By: Samuel Norman

Senior City Reporter Samuel is a Senior City Reporter covering banking and fintech as well as stories on capital markets and economics. He also leads on City AM's morning liveblog from 7am everyday. He has previously written for the Daily Mail and The i Paper and worked for Sky News as an election stringer. He enjoys writing in-depth analysis of major blue-chip firms and start-ups and also industry trends. He can be contacted at samuel.norman@cityam.com and posts on LinkedIn and X at x.com/samnormanwrites.

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Two in five financial services firms lack safe AI controls

September 11, 2025

As the financial services industry piles billions of pounds into artificial intelligence (AI), firms are lacking adequate measures to maintain safe usage, according to new figures. Fresh data from Big Four accountancy giant EY reveal 26 per cent of companies have no or limited controls in place to ensure AI systems adhere to laws and [...]
Klarna could trigger a fintech IPO boom but can London benefit?

September 11, 2025

Klarna’s hot debut on the New York Stock Exchange has opened the doors for a flood of fintech listings but analysts are raising concerns whether the London market can enjoy this new stream. The Swedish fintech unicorn’s stock popped 15 per cent from its IPO price of $40. Shares closed at $45.82 after raising $222m. [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Trainline stock soars, BP and Shell edge higher

September 11, 2025

Good morning from the City AM liveblog team. Shares in Shell, BP, Playtech and Trainline were among the biggest risers in the London markets this morning, after the latter two reported earnings that sailed past analyst expectations. The government’s growth ambitions were dealt another hammer blow last night, after US pharma giant Merck pulled the [...]
High street banks’ SME lending comeback inches forward

September 11, 2025

High street banks’ return to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) inched onwards in the second quarter. The big banks have turned back to the area as the government clamps down on smaller firms’ difficulty accessing finance. Top bosses were summoned earlier this year for talks with ministers covering how to improve lending to SMEs. In [...]
UK fintech holds European crown but UAE threat looms

September 11, 2025

UK fintech maintained a heavy level of activity in the first half of 2025 but faced new threats from growing financial hubs. Over 70 significant acquisitions of smaller rivals or complementary businesses were reported in the UK and Europe over the half. This represented a 50 per cent bump on acquisitions compared to the previous [...]
Starling Bank eyes £4bn valuation in secondary share sale

September 10, 2025

UK fintech Starling is eyeing a valuation of £4bn in a new secondary share sale. The digital lender is in talks with Morgan Stanley and Rothschild to run the sale process, which the firm is hoping could help it net a valuation between £3.5bn and £4bn. The sale – the first since the group’s valuation [...]
ABF: Primark owner’s shares sink as sales slow at FTSE 100 giant

September 10, 2025

Shares in Primark owner Associated British Foods (ABF) have plunged after posting what analysts branded a “mixed bag” of results. The FTSE 100 warned that challenging conditions were weighing on the company’s trading, listing consumer caution, geopolitical uncertainty and inflation as top factors. Shares plunged 13 per cent on the news to their lowest value [...]
Clearbank brings fintech revolution to corporate banking

September 9, 2025

UK fintech Clearbank has laid out plans to power up its embedded banking services and take on legacy banks on a new battlefield. The firm said outdated “one-size-fits-all” approaches from centuries-old high street banks were “no longer fit for work” and set out plans to challenge traditional transaction services in areas like travel, hospitality and [...]
Tube strikes: Sadiq Khan urged to compensate hospitality sector

September 9, 2025

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has been told to ease the financial burden on the hospitality sector as firms face the crunch of tube strikes. Khan, who was criticised for his absence as the strikes got underway, has been urged to give the sector a “rent and rate holiday” so they can weather the strikes. [...]
FCA: ‘Large number of consumers’ wronged in motor finance deals

September 9, 2025

The UK’s financial watchdog is gearing up for an industry-wide redress scheme on the historic motor finance scandal where huge swathes of customers could be eligible for compensation. Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority, said there was “evidence that there have been unfair relationships between lenders and their consumers” and that a [...]

City law firms considering corporate-style models amid capital crunch

Exclusive: Bordeaux Begles to compete in London rugby sevens tournament

Beyond the Tour de France: How Girona became a cyclist’s paradise

By: Samuel Norman

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