Reeves’ impossible mission to save the public finances – in four charts May 22, 2025 Government borrowing spiked in April, according to official data, in a stark illustration of the difficult fiscal tightrope that the Chancellor Reeves is walking. The £20.2bn in monthly borrowing was steeper than economists’ prediction of £18bn. So, Reeves might have shivered when she heard Keir Starmer tell the House of Commons winter fuel payments would [...]
UK government borrowing blows past estimates on Labour’s spending plans May 22, 2025 Government borrowing spiked in April, official data has shown, reflecting Rachel Reeves’s difficulties in controlling public finances. The rise to £20.2bn in monthly borrowing was more than economists’ prediction of £18bn. Capital Economics suggested that the rise in borrowing costs since March via debt interest payments has slashed Reeves’ headroom down to £5.7bn. Tax receipts [...]
Bloomsbury: Profit falls at Harry Potter publisher despite sales rise May 22, 2025 Profit at Bloomsbury Publishing, the giant most known for the Harry Potter series, was cut by almost a fifth during its latest financial year despite revenue rising. The London-listed company has reported a pre-tax profit of £32.5m for the year to 28 February 2025, down from the £41.5m it achieved in the prior 12 months. [...]
Mid-week office working back to pre-pandemic levels, says British Land May 22, 2025 Property giant British Land has said that mid-week occupancy in central London offices has returned to its pre-pandemic level, more than five years after the start of the work-from-home mandate. It said that lack of high-quality office space has contributed to record rents in the sector. “Return to the office is in full swing… the [...]
Palo Alto rallies on M&S hacks, but earnings fail to woo investors May 22, 2025 A spate of high profile cyber incidents on British retailers, including Co-op, Harrods, and most notably, Marks and Spencer, has placed cybersecurity spend back in the limelight – and Palo Alto is reaping the costs. Yet, investors are digesting a mix set of quarterly results revealed on Thursday. Ben Barringer, global tech analyst at Quilter [...]
BCG London boss: ‘I still believe diverse teams deliver the best outcomes’ May 22, 2025 We dig into the memory bank of the City's great and good. Today, it's Jessica Frame, managing partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) London.
How London Bridge is fighting back against the ‘grotification’ of London May 22, 2025 With public finances increasingly unsafe, the private sector has a vital role to play in making streets cleaner, lighter and safer – and London Bridge’s business improvement district is showing how it’s done, says Rob Anderson Has London got dirtier, darker and more unsafe? As local authority budgets to maintain our high streets, parks and [...]
How the UK took on Hollywood (and why Trump wants it back) May 22, 2025 With expanding film studios and its creative talent, the UK is forging a new era of Hollywood. It's no surprise Trump wants it back.
Mark Kleinman: Reeves’ City IPO push still lacks momentum May 22, 2025 Mark Kleinman is Sky News’ City Editor and the man who gets the Square Mile talking in his weekly City AM column Reeves’ City IPO push still lacks momentum It’s the City’s most oft-recurring question: how do you reverse the alarming decline in London’s attractiveness as a destination for IPOs? The bald statistics legitimise the urgency of the [...]
Coca-Cola fizzes into life with Premier League deal May 21, 2025 Coca-Cola returns as the Premier League’s official soft drink partner after signing a three-year partnership deal set to kick off for the 2025-26 season, as previously reported by City AM. It comes three years after the soft drinks giant left the English top flight. Coca-Cola had initially partnered with the Premier League for the 2018-19 [...]