How to fly to New York in style (and why The Devonshire is overrated) May 7, 2025 Flying to New York to visit the Evolv Collection Restaurants last week, I was reminded that the British Airways loyalty scheme conditions had changed. For reference, here are my own (slightly tongue in cheek) rules for any self-respecting ‘City Guy’ visiting Terminal Five: 1. Arrive at the airport in a cab and ask for the [...]
Ørsted’s cancelled offshore wind project puts net zero mission at risk, says Shadow Energy Secretary May 7, 2025 There are growing doubts over the government’s ability to meet its net zero targets after the company behind one of Britain’s biggest-ever wind farms abruptly pulled the plug on the project, citing overwhelming cost pressures. Denmark-based Ørsted, which won the contract to develop the 2.4GW Hornsea 4 offshore windfarm last year, said it took the [...]
Amazon arms UK warehouses with its new robot ‘Vulcan’ May 7, 2025 Amazon has unveiled its most advanced robot to date – a machine that can sense touch – in a move aimed to alter how its warehouses are staffed and operated. The robot, dubbed Vulcan, was announced today at Amazon’s ‘Delivering the Future’ event in Dortmund, Germany. It is designed to replicate one of the most [...]
Banks called on to slash mortgage borrowing costs May 7, 2025 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has called on lenders to take informed risks in the mortgage market to improve consumer support. The City regulator has launched a consultation on mortgage rules which targets reducing the overall cost of borrowing through term reductions and access to cheaper products when remortgaging. It said discussions will include “consideration [...]
Network Rail faces extra £213m National Insurance hit May 7, 2025 Network Rail will take an additional £213m hit over the next few years from the National Insurance tax hikes announced in Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget, it has been revealed. The figure marks a 16 per cent increase on a previously expected payout of £1.26bn over the remaining four years of its current financial control period. [...]
LinkedIn is hoping AI will help you find your next job May 7, 2025 LinkedIn is launching a new AI tool which it hopes will help users find a new job easier than ever before. The Microsoft-owned social media giant has said the new tool “understands what you’re really looking for in your next role” and is said to look beyond job titles and locations. Using generative AI, LinkedIn [...]
FCA promises to go ‘harder and faster’ in reforming financial sector May 7, 2025 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has promised to go “harder and faster” in overhauling the financial sector amid government pressure to shake up a variety of regulatory burdens on firms. The watchdog has pledged to “take another look” at the rules around ongoing advice after wealth managers were forced to set aside hundreds of millions [...]
Lord Cruddas’ CMC Markets takes control of blockchain firm May 7, 2025 CMC Markets, the firm founded by Conservative Peer Lord Peter Cruddas, announced on Wednesday it had acquired a majority stake in StrikeX Technologies. The London-based trading firm upped its holding in the blockchain firm to 51 per cent from 33 per cent previously. Shares in CMC Markets were up 0.3 per cent in midday trading [...]
US dollar ‘structural downtrend’ set to benefit pound says UBS May 7, 2025 UBS has said investors should expect strengthening of the pound against the US dollar over the next year as fears grow over the American currency’s “fragility.” The pound has surged almost 10 per cent against the US dollar since its recent low in mid-January, now sitting at $1.33. However, UBS analysts expect the surge to continue towards [...]
FTSE 100’s record run ends as pharma stocks slide on new Trump appointment May 7, 2025 The FTSE 100’s record run came to an end on Wednesday as pharma stocks slumped on the back of a controversial US regulatory appointment. The blue-chip index spent the entire session in the red and closed off 0.4 per cent. Drugmakers GSK and Astrazeneca were among the top fallers, at nearly five per cent and [...]