JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs to lead Wall Street profit haul on back of Iran war April 9, 2026 Top Wall Street banks are tipped to reveal huge profit growth next week amid firm investment banking activity and soaring trading volumes on the back of volatility in the Middle East. Goldman Sachs will issue the starting gun on US banks earnings season on Monday, where boss David Solomon has already teased a boom in [...]
Peace in Iran – but for how long? April 9, 2026 Markets are decidedly relieved at news that despite unhinged threats from the orange occupant of the White House, a civilisation has not in fact been wiped out and the US reached a temporary ceasefire with Iran. But as Trump gets around the negotiating table – let’s hope he can stay awake – how certain can [...]
Familiarity of Masters and Augusta should be lesson to other golf majors April 9, 2026 Let me get the azaleas reference out of the way in this first sentence. After all, no Masters preview is seemingly complete without citing Augusta’s horticultural features. The flora are just one ingredient, though, in the secret sauce of golf’s first major of the season which starts today. Even if other sports could steal the [...]
Blackline Safety Enters into Definitive Agreement to be Acquired by Francisco Partners for up to $850 Million April 8, 2026 Shareholders to Receive $9.00 Cash Per Share Plus a Contingent Value Right of up to $0.50 Per Share $9.00 Cash Consideration per Share and up to $9.50 Total Consideration per Share represents a 28% and 35% premium to the 20-day VWAP of Blackline’s Shares on the TSX as of April 7, 2026 The cash-plus-CVR structure provides immediate value and liquidity for Shareholders while preserving the opportunity to potentially receive an additional cash payment if the Company achieves its near-term ARR target Voting support agreements have been entered into by certain shareholders, as well as Blackline’s directors and senior officers, representing approximately 34% of the outstanding Shares, including irrevocable voting support agreements from several of the Company’s largest shareholders representing approximately 30% of the outstanding Shares Blackline’s largest shareholder, DAK Capital Inc., owned by Daryl Katz, has agreed to exchange all of its Shares for shares of the Purchaser Board unanimously recommends Shareholders vote in favour of the Transaction
Oil slides and stocks surge as US hails ‘chance at peace’ April 8, 2026 Global markets breathed a much-needed sigh of relief on Wednesday morning after it emerged Donald Trump reached a temporary ceasefire agreement with Iran, just hours before a high-stakes deadline in which the US president had threatened to destroy bridges, power plants and swathes of Iranian infrastructure. On Tuesday Trump set a dramatic ultimatum that “a [...]
Energy bills threat recedes but retail and hospitality remain on brink April 8, 2026 Retail and hospitality leaders are optimistic that the Iran-US ceasefire could spare them from the worst energy bill shocks, but are urging the government to address an array of other cost pressures. British businesses had warned that the soaring energy prices caused by the war in the Middle East could be devastating if the conflict [...]
Iran conflict sparks worst month of outflows since Autumn Budget April 8, 2026 The Middle Eastern conflict has triggered the worst bout of equity market outflows in months as investors retreated from stocks over fears of soaring inflation and fuel shortages. Equity fund outflows jumped to £1.4bn in March, a jump of 55.3 per cent compared to February, marking March as the worst month since November 2025, when [...]
Construction firms slash jobs after biggest-ever cost inflation rise April 8, 2026 Construction businesses cut jobs at a faster pace in March while the month-to-month inflation rise was the largest on record in a survey that has existed for 29 years. S&P Global said the difference in a reading for cost inflation between February and March was the largest it had ever recorded since data collection began [...]
Bank of England: Interest rate hike predictions cool as trader sentiment resets April 8, 2026 Fears of several interest rate hikes being made have eased as traders raved at the news of a ceasefire in the Middle East. Markets are now pricing in just one interest rate hike as the two-year gilt yield dropped to 4.1 per cent. The current interest rate is set at 3.75 per cent by the [...]
House prices drop as Iran war shakes property market April 8, 2026 House prices fell in March as the uncertainty caused by the Iran war stifled the property market and spiked fears of interest rate rises. Average house prices fell 0.5 per cent last month, reversing the modest 0.3 per cent February increase, according to Halifax’s house price index. This is the latest signal that the Iran [...]