Bankers eyeing warning signs for credit cycle downturn, says JP Morgan chief January 7, 2026 Bankers are paying close attention to early warning signs of a downturn in the credit market, a top JP Morgan executive has told City AM, as economic uncertainty and a spate of corporate collapses spark lender caution. Filippo Gori, co-head of Global Banking at JP Morgan, cited a rise in rates of fraud as well [...]
Why business owners are telling the next generation to give up on Britain January 7, 2026 Despite the government’s lofty pledges to be the “start-up hub of the world,” confidence has fallen so low that only 17 per cent of owners would advise a young entrepreneur to start their business in the UK today, says Matthew Elliott When entering government, Sir Keir Starmer stated that wealth creation would be his “number [...]
From avoidance to evidence: Britain should take the financial literacy test January 6, 2026 We all know an education bore who says at parties: “I would be a lawyer/accountant/doctor/engineer/etc but I just couldn’t be bothered to take the test.” We don’t believe them, so why should we believe a country that says, “We invented modern finance, but please don’t check our homework.” The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [...]
Fiscal drag to push thousands of families into child benefit tax charge January 6, 2026 The Chancellor’s decision to freeze tax thresholds will leave thousands of families forced to pay High Income Child Benefit Charge, eroding the value of government support. According to official HMRC forecasts, uncovered in a freedom of information request by Quilter, fiscal drag will force 35,000 more families into paying the charge, jumping from 324,000 in [...]
London Stock Exchange poised for IPO rebound in 2026 January 6, 2026 After a long-winded exodus, London’s flagship stock exchange saw a flurry of IPO activity at the tail end of last year, with the exchange poised for further revival in 2026. In the final quarter, the UK market saw 11 IPOs which raised £1.9bn, bringing the total number of listings for the year to 23. This [...]
Cost burden on firms rise at fastest pace since May January 6, 2026 Cost burdens on firms rose at their fastest pace since May as bosses dealt with wage growth pressures and sky-high energy prices, new data has indicated. S&P Global’s latest purchasing managers’ index (PMI), a monthly survey tracking hundreds of companies’ performances, showed that cost increases became heavier at the end of last year. Researchers said [...]
Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop collapse into administration, risking thousands of jobs January 6, 2026 High street chains Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) are being put into administration, after their owner said “last-ditch” measures had fallen through, putting about 2,500 UK staff at risk of redundancy. The two retailers had already undergone restructuring and were bought by investment firm Modella Capital last year. Modella said it had made [...]
Non-doms made up two thirds of super-prime sellers in 2025 January 6, 2026 Wealthy foreigners fleeing the UK to escape the government’s crackdown on non-doms were behind two of every three super-prime property sales last year, leading prices at the top-end of London’s housing market to extend declines that now stretch over a decade. According to a fresh analysis of London property transactions above £15m, 65 per cent [...]
Venezuela proves farce of political forecasting January 6, 2026 If history teaches us anything, it's that political forecasters almost always get it wrong. Just look at Venezuela, writes Paul Ormerod.
Soaring food costs send shop price inflation higher January 6, 2026 Soaring food costs pushed shop price inflation higher in December, fresh data has revealed, as Brits faced the crunch during the Christmas season. Food inflation reached 3.3 per cent in the final month of 2025, up from three per cent in November, with fresh produce rising to 3.8 per cent from 3.6 per cent previously. [...]