US-based pawnbroker Firstcash to buy H&T May 14, 2025 A US giant has made an offer for the UK’s largest pawnbroker, H&T, taking yet another firm off London’s stock market. The deal, which was the fourth Firstcash made to the UK firm, valued the share capital of H&T at approximately £297m. It represents a premium of approximately 44 per cent to the closing price [...]
Zopa Bank: UK fintech raises £80m with its first LSE bond listing May 14, 2025 Zopa Bank has raised £80m in its first-ever London Stock Exchange bond listing as it gears up to launch current accounts. The fintech will transfer to an unlisted public company within six months following the transaction as it inches closer to the possibility of a float on the LSE. The oversubscribed fundraise was completed on the [...]
Bytes Technology warns on increased cyber risk as profit jumps May 13, 2025 Bytes Technology has warned of the increased risk of cyber threats as the Leatherhead-based business reported a jump in profit. The software supplier has upped the risk level of potential cyber threats to “increase” on its list of emerging risks, adding that it made the move “because of evolving and elevated global risk to IT [...]
Financial Conduct Authority plans to ‘put public back in IPO’ May 13, 2025 After a torrid few years for the London Stock Exchange, the Financial Conduct Authority is opening new avenues to boost initial public offerings (IPOs). The City regulator told industry stakeholders at the London Stock Exchange’s annual IPO Forum last week, it would “put the P back into IPO,” sources attending the event told City AM. [...]
Wheat and see: Farmers fear trade deal impact on bioethanol and beef markets May 13, 2025 Ministers and commentators heralded the UK’s trade deal with the United States as a political coup that will save thousands of jobs at British automakers. But changes to beef and bioethanol trade rules have left an already bruised agricultural sector fearing the worst, writes Ali Lyon. When he’s not slavishly editing clips for the hundreds [...]
Brent Cross shopping centre taken over in £200m deal May 12, 2025 London’s Brent Cross shopping centre is to come under the full control of Hammerson after a £200m deal to buy out Aberdeen was confirmed. Hammerson, which currently owns 41 per cent of the landmark shopping centre, will raise its stake to over 90 per cent by acquiring units from the Aberdeen UK Shopping Centre Trust. [...]
HSBC and Standard Charted shares surge as trade war cools May 12, 2025 Shares in banking giants HSBC and Standard Chartered surged on Monday morning as the trade tensions between the US and China appeared to cool. HSBC jumped nearly four per cent, taking its gains for the month to over 14 per cent. Standard Chartered soared over seven per cent, with monthly gains topping 17 per cent. [...]
Augmentum leads fundraise for Peel Hunt-backed Retailbook May 12, 2025 Investment platform Retailbook has secured a £4.5m fundraise as the Peel Hunt-backed firm attempts to survive a lacklustre spell for the UK’s capital markets. The business, which helps retail investors get access to share issues normally reserved for institutional investors, has seen investors such as Augmentum Fintech join its list of shareholders. Previous investors in [...]
Investors pin hopes on Burberry’s recovery amid China and US trade upheaval May 11, 2025 Investors are hoping Burberry can restore confidence in its turnaround efforts, as the brand weathers major trade disruption in China and the US and an under-pressure luxury market.
Rachel Reeves plans ISA review May 10, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is planning to launch a review of the ISA market in the coming weeks amid City calls to cap the amount that can be held tax-free in cash. The Treasury will kick-off a consultation to get a feel for views across the City of London on how to reform the ISA regime, [...]