London still ‘second most attractive market’ for dealmaking post-Brexit May 7, 2025 The UK saw the second highest level of dealmaking between 2018 and 2024, new research has suggested, reflecting London’s status as a key financial hub despite claims its status would be reduced post-Brexit. Mergers and acquisitions in the UK hit $1.14 trillion in value over six years, coming only second to the US where a [...]
How quantum computing could save the NHS May 6, 2025 Quantum computing shoul be embedded into the daily lives of doctors on the NHS frontline, writes Ilyas Khan.
Magnificent Seven magic is ‘dead’, says top tech investor May 6, 2025 For years, investors have relied on the Magnificent Seven to provide massive returns. Now, one of its biggest beneficiaries has said that strategy is “mostly dead”. The small group of giant tech stocks has seen a tripling of its total weight in the S&P 500 over the last decade, and now makes up around a [...]
Are we witnessing the slow death of advertising holding companies? May 5, 2025 The feted founder of AKQA, Ajaz Ahmed, has launched a new agency that promises to take on the “slow, bureaucratic” ad groups that since the pandemic have have been labouring under stagnant revenues and falling share prices. Ali Lyon asks: “Are those holding companies on borrowed time?” Ajaz Ahmed is not a man to shy [...]
UK retail investors double down on US tech despite tariff jitters May 2, 2025 Despite geopolitical headwinds and market volatility, UK retail investors ramped up their exposure to US technology stocks in April, with Nvidia, Palantir and Tesla topping trading charts across major UK platforms. On AJ Bell, Nvidia emerged as the second most traded stock, trailing only BP. Tesla and Amazon also secured sports in the top ten, [...]
Harrods hit in cyber spree as experts warn of ‘coordinated campaign’ May 2, 2025 Harrods has become the latest high profile UK retailer targeted by cyber attackers, joining Marks & Spencer and Co-op Group in a spate of recent incidents that security experts fear may be part of a broader attack against the sector. Harrods has confirmed that it had experienced “attempted to gain unauthorised access” to its systems. [...]
Apple shares fall on cloud miss despite US chip pivot May 2, 2025 Apple posted better-than-expected earnings late Thursday, as iPhone sales held up strongly in the face of growing consumer anxiety over incoming US tariffs. But shares slipped nearly 3 per cent in after-hours trading, as a muted performance from its services unit and continued delays in its AI rollout tempered investor optimism. The California-based tech behemoth [...]
Amazon beats on profits, but tariff uncertainty weighs on stock May 2, 2025 Amazon topped Wall Street expectations in the first quarter of 2025, posting a 62 per cent jump in profit year on year. But a softer than expected cloud result and a cautious outlook for the coming quarter were enough to send shares lower in after-hours trading. This reflects the sensitivity of big tech valuations in [...]
M&S and Co-op: UK retailers brace for cyber attacks May 1, 2025 Two of the UK’s most recognisable retail brands – Marks and Spencer and Co-op – found themselves at the centre of a growing cyber security storm this past week. From suspended online orders at M&S to locked-down systems at Co-op, the message from the frontline is clear: cyber threats are no longer just an IT [...]
Week in Business: The billionaires backing Britain May 1, 2025 BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Virgin supremo Sir Richard Branson, businessman John Caudwell and JP Morgan top dog Jamie Dimon – quite the quartet – have all made some fascinating interventions this week. Let’s start with BlackRock, the world’s largest investor, running more than $11 trillion on behalf of pension funds, private clients and sovereign wealth [...]