As it happened: Stocks plummet on latest Iran war tensions; Neets crisis a ‘human tragedy’ May 28, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The US and Iran are back to exchanging fire in a major blow to hopes of peace in the Middle East. Tehran struck an American airbase overnight in its retaliation for the US striking a military site that it said “posed a threat to US forces [...]
As it happened: US-Iran peace hopes sends oil lower; Brits handed energy price cap blow May 27, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Global markets were able to take the new developments in the Middle East in their stride on Tuesday amid hopes a peace deal was on the horizon. The FTSE 100 ended the day in the green and despite some choppy trading oil prices eased. This [...]
Middle East conflict revs up costs for young drivers May 21, 2026 Costs for drivers under the age of 25 are rising despite a drop in insurance premiums, largely driven by fuel hikes from the fallout of the Middle East conflict. Fuel costs for young drivers rose by 18 per cent in 2026 compared to 2025, with the average annual bill spiking from £833 to £981, according [...]
Losses balloon at Easyjet despite seeing ‘no disruption’ to jet fuel supplies May 21, 2026 Easyjet has played down fears that a jet fuel crisis caused by the Middle East will rip through its low-cost model, saying it has kept price rises to a minimum despite losses at the carrier ballooning to more than half a billion pounds. The London-listed carrier told investors it was “not seeing any disruption” to [...]
As it happened: Stocks jittery as Iran war drags on; Reeves unveil cost-of-living package May 21, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Donald Trump has warned Iran there are two options that could see the US finishing the war in Iran, with one that will “see a few people killed as opposed to a lot”. He added: “We could do it either way.” It’s the latest threat from the White [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 rises as oil slips; Analysts warn of ‘short-lived’ inflation drop May 20, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The City has welcomed news of undershooting inflation this morning, but warning signs already suggest it’s a temporary blip. The Consumer Price Index rose 2.8 per cent in the 12 months to April, that’s under the three per cent pencilled in and a major drop [...]
Emergency lifeline for collapsed banks doubled to £3bn May 18, 2026 The emergency credit fund that serves as a lifeline for collapsed lenders has been doubled as a result of “recent regulatory and operational developments”. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) – working in tandem with the Treasury and Bank of England – has hiked its revolving credit facility capacity to £3bn from £1.45bn previously. The [...]
UK businesses stall investments and cut headcount due to Iran war May 18, 2026 Over half of UK firms said they have halted investment and hiring plans due to the economic fallout of the Iran war, contributing to supply chain pressures and higher energy and fuel costs. According to new research from accountancy and advisory firm BDO, 57 per cent of 500 businesses with revenues between £10m and £500mn, [...]
As it happened: IMF lifts UK GDP and stocks reverse losses as bonds warned of ‘correction’ May 18, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The bond market is taking a breathe after mountains of pressure on Friday. The UK’s borrowing costs hit their highest since 2008, charging to 5.17 per cent during one part of the day’s trading session. This was topped once more on Monday morning, but since then yields have [...]
Record £4bn revenue for accountancy firms ‘may reinforce’ hawkish rate outlook May 14, 2026 The UK’s accounting sector hit a record high for monthly revenue according to data from the Office for National Statistics out on Thursday, though gains may be short-lived due to the impact of the uncertainty sparked by the Iran conflict. In March, the industry’s revenue spiked by nearly ten per cent to £4.3bn compared to [...]