Sizewell B granted 20-year life extension July 8, 2026 The government has granted the Sizewell B nuclear power plant a 20-year lifetime extension, meaning it will now continue to generate electricity until 2055. Majority-owner EDF and investor Centrica said they had agreed terms with the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, in a deal that will see its owners paid considerably less for [...]
Vistry angers market with £30m loss as new boss faces turbulent start July 8, 2026 Vistry has attracted the ire of shareholders and analysts after it revealed a £30m first-half loss, as the firm stutters under its new chief executive. The FTSE 250 housebuilder delivered an unscheduled update to shareholders this morning, revealing that chief financial officer Tim Lawlor will quit in October after being headhunted by a “large privately-owned [...]
IMF offers UK modest growth upgrade despite fresh Iran war tension July 8, 2026 The UK economy is set to grow just one per cent this year, according to the The International Monetary Fund (IMF), following a modest revision from its previous gloomy prediction. The IMF said the consequences Iran war, which has led to continued disruptions across the economically-critical Strait of Hormuz, would soften momentum across the UK [...]
Why even gilts are outperforming the once unstoppable Magnificent 7 this year July 8, 2026 Plagued by sticky inflation and spendthrift politicians, the UK government’s bonds have spent years as an unloved asset class. But six months into 2026 and they have, so far, outperformed the Magnificent 7. Ali Lyon examines what has gone wrong for the so-called hyperscalers even as AI hype is greater than ever. Since the Bank [...]
UK borrowing costs surge as Trump declares Iran ceasefire over July 8, 2026 UK borrowing costs surged and the price of oil leapt to a two week-high on Wednesday after Donald Trump suggested his already-fragile ceasefire deal with Iran was over. The yield on ten-year gilts – the primary benchmark for how much it costs the government to borrow – stormed 11 basis points higher to 4.96 per [...]
Quinbrook Closes Oversubscribed GBP 587 Million Renewables Impact Fund II July 8, 2026 Investments will advance decarbonisation, improve security of energy supplies, and provide critical grid support across the UK and Ireland
Simpro Group Makes It RAIN — New Features and AI-Infused Enhancements Delivered at Record Speed July 7, 2026 With Lightning’s Cooper AI at the center of AroFlo, BigChange and Simpro, the company is shipping dozens of new features and over 100 AI-infused enhancements — included for Lightning customers at no additional cost
Pension pressure to help swell UK debt to three times size of economy July 7, 2026 The growing cost of pensions is set to help swell UK public debt to three times the size of the economy and will place ‘unsustainable’ pressure on the public finances, the budget watchdog has warned, days after Andy Burnham pledged to retain the expensive triple lock after taking power. In its annual report on the [...]
House prices rise as mortgage rates ease from Iran war highs July 7, 2026 House prices inched up in June as mortgage rates softened following a sharp spike in response to the Iran war. The average UK property price rose by 0.2 per cent in June to £299,330, compared to a 0.2 per cent fall in May, according to the Lloyds house price index. Inflationary fears and expectation of [...]
Businesses can’t keep waiting for political stability July 7, 2026 We’ve created a hidden economy of underemployment. Thousands of highly skilled, self-employed professionals don’t appear in the unemployment figures because, technically, they have work. But many are quietly living off savings while they wait for businesses to regain the confidence to make decisions, says Aceil Haddad I was so annoyed watching the political drama unfold [...]