By: Jessica Morris

I write about energy and industrials for City A.M. I'm particularly interested in geopolitics, energy policy and, of course, the ever lively oil markets.

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Santander UK to bid for credit card giant MBNA as competition heats up

September 5, 2016

Santander UK is reportedly circling MBNA, as interest in the credit card giant heats up ahead of next week’s deadline for offers. Sky News reported that the bank is considering a takeover bid for MBNA and could make a formal offer next week. MBNA has been stamped with a "for sale" sign by its current owner, Bank of [...]
Fresh pressure on UK government to change Chinese visa arrangements

September 5, 2016

Lobby group UK China Visa Alliance (UKCVA) and West End landlord Shaftesbury are ramping up pressure on the government to accelerate planned Chinese visa reforms in the wake of the Brexit vote. They want Whitehall to bring forward plans to extend the current two-year visa for Chinese nationals visiting Britain to a 10-year multiple entry visa. It comes amid a drop [...]
Oil prices soar despite muted Russia-Saudi Arabia statement

September 5, 2016

Crude oil prices soared on hopes for an output freeze which could accelerate the stricken crude market's recovery, despite some gains being parred by a muted statement from oil kingpins Russia and Saudi Arabia. Brent crude, the global benchmark, shrugged off earlier losses to swell as much as 5.49 per cent to $49.40 per barrel in late morning trading. [...]
Experts warn UK North Sea corporation tax is still too high

September 5, 2016

One of the world's leading petroleum economists has warned that the rate of corporation tax for North Sea oil and gas companies is still too high and "far above" that of its competitors. North Sea oil and gas companies pay a special rate of corporation tax at 30 per cent. In the March budget, tumbling oil [...]
Parents are forking out more to buy homes near top schools

September 5, 2016

Parents are increasingly prepared to pay a hefty premium to buy a home within the catchment area of Britain's best state schools. Lloyds Bank research released today showed they are willing to fork out an average of £53,000 more to live in an area close to a top performing state school — an increase of £13,000 (31 per cent) [...]
Royal London attacks Sports Direct over corporate governance issues ahead of AGM

September 4, 2016

Two major investment firms are set to join a revolt against Sports Direct’s corporate governance at a crunch AGM on Wednesday. Royal London and Hermes will vote against several board appointments. Royal London Asset Management, which owns a £2.75m stake in the retailer, also pushed Sports Direct to commission an independent external review into its working practices. The [...]
Balfour Beatty exec lined up to sweeten National Grid bid

September 4, 2016

The chairman of Britain's biggest construction company is being lined up to sweeten a bid for National Grid's network of gas pipes which could be worth up to £10bn. The Sunday Times reported that the group of Canadian, British and Middle Eastern investors approached industry veteran and Balfour Beatty chairman Philip Aiken to lead the bid, as the competition heats [...]
China hopes for “fair” Australia investment policy

September 4, 2016

China said today that it hopes Australia can provide a fair environment for foreign investors, following its first meeting with the Australian government since security concerns prompted it to derail a major energy infrastructure deal. After a meeting on the sidelines of a G20 summit, Chinese president Xi Jinping said he "hopes the Australian side continues [...]
Successive governments have failed on energy policy, IoD survey says

August 19, 2016

The last three governments have continuously failed to deliver an adequate energy policy, according to a damning survey of business leaders released today. A poll of nearly 1,000 bosses by the Institute of Directors (IoD) found that seven in ten thought the Labour, Coalition and Conservative governments hadn't provided reasonably priced energy. Two-thirds also complained [...]
Struggling clothing retailer Gap delivers muted full-year outlook

August 18, 2016

Struggling clothing retailer Gap lowered its full-year earnings forecasts as it failed to entice more customers into its shops. The California-based company now expects adjusted earnings per share of $1.87-$1.92 for this year, down from its previous guidance of $2.20 to $2.25. Read more: Gap to close 75 Old Navy and Banana Republic stores globally It came as the [...]

The Magnificent 7 in 2025 – and the survival of the richest

Reading owner Rob Couhig considers selling training ground to raise funds

Food trends 2026: What Londoners will eat in the new year

By: Jessica Morris

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