Lloyd’s boss warns of ‘man-made catastrophes’ as Iran war hits insurance industry Insurance Squeezed by inflation and rising geopolitical tensions, the historic insurance market Lloyd’s of London suffered a hit to its profit in the first half of the year. Nowhere was this impact more acute than in its marine business, which faced severe pressure at the height of the US war with Iran. Over the past six [...]
How Britain can stay clear of rivals as home of overseas sport club owners Sport Business Sport is more political than ever. Matt Sutton asks how clubs navigate the geopolitical risks in 2026. Ownership and investment have become increasingly international, with sports clubs, leagues and governing bodies relying on global capital to drive growth. For years an argument has been rumbling on about whether it’s right to have foreign investment in [...]
AI infrastructure boom helps power Halma to record sales and profit Tech The AI infrastructure boom helped underpin another record year at Halma as the FTSE 100 safety and equipment maker delivered more than £2.5bn in annual revenue for the first time. The 130-year-old group, which owns dozens of specialist businesses across safety, healthcare and environmental tech, posted record revenue and profit, extending a growth streak that [...]
UK defence chief: Adopt AI or lose future wars June 11, 2026 Britain’s most senior military officer has warned that the UK risks losing future conflicts unless it dramatically accelerates the adoption of AI across its armed forces. Speaking at London Tech Week, chief of the defence staff Air Chief Marshall Sir Richard Knighton said AI would be as transformative for warfare as the internet was for [...]
Tech stocks regain safe haven status amid Iran ceasefire April 9, 2026 American tech stocks have reasserted their role as a market safe haven, as easing tensions between Washington and Tehran trigger a sharp rebound across beaten-down AI and software names. A two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, alongside a potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, has already sparked a relief rally. The Nasdaq jumped [...]
What does the Middle East conflict mean for global growth? March 23, 2026 Middle East conflict sends shockwaves through oil, inflation and global growth: This is what Investec experts are thinking In our latest Q&A, Investec experts Callum Macpherson (Head of Commodities), Philip Shaw (Chief Economist) and Chris Holdsworth (Chief Investment Strategist for Investec South Africa) explain what could happen if the Middle East conflict continues, what key [...]
How geopolitics is influencing investment March 6, 2026 The UK’s classification of AI as critical infrastructure is being paradoxically balanced by increasingly strict national security scrutiny on ownership, investment, and partnerships, introducing political risk into the innovation pipeline, says Claire Trachet Britain classified AI as critical national infrastructure last September, sitting it alongside defence, energy and telecommunications. At Davos this year, former UK [...]
BCG warns the era of ‘wait and see’ is dead as global risks hit all-time high January 12, 2026 As concerns over global policy uncertainty reached a 20-year peak in 2025, BCG is warning that the issue must be a core business capability, with dedicated teams. Business leaders cite trade reconfiguration, weakening multilateral institutions, and the weaponisation of economic tools as persistent threats to business continuity and competitiveness. However, a report by the IMD [...]
Venezuela is ‘uninvestable’ as Trump unnerves market analysts January 10, 2026 Venezuela is “uninvestable” and requires sweeping reforms before oil giants can support US ambitions, a top chief executive has warned Donald Trump, in a warning that comes amid growing concerns the president is set to rattle markets and hit global economies. ExxonMobil boss Darren Woods appeared to distance the company from the president’s ambitions to [...]
Gold to glitter past $4,000 after year of political jitters October 2, 2025 In a year defined by geopolitical turmoil, gold has not stopped glittering. The yellow metal started the year near $2669 and has since soared to $3900 – a rise of over 45 per cent. The asset now looks set to cross the $4,000 landmark for the first time with the latest rally triggered by the [...]