Weather or not to stock – AI aims to shelter UK business from the classic (wet) British summer May 21, 2026 A chilly spring, a sluggish UK economy and hard-pressed household budgets at a time of rising interest rates have combined to put a national talking point – the weather – into the spotlight in the City. Seasonal trends, or the lack of them, can make or break trading at retailers and hospitality companies. Disruption from [...]
On This Day: Happy birthday Andrew Neil May 21, 2026 Today in 1949, Andrew Neil was born. He remains one of the most compelling figures in the British media landscape, writes Eliot Wilson In a media landscape of interchangeable and forgettable talking heads, Andrew Neil remains an unmistakable and forceful presence. Readers who can recall a time when he was not a well-kent face in [...]
Curve swings to £9m loss as Lloyds takeover remains incomplete May 20, 2026 Curve has swung to a loss as the Apple Pay rival’s future faces uncertainty ahead of its takeover by Lloyds Banking Group. The digital wallet provider suffered a £9.5m loss in the 2024 financial year, a major drawback from its £3m profit the 12 months prior. The tide turned on Curve’s balance sheet as revenue [...]
The Square Mile gets its fourth City Minister – could it soon get its fifth? May 20, 2026 Four City minsters later, in this week’s column Samuel Norman takes a look at the blow to the Square Mile from the latest reshuffle. Also on the agenda: Revolut’s plans for the high net worth faces off with ambitions of incumbents. “Look for the girl with the sun in her eyes…” So goes the lyrics [...]
Ng’s Sigma can get him back in winning groove May 19, 2026 IT IS fair to say the Caspar Fownes stable are in the doldrums at present. With just one win from his last 47 runners, and no success at the last three Happy Valley meetings, you can guarantee Fownes will be scratching his head with frustration. The proclaimed King of the Valley, who was leading the [...]
Premier League streaming platform to cost less than half what UK fans pay May 19, 2026 The Premier League has released pricing for its first ever streaming platform, which will show every single game next season when it launches in Singapore. Premier League + will be available via a dedicated app, with access priced at S$16 (£9.31) for 24 hours, S$44 (£25.62) for a monthly rolling contract, and S$399 (£232.39) for [...]
Capital won’t wait for Westminster to sort itself out May 19, 2026 Britain can’t afford to spend the next six months navel gazing. We need to get serious about investing, says Katie Perrior Last month I woke up in Austin, Texas, pulled back the curtains in my hotel room and looked out across a skyline punctuated by cranes. Not just a handful of projects but dozens. Much [...]
Rachel Reeves reforms ring-fencing in boost to Natwest and Lloyds May 18, 2026 Rachel Reeves has handed a major boost to the likes of Natwest and Lloyds with an overhaul of the ring-fencing regime in hopes to free up capital to be invested into the UK. The Treasury has unveiled a shakeup of the 15-year-old legislation, which requires major banks to separate their retail banking operations from their [...]
Kemi Badenoch warns of ‘Burnham premium’ on mortgages May 17, 2026 Kemi Badenoch has warned that Andy Burnham would saddle the UK with a “Burnham premium” on mortgages and borrowing costs as Labour’s leadership crisis continues following the mayor’s planned return to Westminster. The Conservative leader seized on mounting speculation around Burnham’s ambitions after the Makerfield by-election became the latest flashpoint in Labour’s increasingly public civil [...]
Modon Partners With Montage Hotels & Resorts to Bring Ultra-Luxury Hospitality Brand to Egypt’s Ras El Hekma May 17, 2026 Montage Ras El Hekma introduces the first branded residences for purchase at the Mediterranean destination, alongside the region’s first Montage resort