Autumn Budget 2026: What does the bond market want from Healey? October 23, 2026 John Healey is not expected to rock the boat in his maiden Budget next week. Looking at the combustible bond market, that’s probably just as well, writes Ali Lyon. John Healey is, the well-worn cliche goes, walking a tightrope. Boxed in from three directions, the Chancellor could certainly have hoped for an easier backdrop in [...]
Business needs to speak up in Britain’s battle of ideas October 23, 2026 Politics is about to get more stark and much more consequential. Business leaders need to be pragmatic, dealing with the government of the day. But it strikes me that in this battle of ideas, they need to stand up for what works – especially when the country we all love is going in the wrong direction, [...]
Threats to financial system ‘on steroids’ after AI boom, FCA chief warns October 22, 2026 The unchecked rise of artificial intelligence means the level of risk facing the financial system is currently “on steroids”, according to the boss of the Financial Conduct Authority, who warned that excessive “tick-box” rulemaking would fail to keep pace with increasingly complex threats. Speaking at a City of London dinner, Nikil Rathi said risks to [...]
Braddick sets out her vision for banking watchdog with £2bn overhaul October 22, 2026 Katharine Braddick has kicked off her revamp of the UK banking’s watchdog with a regulatory overhaul aiming to generate £2bn in savings for City firms. The Prudential Regulation Authority chief, who took the reins in July, told a City audience on Thursday evening the watchdog would focus on four key priorities of resilience, growth, innovation [...]
Bank of England set to overshadow Healey’s Budget with interest rate hike October 21, 2026 The Bank of England is expected to overshadow John Healey’s maiden Budget with a “done deal” interest rate hike aiming to tame soaring inflation while risking economic growth. Top City economists predict the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will raise the base rate at its November meeting, just one week after the Autumn Budget. [...]
LemFi Launches Its Biggest Product Expansion Yet Alongside a New Global Brand, ‘Ambition has no passport’ October 21, 2026 LemFi launches the biggest product expansion in its history, adding UK savings, credit, and data eSIM in 100+ destinations A rebuilt app brings transfers, savings, credit and connectivity together in one platform for people building financial lives across borders New global brand, “Ambition has no passport”, reflects LemFi’s evolution from remittances into a broader financial platform serving more than two million customers
Inflation leaps above expectations to 3.5 per cent October 21, 2026 Inflation jumped to 3.5 per cent in the 12 months to September as the UK economy looks set to suffer the damaging effects of energy price increases caused by the Iran war over the coming months. The consumer price index (CPI) reading rose above market expectations. This was also above last month’s figure of 3.1 [...]
Why a ‘do no harm’ Budget isn’t good enough October 21, 2026 Labour market statistics can be pretty dry. Inactivity rates, nominal regular earnings growth, payroll numbers and claimant counts tend not, at first glance, to fire up the imagination. The data dumps are hoovered up by economists and analysts, not least as a guide to future Bank of England interest rate decisions or as a barometer [...]
Andy Haldane: This will be ‘a Budget for the backbenchers, not business’ October 20, 2026 A former Bank of England chief economist has warned he expects to see “further borrowing” and “further tax rises” in next week’s Budget as he threw his weight behind Kemi Badenoch’s plan on the UK economy. Speaking at an Ipsos event, Andy Haldane said the Budget has been a “less lengthy and a less leaky [...]
Starling founder Anne Boden offloads stake at slashed £1.7bn valuation October 20, 2026 Starling founder has offloaded her remaining stake in the UK fintech at a valuation far below the price the firm was targeting in its latest secondary share sale. Anne Boden has sold her remaining 2.7 per cent stake in Starling as she begins work on a new AI project. She sold the stake at a [...]