the Strait of Hormuz in an expletive filled ultimatum, threatening Iranian bridges and power plants if Iran fails to meet US demands. Just hours after warning Iran that “all hell will reign down” if they fail to reopen the waterway by Monday, US President Donald Trump has [...]
Missing US airman rescued as Trump warns “all hell will rain down” April 5, 2026 The US has said it has rescued a service member missing “behind enemy lines” with Trump vowing to escalate the pressure on Tehran with renewed threats. The US president wrote on social media that the rescued aviator is injured but “will be just fine”, noting the rescue involved “dozens of aircraft”. He wrote: “This brave [...]
Space X kicks off IPO process with confidential filing April 2, 2026 Elon Musk’s Space X has confidentially filed to go public, bringing the rocket company a step closer to delivering what is expected to be the largest initial public offering in history. The Texas-based company submitted its draft IPO paperwork to the US Securities and Exchange Commission this week, according to the Financial Times, citing two [...]
Oil soars as Trump vows to hit Iran ‘extremely hard’ April 2, 2026 The price of oil has spiked by over 7 per cent following Donald Trump’s vow to keep hitting Iran ‘extremely hard’ over the next few weeks, in an address to the nation. After a 17-minute speech on Wednesday evening, which failed to reassure global markets, Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, jumped 5 per cent [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Dow Jones joins City in red; Oil soars on Iran war fears April 2, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog. After a dose of optimism hit markets on Wednesday, that looks to all be eradicated come this morning. In a 19-minute long address to the nation, Donald Trump vowed to “finish the job” in Iran and warned the country would be hit “extremely hard” in [...]
Trump, tariffs and turmoil: ‘Liberation Day’ one year on April 2, 2026 On the first anniversary of ‘Liberation Day’, Tim Hames reflects on the economic impact of Donald Trump’s tariffs A year ago today, Donald Trump declared “Liberation Day” as he launched his new initiative on tariffs. He did so on the White House lawn to enormous fanfare, in front of an adoring crowd and with the [...]