M&A activity declines as investors opt for high-value deals September 5, 2025 UK merger and acquisition (M&A) activity declined in the first half of the year, as investors sought strategic deals amid market volatility. The total deal value of UK M&A declined 12.3 per cent from £65.3bn to £57.3bn according to a report from professional services group PwC. Deal volume also softened with just 1,478 transactions in the [...]
Young men more likely to use AI to guide investment decisions September 4, 2025 Young men are more likely to use AI to guide their financial decisions compared to older generations and women. Men aged 18-34 are also increasingly likely to turn to AI for financial advice, than older generations, according to wealth management company Handelsbanken. Around a quarter of respondents who used AI admitted it was an alternative [...]
Investors flee equity funds as valuation concerns grow September 4, 2025 Equity funds experienced their worst month of outflows since August 2022 in August, as investors shifted their cash into bonds. UK investors withdrew a staggering £1.3bn from equity funds, following a withdrawal of £1.13bn in July, according to data from funds group Calastone. Edward Glyn, head of global markets at Calastone said, “This summer, stock [...]
London’s bullion market set to trial digital gold September 3, 2025 London’s physical gold market is on the verge of a major shake up, as the World Gold Council seeks to launch a digital form of the precious metal. The move would transform the capital’s $900bn (£672bn) market, creating the ability to trade, settle, and collateralise bullion digitally around the gold ecosystem for the first time. [...]
Exclusive: Octopus Investments appoints new CEO September 2, 2025 Retail asset management platform Octopus Investments has appointed Erin Platts, former chief executive of HSBC Innovation Banking, as its new CEO. Octopus Investments, the UK’s largest investor in AIM listed companies, is a branch of the financial services company, Octopus Group. It holds £9.9bn in funds under management. Platts will succeed Octopus Group co-founder and [...]
Brits set their sights on affording comfortable retirement September 2, 2025 British adults have set their sights on affording a luxury retirement, but rising costs have soured some saver’s hopes. Nearly 8m Brits have made securing a comfortable retirement their main financial priority, according to research from consumer banking business Chase. A comfortable retirement allows more financial freedom and luxuries, such as holidays and greater non-essential [...]
Is it time to add infrastructure to your portfolio? September 2, 2025 The UK has, for many years, consistently underinvested in infrastructure compared to its G7 peers. With flagship projects, the country has a terrible track record. In the past year, the long-awaited, controversial high-speed HS2 rail line saw its expansion into the north of England scrapped due to escalating costs. Meanwhile, the Lower Thames Crossing development [...]
Boost pension to avoid retirement poverty graduates warned September 1, 2025 Graduates entering the workforce have been urged to begin topping up their pension pot, as retirement poverty worries continue to loom large. Nearly 90 per cent of recent university graduates believe pension planning is important, but pressing financial matters have shifted their focus away from saving for retirement, according to research from insurance provider Standard [...]
Assets at Evelyn Partners hit a record high amid tax raid speculation August 29, 2025 Evelyn Partners has maintained its run of strong inflows, as speculation about pension changes drives customers to seek wealth management advice. The wealth management firm generated £3.7bn of gross inflows in the first half of the year, a seven per cent jump from the £3.5bn recorded in 2024. Assets under management (AUM) reached a record [...]
Exclusive: Female CFOs generate greater returns for investors August 28, 2025 Female chief financial officers (CFOs) in the UK are routinely outperforming industry benchmarks, according to a new study shared exclusively with City AM. According to finance management platform OneStream’s Glass Chair study, UK companies led by female CFOs have delivered an average total return 1.5 per cent above industry benchmarks. That figure grows to 3.2 [...]