Mark Kleinman: What’s in store for the Square Mile in 2026? January 8, 2026 Mark Kleinman is Sky News’ City Editor and the man who gets the Square Mile talking in his weekly City AM column Not great, not awful: a fair summary of my corporate predictions for 2025. On the plus side, I was right to forecast a bid for ITV, or at least part of it, and correct that Thames [...]
UK fintech stamps its authority on Europe but faces global threats January 8, 2026 The UK tightened the grip on its European fintech crown in the last year but came under growing pressure from fast-growing competitors ramping up their influence. A surge in investment in the second half of 2025 helped UK fintech hold onto the second place spot for total investment. The UK attracted $3.6bn (£2.7bn) last year, [...]
Zilch to Acquire Fjord Bank to Kickstart European Expansion January 8, 2026 Acquisition will provide Zilch, the UK and EMEA’s fastest-growing fintech unicorn, with a European banking licence as it eyes international rollout
PureSpectrum Announces Strategic Partnership with TA to Accelerate Next Phase of Growth January 7, 2026 PureSpectrum, a leading market research technology company, today announced a strategic partnership with TA Associates (“TA”), a leading global private equity firm. The partnership marks an important milestone in PureSpectrum’s 10-year growth journey and will support the Company as it continues to accelerate innovation, scale its platform, and deepen value for customers across the market [...]
Waterstones books Rothschild as IPO plans ramp up January 7, 2026 The owner of Waterstones is preparing to appoint Rothschild to advise its multibillion-pound flotation later this year, offering the clearest sign yet that London could turn the page on a dire run of form if it edges out New York for the listing. Elliott Management, which owns Waterstones and its US sister Barnes & Noble, [...]
British shoppers turn to AI as London high street sales falter January 7, 2026 As our beloved high streets grapple with rising business costs, decaying consumer confidence and yet another bout of tax uncertainty, AI agents are reshaping how consumers shop. A report published by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) warns that that so-called ‘agentic AI’, a quasi-autonomous form of artificial intelligence, could shift from novelty to norm within [...]
London Luton Airport says investment at risk due to Labour’s taxes January 7, 2026 A £2.5bn proposal to expand one of London’s top airports is facing fresh challenges amid rising tax burdens, as the aviation sector feels the pain of Rachel Reeves’ business rates raid. The owner of Luton Airport, Labour-run Luton Council, had put together plans to build a new terminal and increase capacity from 18m to 32m [...]
US military won’t invade Greenland, but Wall Street Warriors might January 7, 2026 A US military invasion of Greenland would be self-defeating, but both sides have a great deal to gain from harmonious financial relations, writes James Gray.
Reform announces Laila Cunningham will run for London Mayor January 7, 2026 Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has announced that Westminster City councillor Laila Cunningham will stand as its candidate to be the Mayor of London in 2028. In a press conference on Wednesday morning, Farage said Cunningham would also lead Reform’s local campaigns in London ahead of crucial council elections in May. During her speech, she criticised [...]
Coty recovers from £50m loss amid potential Rimmel and Max Factor sale January 7, 2026 The UK and Ireland arm of Coty has recovered from losing more than £50m as it considers selling off the likes of Rimmel and Max Factor. The New York-listed giant announced at the end of September that it was weighing its options for its consumer beauty division. While a formal decision has not yet been [...]