Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East boost Cohort’s order book Investing The rise in global conflicts boosted Cohort’s order book as NATO nations continue to hike their defence spending. The defence technology group recorded a 13 per cent rise in revenue over the financial year to £306.4m, up from £270m. The jump reflected its surging order intake, which jumped 10 per cent to £314.2m. Its order [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Stocks drop after Trump threatens harder strikes on Iran; Oil at four-week high Markets Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Oil prices have reached a four-week high after the Strait of Hormuz became too unsafe for ships travel through following the exchange of strikes between the US and Iran. Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil prices – tipped over the $87 per barrel mark on Tuesday [...]
Grosvenor casino owner cuts staff after Reeves gambling tax blow Markets Grosvenor casino owner Rank Group was forced to trim its headcount in a bid to cut costs, as the company continues to deal with the fallout of Rachel Reeves hiking online gambling tax. The Chancellor’s decision to increase Remote Gaming Duty (RGD) rate from 21 per cent to 40 per cent in the last Autumn [...]
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 [...]
Plus500 revenue surges as US prediction markets drive growth July 13, 2026 Plus500 reported a rise in revenue after the trading platform pushed into the surging US prediction markets. Revenue reached a three year record high, increasing 12 per cent year on year to $462.9m (£346m). The firm also pinned the performance on “heightened market volatility”. Earnings before tax remained flat at $187.5m, after growth was offset [...]
London-listed firm cheers surge in demand for ‘dog wash machines’ July 13, 2026 Europe’s biggest photobooth operator has expanded into user-operated dog washing machines in a bid to recover from an Iran war hit to profit. ME Group, which operates laundry machines and photo booths across the UK and Europe, said it is rolling out hundreds of dog wash machines in a bid to drive growth. The FTSE [...]
As it happened: Choppy day for FTSE 100 after Iran closes Strait of Hormuz as strikes ramp up July 13, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Markets are returning from the weekend to face another geopolitical shock after Iran confirmed it had closed the Strait of Hormuz once more. The narrow waterway that connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea had slowly seen a pick up in traffic [...]
As it happened: Stocks rises as oil eases but Strait of Hormuz concerns ramp up July 10, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Markets are set to make a loss for the week after the conflict in the Middle East returned to full-blown military action this week. The FTSE 100 has shed over one per cent and is on course to close in the red for the week, even after breaking [...]
Hugo Boss urges investors to reject £1.7bn bid from Mike Ashley’s Frasers July 9, 2026 Hugo Boss has urged its investors to reject the “inadequate” £1.7bn takeover tabled by Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group. The retail giant behind Sports Direct and House of Fraser currently owns around 26 per cent of Hugo Boss but launched a move to take full control last month. The FTSE 250 group, which was founded by [...]
Workspace urges investors to block ‘destructive’ Saba proposals July 9, 2026 Flexible office provider Workspace has called on investors to block “destructive” attempts by notorious activist investor Saba to force a sell-off of its properties. The FTSE 250 firm issued a plea to shareholders on Thursday urging them to vote against each of the proposals submitted by the New York-based hedge fund to its annual general [...]