Sparking interest: Could utilities stocks power your portfolio? Investing The FTSE 100 isn’t known as the flashiest of stock markets, lacking the might of the trillion-dollar tech stocks of the US or the glamorous luxury conglomerates of France. But what it lacks in shine, it makes up for in reliability, with the index reporting a 21.5 gain in 2025, its strongest calendar year performance [...]
‘Disappointing day’: Edinburgh Worldwide admits defeat to Saba Capital Investing Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust had conceded defeat to Saba Capital, bringing its 17-month long battle with the US hedge fund to an end. In its annual general meeting (AGM) update released on Thursday morning, the investment trust admitted that it expects that there will be “insufficient votes” in favour of the resolutions relating to the [...]
St James’s Place shares slide as Iran war damages inflows Investing St James’s Place saw a sharp decline in its share price during early morning trading on Wednesday, as Iran war volatility damaged inflows and funds under management. The FTSE 100 wealth manager saw shares tumble 5.2 per cent to 1,187p, with shares down 14.8 per cent this year to date. The group reported a 9.4 [...]
Geopolitical risks upend gold’s glittering demand dynamics April 29, 2026 Gold’s glittering run has upended demand dynamics, as rising prices amid the Iran war led investors to plough into a diversified range of assets. Total gold demand in the first financial quarter hit 1,231 tonnes, a modest two per cent year on year increase from 2025. But the humble increase coupled with gold’s staggering price [...]
Global infrastructure spending to surpass $150 trillion by 2050 April 28, 2026 Global infrastructure spending is projected to surpass $150 trillion through 2050, as countries look to modernise systems to meet growing AI and electrification demands. Annual global infrastructure spending is forecast to climb from $4.4 trillion (£3.2 trillion) in 2024 to $6.9 trillion in 2050, ultimately driving investment of $151.1 trillion, according to the latest findings [...]
FTSE 100 banks £16bn payday to face economic reality check April 27, 2026 Provisions for sour loans threaten to take a bite out of profit growth as Barclays kicks off FTSE 100 banks earnings season next week whilst economic tensions loom over the wider financial industry. UK banks will give a snapshot of the gathering tensions in the economy next week as the nation’s top lenders update the [...]
Four Champ Rugby clubs in talks with new investors April 27, 2026 Nearly a third of Champ Rugby clubs are having conversations with potential new investors, as the wider game looks to capitalise on the incoming franchising of Prem Rugby. Although details are still to be finalised, the English top flight is set to steamroll into an expansionist league much like those seen in North America. Red [...]
The student loan rip-off is hitting women hardest April 24, 2026 Women already earn and save materially less than men – and a student loan system that, were it nay other credit product would amount to mis-selling, is making it worse, says Gina Miller Britain’s student loan system is one of the most quietly distortionary fiscal instruments on the statute book. It applies a nine per [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Stocks slump as oil rises; Reeves tax hikes trigger borrowing boost April 23, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog. An extended ceasefire may have been announced in the Middle East, but its left markets with major appetite for further peace before investor sentiment recovers. Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil prices – was trading back over the $100 mark on Thursday morning. [...]
Pensions belong to savers, not the state April 23, 2026 No government should have the power to direct where pension savings are invested, says Helen Whately Alongside the Starmer-Mandelson debacle, the everyday work of government is stumbling on. The Pension Schemes Bill, for instance, should by now be approaching the end of its legislative journey. Instead, it has run into sustained resistance in the House [...]