Retirement option to be scrapped in overhaul of Lifetime ISA January 28, 2026 The government is set to scrap the option to save for retirement in its replacement for the Lifetime ISA. The new savings product will only be available for first time buyers and will no longer pay the government’s 25 per cent bonus on a monthly basis, as part of the Treasury’s bid to simplify the [...]
‘Liz Truss-lite’: Is Japan in the midst of a sovereign debt crisis? January 22, 2026 Japan’s long-dated bonds suffered their worst sell-off this century on Tuesday. Ali Lyon asks whether the rout could spark a full-blown debt crisis? For decades, the world’s fixed income investors have been sucked in – and spat out – by an alluring trade on Japan’s government bonds. Secure in their belief that the securities’ unfathomable, [...]
Volkswagen Passat Estate review: Second place in the space race January 21, 2026 Volkswagen has celebrated several big birthdays in recent years, with both the Polo supermini and Golf hatchback marking their 50th anniversaries. Yet the Passat, first launched in 1973, seemingly did not merit a special commemorative edition when it turned 50. Volkswagen has launched a new version of the Passat, though, now only available in estate [...]
LAIKA Partners With Fathom Entertainment for Domestic Distribution and FilmNation Entertainment for International Sales on Wildwood January 20, 2026 Confirms October 23, 2026 U.S. Release Date
FTSE 250 housebuilder Taylor Wimpey strikes fresh deal with Zoopla January 20, 2026 One of the UK’s biggest housebuilders has signed a new contract with top property website Zoopla as it seeks to boost conversion rates for its new developments. FTSE 250 constituent Taylor Wimpey said the fresh agreement would support the company with further market data and insights to enable it to obtain the best return on [...]
House affordability offers first time buyers boost but Londoners lag behind January 20, 2026 Improved house affordability has sparked an uptick in first time buyer activity over the last year, but those on lower incomes remain shut out of the housing market. Affordability constraints eased slightly, due to declining mortgage rates and wage growth surpassing house price growth, bolstering buyer demand, particularly among those taking the first step onto [...]
Zurich makes £7.7bn play for Beazley after FTSE 100 firm rejected first offer January 19, 2026 Zurich Insurance Group has launched its second public pursuit of Lloyd’s of London prominent underwriter Beazley with a revised proposal at 1.280 pence per share, valuing the firm at just under £8bn. At the start of the month, Zurich privately submitted a proposal to the Beazley board to acquire 100 per cent of the company [...]
Why are London’s house sellers losing money? January 17, 2026 London’s housing market is known for offering vast mansions and leafy avenues to wealthy buyers from across the world. So why are more sellers in the capital suffering losses than anywhere in the country? It is London’s most affluent and sought-after locations where the profitability of home-selling is taking the biggest hit, with Chelsea and [...]
Casks of Distinction: Rare whisky for drinking, not investment January 15, 2026 Whisky Business: City AM’s monthly look at the world of whisky. Established in 2017, Casks of Distinction was created by Diageo to offer something different for the world’s most devoted whisky collectors – 12 unique casks selected from the group’s vast whisky collection known as “The Twelve.“ The drinks giant owns around 30 distilleries across Scotland [...]
Labour policy is making it harder to sell a flat in London January 15, 2026 Lowering the threshold for Stamp Duty and locking out first-time buyers at the same time as introducing legislation that makes it economically nonviable to be a landlord has led to a glut of London flats on the market, says Simon Gerrard Londoners were the most likely to have lost money when selling their property in [...]