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. [...]
FTSE 100 shrugs off Israel-Iran strikes June 16, 2025 The FTSE 100 was unmoved by simmering tensions in Israel and Iran, despite reports that the UK was scrambling to send fighter jets, and conflict in the Middle East was on the brink of a significant escalation with US involvement. The UK’s leading index was up 0.2 per cent after the first hour of trading, [...]
Zelensky warns oil price surge could help Russia’s war efforts June 14, 2025 A sharp rise in global oil prices after Israeli strikes on Iran will benefit Russia and bolster its military capabilities in the war in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky has said. The Ukrainian president told journalists in Kyiv that the surge in oil prices threatens Ukraine’s position on the battlefield, especially because western allies have not enforced [...]
Lammy set for further talks with counterparts as Iran and Israel exchange fire June 14, 2025 David Lammy is expected to spend the day in talks with counterparts across the Middle East after Iran launched retaliatory attacks against Israel overnight. The Foreign Secretary will be briefed by officials on Saturday and will speak to figures in the Middle East and elsewhere. It comes after conversations with representatives from Iran, Jordan and [...]
Gold rallies to near-two month high as Middle East conflict intensifies June 13, 2025 Investors were flocking to gold on Friday after Israel’s attack on Iran sparked a demand for the safe haven asset. The rush sent gold prices up one per cent to their highest level in nearly two months at $3,441.90 The bullion pulled on track for a weekly gain as the Middle Eastern conflict ramped up. [...]
Wizz Air: Shares tank as profit tumbles June 5, 2025 Wizz Air reported a hefty drop in annual profit as it grapples with long-running supply chain issues and conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East. Shares tanked 22.7 per cent as markets opened on Thursday. Annual operating profit fell 51.7 per cent year-on-year to €167.5m (£141m), below analyst expectations, even as passenger traffic hit a [...]
The City of London must embrace its friendship with Saudi Arabia June 2, 2025 By working together, the UK cannot only help Saudi Arabia realise its ambitious vision but also secure new growth for both nations, writes Alastair King.
Blue collar brain drain to Saudi is harming major infrastructure projects May 20, 2025 An exodus of talent from Britain’s infrastructure sector to the Middle East is harming the delivery of major projects in the UK, according to the head of a key labour supplier. “Certain skills are missing in every level really when you look at it,” the boss of London-listed Hercules, which specialises in supplying labour to [...]
Fifa president Infantino set for Middle East trip alongside Trump May 13, 2025 Fifa president Gianni Infantino is set to touch down in Saudi Arabia today as he joins President Donald Trump in the Middle East. The football chief will, as a result, not be present in person for a number of key Fifa meetings in Paraguay ahead of the body’s congress, which begins on Thursday. Infantino, who [...]
Iran and US prepare for second round of talks over Tehran’s nuclear programme April 19, 2025 Iran and the US are preparing for a second round of negotiations over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear programme. The talks in Rome over Easter weekend will again hinge on US billionaire Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, and Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi. That talks are even happening represents a historic moment, given [...]