Inflation set to ease slightly before interest rates decision June 16, 2025 UK inflation is set to ease slightly to 3.3 per cent in May, according to a poll of economists, in a final set of data to be seen by Bank of England officials before they come to an interest rates decision on Thursday. A slightly lower rate of inflation would enthuse investors, who currently predict [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]
FTSE 100 and sterling take a hit after Israel strikes Iran June 13, 2025 The FTSE 100 and pound tumbled Friday morning after Israel launched a flurry of strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear programme. The UK’s blue-chip index was down 0.6 per cent during early trading, led by a slump in the airline sector. BA parent IAG and low-cost airline Easyjet were down nearly four per cent following the crash [...]
Oil prices slump to four-year low amid Opec+ production push May 5, 2025 Oil prices have slumped to a four-year low as concerns over a supply glut from Saudi Arabia and a slowing global economy rattle the sector. Brent crude, the global benchmark, has fallen more than four per cent after oil cartel OPEC+ agreed over the weekend to increase oil production by another 411,000 barrels a day [...]
Shell: FTSE 100 giant’s shares rise after unveiling buyback and profit hit May 2, 2025 Shell recorded a sharp fall in first-quarter profits on Friday, after crude oil priced weakened amid geopolitical uncertainty. The FTSE 100 oil giant recorded adjusted earnings of $5.58bn (£4.2bn) for the first three months of the year. Whilst this surpassed analyst expectations of $4.96, it marked a stark fall from the $7.73bn reported for the [...]
Investment funds in April: Energy plummets while property soars May 1, 2025 Energy funds suffered deeply during April as an expected slowdown in global growth caused oil prices to tank throughout the month. Five energy funds featured in the bottom 10 performing investment funds, alongside two resource funds, with Guinness Global Energy as the worst performer, falling 13.5 per cent. “With the price of a barrel of [...]
BP shares plummet as firm chops buyback amid weakened oil market April 29, 2025 British energy giant BP chopped its quarterly share buyback after President Donald Trump’s erratic tariff agenda sent the price of oil tumbling. BP cuts its buyback to $750m (£559m), compared to $1.75bn the previous quarter. The firm’s shares dropped nearly four per cent in early trading on Tuesday. This comes after the cost of a [...]
Labour MP calls for action over Grangemouth oil refinery April 12, 2025 A Labour MP has urged the UK Government to intervene to help the Grangemouth oil refinery remain open, saying there are “striking similarities” between the plant there and the Scunthorpe steel plant. Brian Leishman said he hoped the UK Government would nationalise British Steel and take the plant at Scunthorpe “under Government control” – but [...]
Oil prices plummet as Saudis lead supply drive April 4, 2025 Oil prices are falling to their lowest close since 2021 as eight countries including Saudi Arabia and Russia surprised market leaders by announcing an increase to production. The shock decision by the OPEC+ alliance, delivered via a video conference on Thursday, came less than 24 hours after President Trump’s Liberation Day tariff announcements intensified global [...]