Energy bills bailout speculation sparks bond sell-off fears March 17, 2026 An unfunded government intervention to subsidise household energy bills would trigger a gilt market rout likely to push the UK’s long-term borrowing costs to the highest they have been since 1997, bond investors and economists have warned. David Zahn, head of European fixed income at Franklin Templeton, told City AM that the prospect of ministers [...]
Bank of England ‘should wait’ before cutting interest rates, City AM Shadow MPC says March 17, 2026 The Bank of England should “wait and see” how long the war in Iran goes on for before cutting interest rates again, leading economists on City AM’s Shadow Monetary Policy Committee have said. The crisis in the Middle East has pushed up energy prices and heightened fears that the UK economy is heading for a [...]
Oaknorth delays net zero goal as US expansion fuels lending boom March 17, 2026 UK fintech Oaknorth has slapped a ten year delay on its ambition to be a net zero bank as the firm’s expansion across the Atlantic picked up pace. The small business lender said it expects to meet net zero commitments by 2045, as opposed to previous guidance of 2035 set four years ago. Oaknorth said [...]
BearingPoint and autobiz partner to strengthen transparency and robustness in automotive asset-based financing across Europe March 17, 2026 Two leading European companies announce a partnership aimed at residual value management in the context of asset-based funding for banks, captives, and leasing companies across Europe. By combining autobiz’s automotive market and residual value expertise with BearingPoint’s end-to-end asset-based funding platform, the two companies provide their clients with enhanced transparency, consistency, and risk control in the structuring and monitoring of automotive portfolios.
Syngenta Builds World-Leading Research Center for Agricultural Bioscience – Powered by Advanced Technology and AI March 17, 2026 New USD 130 million facility to focus on next-generation, sustainable solutions for farming Enhanced commitment to UK as a key hub for global R&D and innovation
UK fintech Pockit borrows cash from Spanish railway architect March 17, 2026 Pockit has borrowed money from an award-winning Spanish railway architect in one of the most unusual debt raises completed by a British fintech. The Cardiff-based business, which offers prepaid accounts to customers without a credit score, has signed a debenture agreement with Anchorgate Management, a British Virgin Islands company controlled by architect Santiago Calatrava, company [...]
Today’s the day we finally get to hear the Chancellor’s plans for growth March 17, 2026 GDP growth in November was 0.2 per cent. It slipped to 0.1 per cent in December and we now know that by the end of January it had withered to zero. The British economy recorded no growth in the first month of this year. It was only a monthly reading and it may be revised [...]
Business groups warn against axing ‘fundamental’ red tape watchdog March 16, 2026 Some of Britain’s largest business groups have urged the business secretary not to scrap a body responsible for scrutinising business regulation, saying it plays a “fundamental” role evaluating the impact of red tape on British firms. The intervention comes as the Department for Business confirmed to City AM that ministers are “considering the role” of [...]
‘Digging a hole then filling it in’ – Labour to subsidise youth employment March 16, 2026 The Labour government is set to hand businesses cash to hire benefits claimants in a bid to lower the number of under-25s not in education, employment and training, otherwise referred to as ‘Neets’. Pat McFadden, the work and pension secretary, unveiled a new £3,000 subsidy scheme for employers taking on young people who have not been [...]
TradingHub Secures Strategic Investment From Nordic Capital to Accelerate Next Phase of Growth March 16, 2026 TradingHub, a leading provider of trade surveillance technology for global financial institutions, has agreed to partner with Nordic Capital which will become the company’s majority shareholder. The investment marks a significant milestone in TradingHub’s journey and provides strong backing to support the company’s continued growth and innovation. Existing investor Summit Partners and TradingHub’s co-founder Neil [...]