Financial services suffer ‘rapid’ fall in business January 8, 2026 Financial services are suffering from a “rapid” fall in business activity, new survey data has shown, pointing to investors’ struggles to revive a spluttering UK economy. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI)‘s figures suggested financial services companies experienced a decline in business volumes and profitability at the end of last year, hitting confidence across the [...]
Vitality posts healthy profit as revenue passes £1bn January 8, 2026 Health and life insurer Vitality surged back into the black after its revenue passed the £1bn mark during its latest financial year. The London-headquartered business has posted a pre-tax profit of £48m for the 12 months to 30 June 2025, new accounts filed with Companies House show. The total comes after it fell to a [...]
Microsoft rides the Wayve as self driving cars hit London streets January 8, 2026 Microsoft announced its strengthened partnership with British born autonomous driving startup Wayve on Thursday, in a move set to bring the tech into commercial use. This collaboration, based largely on Microsoft Azure, provides its infrastructure to both train and operate the AV firm’s AI into complex urban environments such as London. Founded in 2017 in [...]
Beyond the neon lights: Discover Tokyo’s timeless traditions January 8, 2026 Japanese culture has always had a strong influence. Whether food, anime or Pokémon, Japan has captured attention from childhood and stayed with people for years whether they’ve visited the country or not. . Art such as “The Great Wave” and traditional themes like samurai are globally recognised, reflecting the country’s craft and pursuit of perfection. [...]
The radical Dry January approach we should all take January 8, 2026 With so many Millennials growing up and moving to the suburbs, and Gen Z famously not drinking as much, has Dry January lost its fizz? A recent YouGov survey from December 2025 revealed that just over half of British adults said they would not be avoiding alcohol in January 2026, and the vibe certainly matches [...]
London’s legal elites bask in booming pay packets January 8, 2026 While London shivers through a January cold snap, the city’s legal elite are basking in an earnings heatwave as salaries for City lawyers at major law firms have edged up over the last year. Over the 2024/2025 financial year, the average profit per equity partner (PEP) at the big firms, including Linklaters, A&O Shearman, Herbert [...]
The Capitalist: What happened to Dry January? January 8, 2026 In this week’s diary, property investment board games, new ways to ride the Tube and why Dry January seems like a distant memory WHAT HAPPENED TO DRY JANUARY? “I was gonna do it but then I went to the pub yesterday,” a senior City AM staff member admitted to The Capitalist, remarking on their own [...]
Peter Mandelson handed back £1.3m from consulting firm he founded January 8, 2026 A consulting firm founded by Peter Mandelson handed back £1.3m to the House of Lords peer prior to his departure from the business, the firm’s latest accounts reveal. Global Counsel, a London-based public policy consultancy launched by Mandelson in 2016, had been lent £1m by the disgraced politician with interest paid “at commercial rates,” white [...]
House prices expected to rise in 2026 after December dip January 8, 2026 UK house prices slipped slightly in December, as affordability issues and the fallout from the Autumn Budget dampened buyer appetite, but industry figures expect the market to pick up in 2026. House prices fell 0.6 per cent in the final month of 2025, bringing prices down by a further £1,789, following a 0.1 per cent [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Supermarket shares fall in trolley wars; M&S rises amid cyber recovery January 8, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The FTSE 100’s rally came crashing down yesterday as steep losses across commodities dragged the index into the red. Whilst one shouldn’t fret too much with the index still holding firm above its latest milestone, Wednesday’s 0.7 per cent drop still wiped over 70 points [...]