KBRA Releases Research – European Data Centre Event—KBRA Event Recap May 22, 2026 KBRA releases a recap of its European Data Centre Event in London on 20 May, bringing together sector experts, investors, issuers, operators, bankers, and other market participants for an afternoon of discussions on the key themes shaping the European data centre landscape. The programme focused on how artificial intelligence (AI)-driven demand, power availability, development constraints, [...]
Investec eyes City hiring spree in major move into UK private banking May 21, 2026 Investec, the FTSE 250 financier, has unveiled plans to boost its UK private bank in a major strategic move that will include hiring new talent in the City. The expansion will boost its banking presence in London, as it seeks out wealthy clients for what will become a ‘full service primary bank”. It has identified [...]
Over half of house moves fall through after an offer is accepted – costing £2bn per year May 21, 2026 More than half of UK house moves fall through after an offer has been accepted, costing the UK £2bn every year in wasted time and fees. Failed house moves could cost the economy £1.97bn per year because around 1.2m residential transactions occur each year and the average fall-through costs buyers and sellers £2,830 in legal [...]
Top Bank of England officials warn Reeves against supermarket price cap May 20, 2026 Senior Bank of England officials have warned that price controls on essential goods are not an effective long-term tool to lower the cost of living, after it emerged the Treasury was pushing supermarkets to commit to cap prices of consumer staples. Speaking at a Treasury Committee appearance, governor Andrew Bailey told MPs that controlling the [...]
Brits aren’t spending enough – time for Splash Out to Help Out May 20, 2026 Household debt has declined and people have stopped spending on productive things like home improvements but also in leisure. That’s bad news for the public finances, so the government should look at ways to incentivise spending, says Tim Sarson Brits have stopped spending. After the great financial crisis in 2008 we collectively decided to zip [...]
The Capitalist: City AM dirty stop outs blame the Guildhall lost and found May 14, 2026 Andy Burnham, X-rated typos and trouble at the Guildhall lost and found; catch up on the latest City gossip in The Capitalist.
Housing market ‘still in grip’ of Iran war slump May 14, 2026 The UK housing market is “still in the grip” of an Iran war slump as higher mortgage rates and inflation fears weigh on buyer and seller demand. Brits are still holding back on buying homes as average house prices slip further, a market survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has revealed. The [...]
Ask the expert: Is £500k enough to retire? May 13, 2026 Fidelity personal finance specialist Marianna Hunt is back to help a reader who wants to know if they have enough in their portfolio to not only retire but to live the lifestyle they want. Q. I’m 55 and have built up a portfolio worth around £500,000 – split across pensions and ISAs. I’ve also paid [...]
KBRA Assigns Preliminary Ratings to Bletchley Park Funding 2026-1 PLC May 12, 2026 KBRA UK (KBRA) assigns preliminary ratings to six classes of notes issued by Bletchley Park Funding 2026-1 PLC, a static UK RMBS securitisation backed by a portfolio of first-ranking buy-to-let (BTL) mortgage loans secured on residential properties in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The aggregate balance of the provisional portfolio is £286.0 million as of [...]
Chery Tiggo 4 review: Could this Chinese SUV be Britain’s next best-seller? May 12, 2026 Have you lost your Chery? Buy a new Tiggo 4 and that’s a distinct possibility; this new hybrid crossover blends anonymously into the background. It’s also near-identical to Chery’s existing Tiggo 7, Tiggo 8 and Tiggo 9 SUVs, albeit on a smaller scale. Still, not everyone wants to stand out or make a statement – [...]