Borrowing costs spike as Middle East conflict rages Markets The cost of UK government borrowing spiked on Tuesday morning, while the pound plummeted as markets continued to digest the impacts of the intensifying conflict in the Middle East. The yield on the 10-year Gilt jumped 0.15 percentage points to 4.46 per cent while 2-year Gilt yields, which closely track interest rate expectations, spiked 0.16 [...]
Oil price surge pushes investors to bet against interest rate cut Markets Investors have pared bets that the Bank of England will cut interest rates in March, as analysts worry that the surge in oil and gas prices could prop up inflationary pressures in the economy. European gas prices were up over 40 per cent on Monday while oil prices gained seven per cent to hover around [...]
Gas prices ‘go stratospheric’ as Qatari plant hit by Iran strikes Markets European gas prices surged on Monday after Iranian retaliatory strikes shut down the world’s largest export plant for liquified natural gas (LNG), based in Qatar. In a statement, QaterEnergy, the Qatari state energy company, said it had ceased production of LNG due to “military attacks” on Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesaieed Industrial City. “One [...]
Defence stocks jump as Iran conflict drives munitions demand March 2, 2026 European defence stocks rose at the start of the week as investors anticipated that the widening conflict in the Middle East will push up demand for munitions and military hardware. Although the European-wide Stoxx 600 was trading 1.3 per cent lower, many of the continent’s largest weapons manufacturers were comfortably in the green. In the [...]
US and Israel strike Iran as Trump calls for regime change February 28, 2026 The US and Israel have launched strikes on Iran as President Trump called for Iranian citizens to “take over” the country’s government, with Sir Keir Starmer weighing in to condemn Iran’s retaliatory strikes. Trump announced in a video broadcast on Truth Social that the US has launched “major combat operations” against Iran, adding that it [...]
Investors tremble as Iran risks oil price spiral with attack on Strait of Hormuz February 28, 2026 City analysts and policymakers are on edge as a possible attack by Iran on the Strait of Hormuz could send oil prices spiralling. Investors fear a new inflationary shock could hit major economies including the UK as a result of full-blown war between the US and Iran. Many had pinned hopes on nuclear programme negotiations [...]
Starmer calls for ‘agreement without delay’ on peace plan in Gaza October 4, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer has labelled Hamas’ partial acceptance of a peace plan put forward by US President Donald Trump as a “significant step forwards” and called for an “agreement without delay”. Hamas said it has accepted elements of the plan to end the nearly two-year war, including being willing to release the hostages and hand [...]
Spanish PM Sanchez calls for Israel ban from international sport September 15, 2025 Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez has called on Israel to be banned from international sport following disruption to the Vuelta a Espana. It comes after pro-Palestine protestors caused the cycling race to be concluded prematurely at the weekend over anger surrounding the participation of the Israel-Premier Tech team, which is privately rather than state-owned. The [...]
Israel and Iran missile tensions causing chaos for British and Irish Lions fans June 24, 2025 Missile tensions between Iran and Israel in the Middle East have caused travel chaos for British and Irish Lions fans heading to Australia. Large numbers of rugby fans heading Down Under to be in Perth in time for Saturday’s opening match of the British and Irish Lions tour are flying via Doha, the UAE and [...]
Don’t panic: What’s behind markets’ Iran-Israel indifference? June 23, 2025 Commentators have warned that an escalation in the Iran-Israel conflict could set off a chain of events that leads to the outbreak of World War 3. But markets have reacted as if the exchange of air attacks have barely happened at all. Ali Lyon digs into a puzzling few days of equities and oil trading. [...]