Metro Bank profit jumps as it bucks branch closure trend August 4, 2026 Metro Bank secured its highest half-year profit on record in the first six months of 2026 as it bucked an industry-wide trend of branch closures and grew its small business offering. The FTSE 250 bank recorded a £60.7m pre-tax profit, up 41 per cent from the same period last year. This was driven by a [...]
Donald Trump is creeping towards a shrewd sanctions policy August 4, 2026 President Trump is shifting toward a more solidly pro-Ukraine position which, while welcome, will require careful calibration to mitigate potential global trade disruptions and address corporate enablers of the Russian war effort, says Derek Grossman President Trump’s warm welcome on Tuesday to Volodymyr Zelensky, his Ukrainian counterpart, shows that he is moving, fitfully, toward a [...]
West Ham: Staveley receives Sadiq Khan encouragement to buy London Stadium August 4, 2026 The door is open for West Ham United to buy their London Stadium home, with the Mayor welcoming any future discussions after Amanda Staveley said property would be part of her next football investment, City AM can reveal. The former Newcastle United co-owner has agreed a deal – subject to majority owner Daniel Kretinsky not [...]
Exclusive: Blackstone set to back AI ‘droid’ firm at $3.5bn valuation August 4, 2026 Blackstone is weighing a fresh funding injection for Nvidia-backed artificial intelligence firm Factory in a deal likely to value the coding company at more than $3.5bn, City AM has learned. The New York-headquartered investment giant, which has been ploughing cash into AI firms and digital infrastructure in recent years, is considering the investment as part [...]
Commonwealth Gold Medallists Return to the Court That Helped Inspire London August 3, 2026 When Central London Alliance transformed Paternoster Square into a vibrant destination for sport, community and wellbeing with a pop-up 3×3 basketball court, it set out to demonstrate how innovative use of public spaces could inspire participation, animate central London and bring people together through sport. Now, just months later, that vision has come full circle. [...]
U.S. Bank Investment Services enhances investor and client onboarding experience for alternative investments August 3, 2026 U.S. Bank Investment Services today announced it has gone live with a new client lifecycle management (CLM) platform, providing a comprehensive onboarding solution for alternative investment clients and the investors in their funds. The implementation is a key milestone in Investment Services’ multi-phased technology transformation strategy, aimed at modernizing processes, workflows and reporting across the [...]
Retailers hit back at Healey’s ‘profiteering’ threat August 3, 2026 Retailers have hit back at the Chancellor’s warning against profiteering, saying they will prove they have fought hard to keep food prices down during the Iran war. Chancellor John Healey said at the weekend that the Treasury is prepared to crack down on any retailers which are taking Brits “for a ride” by using the [...]
Global advisory giant Brunswick explores capital raise August 3, 2026 City PR and advisory heavyweight Brunswick is reportedly weighing up a fresh cash injection via a sale of a stake in the firm, setting the stage for a punchy windfall for its top executives. Five years after securing a £500m valuation following the sale of a 10.7 per cent stake to US private bank BDT [...]
Boozy lunches still on the menu: Law firms bankroll juniors to schmooze clients in the City July 31, 2026 The long lunch, a cornerstone for corporate workers wooing clients in the City, has been considered to be on the decline with the rise of hybrid working, stretched budgets, and a new cohort of young professionals opting for alcohol-free options. But at law firms, this tradition is not off the menu; instead, it is being [...]
The GCC’s AI strategy: Inside the region’s $150bn race July 31, 2026 Understanding the GCC’s AI strategy is essential for unlocking opportunities from the UK-GCC Free Trade Agreement and the region’s $150bn AI push. AI is a powerful accelerant for solving complex challenges. The GCC’s AI strategy calls for heavy investment in digital infrastructure, and the UK-GCC FTA is creating new opportunities to capitalize on it. What’s [...]