Royal London profit rises after new business sales August 8, 2025 Royal London reported strong profit growth in the first half of the year after an increase in new business sales. The insurance company recorded a 15 per cent rise in pre-tax profit to £166m, compared to £144m in 2024, crediting its higher business sales and bulk purchase annuity buy ins. The group completed eight BPA [...]
July fails to bring summer boost for high streets August 8, 2025 Footfall on UK high streets fell again in July as shoppers continued their slow move online, dashing retailers’ hopes for a summer boost. Overall footfall – which includes high streets, retail parks and shopping centres – fell 0.4 per cent in July, while high street footfall fell 1.7 per cent. Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA [...]
Tom Hayes on life as a free man: ‘I was in a very dark place’ August 7, 2025 Tom Hayes became one of the most infamous names in the Square Mile after he was convicted to 14 years in prison for rigging the Libor interest rate in 2015. It took a decade for him to clear his name. Ali Lyon meets the former banker to hear about life in prison, and what comes [...]
US Open tennis prize money soars as players get record purse cut August 7, 2025 Players at this year’s US Open are set to enjoy a record prize purse for a grand slam as Flushing Meadows splashes the cash. Singles winners in New York this autumn will each receive £3.7m for lifting silverware on the court of Arthur Ashe Stadium. It trumps the prize purse for the previous three grand [...]
Serco: Defence spending pushes order pipeline to 10-year high August 7, 2025 Government services firm Serco’s order pipeline has risen to the highest in more than a decade as countries across Europe and North America ramp up their defence budgets. The firm’s pipeline stood at £11.9bn, up six per cent compared to the end of last year, with as much as 80 per cent of its order [...]
Securing the Future: Zscaler’s New EMEA Hub Puts London at the Center of Zero Trust Innovation August 7, 2025 In a testament to its commitment to innovative cybersecurity, Zscaler has chosen to locate its new European headquarters in The Royal Exchange in London. The state-of-the-art hub represents more than just a physical office upgrade. It is a strategic investment that underscores London’s role as a dynamic nexus of technology, security, and business transformation. Zscaler’s [...]
House prices rise ahead of key Bank of England rate decision August 7, 2025 House prices rose at their fastest pace since the start of the year in July, as buyers shake off concerns about higher property taxes and push ahead with purchases. Prices rose 0.4 per cent in June, according to the latest index from Halifax, with the average property price now £298,237 compared to £297,157 last month. [...]
Shawbrook expands loan book ahead of mooted London float August 7, 2025 Specialist lender Shawbrook expanded its loan book in the first half of the year helping profit soar. The bank – which is owned by private equity firm Pollen Street Capital – recorded a 35 per cent jump in profit before tax to £168.6m as its loan book grew 14 per cent to £17bn. Deposits were [...]
Exclusive: British Basketball Federation defends deadline extension for GBBL August 7, 2025 The British Basketball Federation says it was “entirely appropriate” to extend the deadline for GBBL, the company which will take over the licence to run the top-tier league next year, to prove it had the guaranteed capital required. GBBL, fronted by former NBA executive Marshall Glickman, was originally mandated to demonstrate it had £15.5m in [...]
Deliveroo: Earnings shoot up ahead of Doordash acquisition August 7, 2025 Deliveroo has announced a boost to its earnings driven by a ‘more resilient than expected’ consumer, although profit has taken a hit ahead of its acquisition by American delivery giant Doordash. Revenue rose nine per cent in the six months ended June 30, with orders up eight per cent, Deliveroo told markets this morning. Order [...]