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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Babcock shares soar as FTSE 100 giant hails ‘new era’ for defence

June 25, 2025

Engineering giant Babcock posted a jump in profit for the latest financial year as the firm’s boss hailed a “new era for defence”. The FTSE 100 company – which plays a significant role in supporting the UK’s nuclear submarine program – recorded an 11 per cent increase in revenue to £4.8bn. Meanwhile, operating profit surged [...]
Ring-fencing row puts Reeves in midst of Bank of England and City

June 25, 2025

Rachel Reeves has found herself in the crosshairs of City chiefs and the Bank of England as she weighs whether to scrap ring-fencing rules. The Chancellor is facing pressure to rip up the rules imposed on British lenders after top banking chiefs branded the system “redundant”. Reeves said she is “open-minded” to ditching the 15-year-old [...]
FCA reviewing bank risk appetite to boost home ownership

June 24, 2025

The Financial Conduct Authority has said it will review lenders’ risk-taking in its bid to boost home ownership. The City watchdog said it was seeking a “public conversation” on the “future of the mortgage market” as it looks to support economic growth through an overhaul on mortgage rules. An update to “responding lending rules” was [...]
Natwest executive top choice to lead Reeves’ National Wealth Fund

June 24, 2025

A senior Natwest executive is the leading choice to become the next chief of Labour’s National Wealth Fund. Oliver Holbourn is the front-runner to oversee the Treasury’s new body with current boss John Flint set to depart in the summer. Holbourn currently heads up Natwest’s RBS International Arm and previously managed UK Financial Investments – [...]
Cavendish shares eye year high after rejecting deals unit takeover

June 24, 2025

Shares in investment bank Cavendish spiked on Tuesday as the firm confirmed it had rejected takeover interest in its deals unit after facing private equity-backed interest. Cavendish had been approached regarding a deal that would break up the London-listed investment bank by Smith and Williamson (S&W). The value of the offer remains unclear, Sky News [...]
FTSE 100 held back by Shell and BP as pound hits three-year high

June 24, 2025

The FTSE 100 edged up and the pound hit a new high as investors flocked back to risk on Tuesday, but London’s blue-chip index’s rebound was held back by the falling price of oil. The UK’s flagship index nudged up 0.3 per cent in early trading to around 8,7883. But significant gains were held back [...]
Saga shares jump after revealing banking tie-up with Natwest

June 24, 2025

Shares in over-50s group Saga rose on Tuesday after the firm revealed it was in “final negotiations” with FTSE 100 juggernaut Natwest for a banking partnership. The London-listed company quickly climbed three per cent in early trading to 176.80p. The firm posted the update ahead of their AGM on Tuesday, confirming it had “agreed heads [...]
Zopa: Fintech bank takes on HSBC and Lloyds with current account

June 24, 2025

Digital bank Zopa is parking its tanks on the lawns of the UK’s top lenders – with a new high interest current account. The London-based fintech has launched “Biscuit,” which it said will allow customers to make £256 in cashback and interest per year. The current account offers two per cent AER interest on balances, [...]
One twist left in the PHP and KKR bidding war for Assura

June 23, 2025

The Assura bidding war between KKR and PHP looked to be sealing its final chapter on Monday – but analysts warn there could be one more twist in the saga. Assura said on Monday it had recommended its board to accept a fresh cash offer from PHP, which valued the firm at £1.79bn. The deal [...]
Palestine Action: Invesco office attacked in latest red paint vandalism

June 23, 2025

Global investment firm Invesco has been hit in the latest string of “red paint” attacks on financial services companies. The Atlanta-headquartered firm had its Westminster office vandalised on Monday as red paint and graffiti was left plastered across the side of the walls of the Portman Square building. The vandalism, which was committed by activists [...]

Burnham’s devolution drive could ‘push 90,000 jobs out of London’

Aston Villa commercial status a tonic for Premier League in big-spending era

Martin Williams on his favourite Toast the City venues

By: Samuel Norman

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