Easyjet extends window for another Castlelake bid August 3, 2026 Easyjet has extended the window for another takeover bid from asset manager Castlelake after its offer was usurped by investment giant Apollo last month. The budget airline said on Monday that it was still set to recommend the Apollo deal to shareholders, which values its stock at £7.15 per share, but would extend Castlelake’s deadline [...]
As it happened: UK stocks cool after Astrazeneca drags; Trump and Iran clash over peace talks August 3, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The London stock market is starting the new week relatively mixed after Donald Trump hinted a deal between US and Iran on the Strait of Hormuz is near, but was contradicted by communication from Tehran. The US President has said that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Iran [...]
City trading ‘higher than thought’, FCA believes August 2, 2026 Trading volumes in London are up to three times higher in value than thought after so-called “dark trading” is taken into account, the City regulator believes. Analysis by the Financial Conduct Authority believes that trading valuations are much higher as some traders opt to use non-official channels. This kind of business, referred to as “dark [...]
Manchester United’s new stadium is a test of sports finance – but markets have a solution August 1, 2026 Manchester United’s proposed 100,000-seat stadium represents one of the largest sports infrastructure projects currently under consideration in Europe. The development is intended to become the centrepiece of a wider regeneration of the Old Trafford area, combining a new sporting venue with commercial, residential and entertainment uses. For investors, however, the defining question will be less [...]
Boozy lunches still on the menu: Law firms bankroll juniors to schmooze clients in the City July 31, 2026 The long lunch, a cornerstone for corporate workers wooing clients in the City, has been considered to be on the decline with the rise of hybrid working, stretched budgets, and a new cohort of young professionals opting for alcohol-free options. But at law firms, this tradition is not off the menu; instead, it is being [...]
Padel chief: A sport which succeeds in London gets noticed around the world July 31, 2026 Ahead of the London Premier Padel P1 in August Luigi Carraro makes the case for the capital and why sport loves the city. What I have always loved about London is that it knows a sport worth watching when it sees one. The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games was no better example of that [...]
The GCC’s AI strategy: Inside the region’s $150bn race July 31, 2026 Understanding the GCC’s AI strategy is essential for unlocking opportunities from the UK-GCC Free Trade Agreement and the region’s $150bn AI push. AI is a powerful accelerant for solving complex challenges. The GCC’s AI strategy calls for heavy investment in digital infrastructure, and the UK-GCC FTA is creating new opportunities to capitalize on it. What’s [...]
Paycaptain founder: what The Savoy taught me about fintech July 31, 2026 Square Mile and Me: We dig into the memory bank of the City’s great and good. Today, Simon Bocca, founder and managing director at Paycaptain, on going from an apprentice at The Savoy to a fintech founder What was your first job? I started working at the Red Lion Hotel in 1987 during the school [...]
Rightmove: Housebuilders face worst conditions since financial crisis July 31, 2026 The boss of property portal Rightmove has warned that UK housebuilders are facing the worst conditions since the 2008 financial crash. Johan Svanstrom, the FTSE 250 firm’s chief executive, said on Friday that new home developments are at “historically low levels due to continued softer build rates”. The property platform said growth in its new [...]
China’s mega London embassy to go ahead after High Court blocks challenge July 31, 2026 Plans for a new Chinese super embassy in central London will go ahead after the High Court blocked a challenge to the controversial site. The Royal Mint Court Residents’ Association (RMCRA) had initiated legal action against the government’s housing department and Tower Hamlets council over concerns the embassy could enforce “draconian” Chinese laws in the [...]