HSBC kicks off $1bn share buyback after profit smashes forecast August 4, 2026 HSBC has resumed its share buyback programme after profit soared past expectations in the second quarter of 2026. The FTSE 100 bank – whose market cap of £274bn makes it the London Stock Exchange’s most valuable company – posted $10.1bn (£7.5bn) in pre-tax profit for the last three months, surging past an internal forecast of [...]
As it happened: Oil prices tumble as Bessent says US-Iran deal imminent; miner stocks rally August 4, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM FTSE 100 liveblog. The price of oil tumbled on Tuesday afternoon after a senior Trump ally said that a deal over control of the Strait of Hormuz could be agreed with Iran in the coming days. The price of Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil – tumbled [...]
Susannah Streeter: investors are bracing for tax rises August 4, 2026 The Notebook, where the City’s movers and shakers have their say. Today financial commentator Susannah Streeter takes the pen Usually, at this time of year we would be enjoying Médoc’s beautiful beaches, looking forward to long lunches, endless stretches of Atlantic coastline and enjoying the region’s famous wine as the sun sets. But the devastating [...]
West Ham: Staveley receives Sadiq Khan encouragement to buy London Stadium August 4, 2026 The door is open for West Ham United to buy their London Stadium home, with the Mayor welcoming any future discussions after Amanda Staveley said property would be part of her next football investment, City AM can reveal. The former Newcastle United co-owner has agreed a deal – subject to majority owner Daniel Kretinsky not [...]
Exclusive: Blackstone set to back AI ‘droid’ firm at $3.5bn valuation August 4, 2026 Blackstone is weighing a fresh funding injection for Nvidia-backed artificial intelligence firm Factory in a deal likely to value the coding company at more than $3.5bn, City AM has learned. The New York-headquartered investment giant, which has been ploughing cash into AI firms and digital infrastructure in recent years, is considering the investment as part [...]
Commonwealth Gold Medallists Return to the Court That Helped Inspire London August 3, 2026 When Central London Alliance transformed Paternoster Square into a vibrant destination for sport, community and wellbeing with a pop-up 3×3 basketball court, it set out to demonstrate how innovative use of public spaces could inspire participation, animate central London and bring people together through sport. Now, just months later, that vision has come full circle. [...]
London’s IPO lull expected to last into 2027 August 3, 2026 London’s IPO market is expected to remain subdued for the rest of the year, as domestic and overseas political upheaval puts companies off listing. The UK’s stock market has had minimal IPO activity this year to date, seeing just seven new listings which raised a combined £557m. This ended the IPO surge seen at the [...]
Liverpool FC eye US retail empire to steal march on Premier League rivals August 3, 2026 Liverpool FC are in talks to become the first Premier League football team to open a chain physical retail stores in the United States. The 20-time English champions already have 26 bricks-and-mortar stores across the world, including in London, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Africa, and want to grow to 40 by 2030. The move [...]
Housebuilder shares rally on Iran war peace hopes and help-to-buy revival August 3, 2026 Shares in leading London’s listed housebuilders jumped on Monday as investors bet a potential Iran war peace deal and a mooted new help-to-buy scheme would provide a boon to Britain’s flagging property market. FTSE-100-listed Persimmon jumped more than four per cent to 1,152 while mid-cap Vistry gained six per cent to 310p on Monday. Analysts [...]
AI powerhouses are betting on London’s future August 3, 2026 London is a truly global city with a world-leading financial sector, a sophisticated and mature technology ecosystem, and the infrastructure to support growth at scale – and with these major recent AI office signings, we are seeing the city endorsed by the businesses shaping frontier technology, says Mike Wiseman In my experience, the property market [...]