Signing up to a new AI tool? For the love of God, read the small print! March 18, 2025 Influencers are flogging AI programmes as "neat little tools", but failing to read the small print could prove costly, writes Paul Armstrong.
The Spring Statement is an opportunity to secure the UK’s economic future March 17, 2025 The Chancellor should prioritise pension reform, enhanced use of digital verification and attracting FDI to kick start growth in the Spring Statement, says Chris Hayward The Chancellor has vowed to kick-start the economy, and the upcoming Spring Statement will be key to making that happen. The source of growth is right here in the City, [...]
Shein confirms listing plans with London in the spotlight March 14, 2025 Fast fashion titan Shein has confirmed its plans to float on the stock market, and hasn’t ruled out listing in London. Chief executive Donald Tang told The Times that the firm wanted to go public to increase “accountability and transparency”. The brand had not previously confirmed a timeline for an IPO. Yet, reports suggest the [...]
Mark Kleinman: FCA chief Rathi not at the exit door after all March 13, 2025 Mark Kleinman is Sky News’ City Editor and the man who gets the Square Mile talking in his weekly City AM column. Today, he looks at the FCA chief, big Boots to fill and a high street icon FCA chief Rathi not at the exit door after all Embattled, besieged, under-fire: a few short weeks ago, there seemed no [...]
Tariffs: Starmer ‘disappointed’ by Trump move and ‘all options on table’ March 12, 2025 The Prime Minister has said he is “disappointed” by US President Donald Trump’s move to bring in 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, including from the UK. Sir Keir Starmer has indicated the UK would keep open the option of retaliatory measures, emphasising that “we will keep all options on the table”. [...]
Financial watchdogs ditch DEI regulation and ‘name and shame’ plans March 12, 2025 The UK’s two main financial watchdogs have ditched plans to impose diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) targets on City institutions amid a government push to put Britain’s regulators on a growth footing. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) announced on Wednesday that in light of the “broad range” of feedback and [...]
Government to hit regulators with performance targets to drive innovation March 10, 2025 Regulators will be slapped with new performance targets in an effort to stimulate technological innovation and drive investment in the UK. According to Lord Patrick Vallance, the science minister, the benchmarks will be designed to accelerate innovation. Lord Vallance has suggested that this drive for innovation could result in commercial delivery drones, self-driving vehicles, and [...]
CMA clears probe into Microsoft’s OpenAI investment March 5, 2025 After months of scrutiny, Microsoft’s $13bn (£11bn) partnership with OpenAI has been cleared by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The antitrust watchdog ruled that Microsoft‘s investment did not meet the threshold for a full-scale merger investigation, despite concerns over the tech giant’s influence on the AI startup. The CMA acknowledged that Microsoft gained [...]
The Co-op admits blocking rivals from opening competing stores March 5, 2025 The Co-op has become the latest major UK supermarket to fall foul of a targeted campaign by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to stop the use of ‘unlawful land agreements’ in grocery retailing. The group has admitted to 107 breaches of an order to stop supermarkets imposing restrictions that block rivals from opening competing [...]
AI-men: How Gen Z will join religions created by algorithms March 4, 2025 Bespoke belief systems like tarot and astrology are already gaining popularity with Gen Z – AI will take it further, offering bespoke doctrines, machine-learning-driven prophecies and virtual deities that evolve based on user data, says Paul Armstrong Spirituality is evolving, and Gen Z is leading the charge. Traditional religious affiliation is in freefall (43 out [...]