By: Samuel Norman

Senior City Reporter Samuel is a Senior City Reporter covering all the top financial institutions from retail banks to fintechs as well as stories on capital markets and economics. He has broken stories on some of the biggest names in the City and regularly writes in-depth analysis pieces on companies and industry trends. Samuel also leads on City AM's morning liveblog from 7am everyday. He writes a weekly column found in print and online on Wednesdays. He can be contacted at samuel.norman@cityam.com and posts on LinkedIn and X at x.com/samnormanwrites.

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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 [...]
15m workers not ‘sufficiently’ saving for retirement, says top pensions chief

May 27, 2026

Tens of millions of working people will face a crisis in retirement with the current automatic salary contribution “no longer sufficient,” the boss of one of the UK’s largest pension providers has warned. Around 15 million people are set to suffer in retirement as workers use their automatic eight per cent auto-enrolment pension contribution as [...]
Moneybox profit slides as wealth manager bets on ‘high levels of automation’

May 27, 2026

Moneybox saw its profit slide by nearly a quarter in the last year as the wealth manager invested “heavily” in new technology and bet on “high levels of automation”. The London-based fintech notched its third consecutive year of profitability but faced a 23 per cent drop in its pre-tax takings at £14.9m by the end [...]
An Inspector Calls at Nationwide’s annual general meeting

May 27, 2026

In 49 days An Inspector Calls at the Nationwide annual general meeting and in this week’s column Samuel Norman looks at what he could be asking. Also on the agenda… after annual report season, it’s time for Starling to go full throttle on Engine. Not since the keen-eyed Inspector Goole shattered the comfortable illusions of [...]
Vulnerable bank customers could face ‘higher barriers’ to redress in Treasury overhaul

May 26, 2026

Warnings are being raised over a planned Treasury shake-up of financial services rules after an impact assessment revealed vulnerable customers could be excluded from receiving compensation when wronged. The government unveiled its Enhancing Financial Services Bill at the King’s Speech, which paved the way for reform to consumer redress protections through changes in the Consumer Credit [...]
As it happened: Petrol prices surge to Iran war record as Kingfisher helps lift stocks higher

May 26, 2026

Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The City is returning from the Bank Holiday break to find the tensions in the Middle East continuing in a stalemate – or perhaps a further escalation than last week. After days of threats President Donald Trump has issued a strike on Iran, which he [...]
‘Centre of gravity is shifting’: UK fintech hiring to switch focus from neobanks

May 26, 2026

UK fintech is forecast for another hiring surge as the sector matures past the high-growth era of neobanks and focus turns to the rise of software and payments focused firms. Figures from City recruiter Morgan McKinley forecast fintech hiring to rise 14 per cent in 2026, which follows on from a whopping 28 per cent [...]
Rachel Reeves oversees borrowing spike as benefits spending offsets tax haul

May 22, 2026

Rachel Reeves oversaw a surge in borrowing in the first month of the financial year as April’s figures hit the highest since 2020 on higher benefit spend. Government borrowing – which marks the difference between total public sector spending and income – topped £24.3bn in April 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). [...]
As it happened: Stocks jump on peace hopes; Reeves hit by falling retail sales and surge in borrowing

May 22, 2026

Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Oil prices remain volatile and heightened as peace talks in the Middle East continue to run into stumbling blocks. Brent crude futures were up to $104 this morning following reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader was ordering for the nation’s enriched uranium reserves to remain in [...]
‘It will reduce jobs’ – Jamie Dimon sounds off on AI’s impact on banks

May 21, 2026

One of the world’s leading financial figures has warned AI will inevitably lead to a cut in jobs amid growing jitters around the impact the new tech will have on the banking sector. Jamie Dimon – the top boss of America’s largest bank, JP Morgan – said: “I think [AI] will reduce our jobs down [...]

Back businesses to employ more Neets, Tory shadow minister says

What drinking alcohol at football could tell us about sporting fandom

Is this Europe’s weirdest holiday? Bog swimming in Estonia

By: Samuel Norman

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