As it happened: Stocks recover after markets rocked by tech-sell off; US claims ‘good foundations’ of Iran deal Markets Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Markets have shrugged off the latest developments in US-Iran peace with the FTSE 100 falling at open as London got swept up in the wider sell-off that rocked Asia and Wall Street overnight. This comes despite some progress in the Middle East, with Trump’s Vice President JD Vance [...]
Iran to close Strait of Hormuz as Trump threatens toll Economics Iran’s top military command has said it will shut the Strait of Hormuz in response to alleged violations of the ceasefire agreement despite President Trump’s threats to impose a toll if the stretch of water is closed off. The Iranian leadership said the crucial shipping passage will be closed to vessel traffic as the “first [...]
Shipping chief: Hormuz tankers reluctant to leave Gulf despite Iran deal Economics Shipping firms remain reluctant to navigate the Strait of Hormuz sea passage despite this week’s peace deal, according to a boss of the industry’s lobby group who warned that trade volumes will not return to full capacity until next year. Peter Aylott, director of policy at the UK Chamber of Shipping, told City AM that [...]
IAG: British Airways owner plays down jet fuel shortage concerns May 8, 2026 British Airways owner IAG has played down fears of a jet fuel shortage forcing it to cancel flights this summer but warned investors to expect lower earnings as a result of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The London-listed carrier said the pan-regional war that has now dragged into its third month will have [...]
IHG: Holiday Inn owner braces for 50 per cent Middle East hit May 7, 2026 Holiday Inn owner IHG expects to see a 50 per cent hit to its operations in the Middle East, as the Iran war wreaks havoc on global travel. Intercontinental Hotels Group said revenue per available room in the Middle East slumped to a 26 per cent year-on-year fall in March, reversing the nine per cent [...]
Trump officials claim Iran is ‘weaponising global trade’ May 5, 2026 The United States’ most senior military officer has warned that Iran’s sustained assault on commercial shipping threatens to destabilise the world economy, accusing the country’s leadership of deliberately weaponising the global supply chain. General Dan Caine, the former venture capitalist currently serving as chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, made a stark intervention [...]
Tankers report being fired upon as Tehran closes Strait of Hormuz again April 18, 2026 Merchant vessels have said they were hit by gunfire as they attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz, the first indication that Iran’s re-closure of the waterway has been enforced. Iran’s military reimposed restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz again after accusing the US of violating the deal to reopen it, throwing the world’s energy [...]
Ceasefire hangs in balance after Iran shuts Hormuz April 9, 2026 Hopes of an extended deescalation in the Middle East remain hanging by a thread, after Iran shut the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane in response to a round of Israeli strikes on Lebanon. Oil tankers have been barred from passing through the narrow stretch of water responsible for carrying over a fifth of seaborne [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Stocks dip ahead of Trump’s Iran deadline April 7, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The London market is set to return from the bank holiday break with a major hangover. Whilst the City enjoyed an Easter break, volatile trading continued with Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil – hovering around the $110 mark after see-sawing between gains [...]
Oil soars as Trump vows to hit Iran ‘extremely hard’ April 2, 2026 The price of oil has spiked by over 7 per cent following Donald Trump’s vow to keep hitting Iran ‘extremely hard’ over the next few weeks, in an address to the nation. After a 17-minute speech on Wednesday evening, which failed to reassure global markets, Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, jumped 5 per cent [...]