Can vapes save Imperial Brands? April 14, 2026 Twenty years ago, tobacco companies were among the top performers on the London Stock Exchange, driven by consistent cigarette demand and aggressive global expansion. But the attitude towards smoking has since shifted, with the numbers of smokers in the UK dropping off the back of campaigns, the rise of vaping and public health policies. In [...]
‘Vandalism’: Reeves and Starmer slammed over defence spending April 14, 2026 Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer have been slammed for a failure to provide defence with a substantial cash injection as a former Nato secretary general said an “ever-expanding welfare budget” would not keep the UK secure. Downing Street has come under fire for its delay in setting out a clear timeline for an uplift [...]
Landlords, get ready to be gazundered April 14, 2026 The Renters’ Rights Act is introducing a ban on “overbidding”. Government interventions in pricing rarely end well, and this too will have unintended consequences, says William Reeve We’ve all been there. The agonising dance involved in deciding how much to bid for a property. The “how high should we go?” conversation plays a role every [...]
The government is about to find out you can’t please the people and the bond markets April 14, 2026 In the next phase of the Iran crisis, investors will demand fiscal discipline; electorates will demand intervention. In a supply-driven stagflationary environment, it may be impossible to satisfy both, says Helen Thomas A severe physical supply shock is rippling through the global economy and unlike recent crises, this is not one policymakers can easily offset. [...]
Space is the new frontier in economics April 14, 2026 Property rights underpin capitalism here on Earth, they must do the same in space – a new book by City AM columnist Rainer Zitelmann argues A little over ten years ago, when smartphones were still sufficiently new to mention, I attended a talk by an economist who argued that it was a mistake to see [...]
Snyk founder Guy Podjarny makes surprise return to board after chief executive exit April 14, 2026 The founder of cybersecurity firm Snyk has made a surprise return to the company after the unexpected departure of its chief executive. Guy Podjarny, who founded the firm in London in 2015 before stepping away last year, has made a comeback as a director just twelve months later, company filings show. Snyk did not respond [...]
Tax fears mount: Most Brits unhappy with Labour over energy price rise April 14, 2026 The majority of Britons are unhappy with the Labour government’s response to the energy price jump sparked by the Iran war, new polling has found, as voters believe that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will turn to tax rises to keep public finances on a stable footing. Fresh City AM/Freshwater Strategy polling has found that 52 per [...]
Ex-Royal Mint executives launch new gold trading platform April 14, 2026 Two former Royal Mint executives have launched a new gold trading platform in a bid to shake up the market and widen retail access to precious metals. The trading platform, dubbed Goldwise, was launched on Tuesday, creating a new way for savers and investors to purchase gold, silver, platinum and palladium. Unlike traditional trading, users [...]
Icon Solutions Appoints Anders Olofsson as EMEA Sales Director to Drive Global Adoption of the Icon Payments Framework April 13, 2026 Icon Solutions – the UK fintech enabling banks globally to design and implement state-of-the-art payment systems – has appointed Anders Olofsson as Sales Director, EMEA to drive adoption of the Icon Payments Framework (IPF) across the region. Anders joins Icon with more than 30 years of experience in the global payments industry, having held senior [...]
Leeds United investor buys stake in Spanish giants Atletico Madrid April 13, 2026 Leeds United investor IDC Sports and Entertainment has expanded its multi-club portfolio by acquiring a stake in Atletico Madrid. IDC has joined the ownership of Spain’s biggest privately-owned football club following the recent majority takeover by US fund Apollo Sports Capital. IDC has taken a minority stake in Atletico Madrid, who sit fourth in Spanish [...]