Ryanair profit tumbles as jet fuel prices soar July 20, 2026 Ryanair shed more than a third of its profit as rising jet fuel prices triggered by the Iran war began to take effect. The budget airline had previously insulated itself from rising fuel prices by fixing its energy costs on hedged contracts. But Ryanair said the cost of the 20 per cent of its jet [...]
Private equity firms eye valuation gap as City falls to takeovers July 20, 2026 The London Stock Exchange has seen a sharp uptick in takeover premiums this year as a deals spree from led by private equity firms and foreign buyers accelerates. The average price paid by acquirers relative to companies’ share prices has hit 45 per cent, according to data from AJ Bell. Foreign buyers account for 86 [...]
Ask the expert: Will paying for my daughter’s wedding reduce my IHT bill? July 20, 2026 Fidelity personal financial specialist Marianna Hunt is back on hand to answer your burning questions, and today a reader wants to know if paying for their daughter’s big day could reduce their IHT bill. Q: My daughter is getting married. I understand that if my wife and I transferred her £15,000 for the costs of [...]
The 2026 World Cup had its flaws, yes, but it was a resounding success for Fifa July 20, 2026 In the coming days following last night’s World Cup final, Fifa will release a report on how many people watched the tournament across its five and a half weeks. Look out for the social media KPIs – impressions, engagement, video views – that major sporting bodies now have to report, but the headline number will [...]
Iran war woes cause jump in London-listed profit warnings July 20, 2026 The rising energy costs and fragile consumer confidence caused by the Iran war have driven a jump in the number of profit warnings issued by London-listed firms. UK-listed companies issued 59 profit warnings in the first half of this year, up from 55 last year, with more than half of these being blamed on policy [...]
Global Citizen’s links to Fifa chief Motsepe and the first ever World Cup half-time show July 19, 2026 If you haven’t heard of Global Citizen before, that may be about to change due to the charity’s role in the first ever half-time show during a World Cup final on Sunday. The show, curated by Coldplay frontman and longtime Global Citizen supporter Chris Martin, will feature performances from some of the biggest stars in [...]
Burnham scraps digital ID scheme July 19, 2026 Andy Burnham will scrap Labour’s digital ID scheme when he becomes Prime Minister, as part of a “reset of priorities” over the cost of living crisis. The incoming Prime Minister said on Saturday that he would ditch the programme, set out only months ago by Sir Keir Starmer, and spend the money saved on “improving [...]
Renault 5 E-Tech 2025 three month review – first impressions July 18, 2026 My first rendez-vous with the Renault 5 was at a rain-lashed EV charging hub, just off the A1(M) in Stevenage. Not the most auspicious start, you might think, but somehow this little car seemed to prise the sunshine out from between leaden clouds. I was smitten. The occasion was a driving day for UK Car [...]
Did this World Cup have too much of Sir David Beckham? July 18, 2026 Graham McKenna assesses whether David Beckham proves this World Cup had too much celebrity As the curtain starts to fall on another World Cup, a lot of conversation around this year’s tournament hasn’t been about the football itself, but the business surrounding it. The introduction of mandatory hydration breaks sparked plenty of debate, with many [...]
The real winner of the Fifa World Cup? Beer July 17, 2026 Whatever happens in Sunday’s final, one World Cup winner is already clear: beer. For generations, football fans around the world have gathered at their local, celebrating victories and consoling one another after defeats with a pint in hand. Beer does not simply accompany football, it transforms watching a match into a shared experience. This summer’s [...]