JD assembles Ikea chair after rocky period for retailer Retail The former boss of Ikea has been named as JD Sport’s new chair following a tumultuous period for the retailer. Peter Agnefjäll, who spent more than two decades at the Swedish home furnishing brand, is set to succeed Darren Shapland as the chair of JD from the beginning of September. Shapland was appointed to the [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Stocks to slide on new tensions in Strait of Hormuz FTSE 100 Live Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. New tensions in the Strait of Hormuz this morning are leaving markets on edge and handing a blow to earlier optimism around a peace deal between the US and Iran. Oil is moving higher, reversing some of the drawback from the beginning of this week, after an attack [...]
As it happened: Stocks fall into red as oil fluctuates over Middle East developments FTSE 100 Live Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Oil prices have fluctuated around the $80 mark over the last 24 hours following mixed developments coming out of the Middle East. Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil prices – was heading towards $79 per barrel on Thursday morning, holding up a near 10 per cent [...]
As it happened: Stocks rise as oil fluctuates after Red Sea attack; US-Iran deal ‘being circulated’ August 5, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Oil prices have snapped a losing streak following Yemen’s Houthis said they had attacked a Saudi vessel in the Red Sea. Brent crude drew back above the $80 per barrel mark on Wednesday morning on the news, but prices were still down for the week by around 10 [...]
As it happened: UK stocks cool after Astrazeneca drags; Trump and Iran clash over peace talks August 3, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The London stock market is starting the new week relatively mixed after Donald Trump hinted a deal between US and Iran on the Strait of Hormuz is near, but was contradicted by communication from Tehran. The US President has said that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Iran [...]
Second time lucky for Lucy Rigby? July 29, 2026 The Square Mile has welcomed its fifth City minister in two years and a familiar face is back in the hot seat- but can she deliver? Few tears were shed in the City when it became clear that Rachel Reeves would be out of Number 11 Downing Street. Yet the surprise return of her erstwhile [...]
Bad news: Reach share price sinks amid digital headache and falling print sales July 22, 2026 London listed publisher Reach continued to feel the impact of declining online views and lower print circulation, as the company continues to navigate the changing media landscape. The group’s share price sank 19.5 per cent in early trading to 47.4p, bringing the stock down 13.6 per cent since January after the company suffered a sharp [...]
‘We are going to run out’: Mitie marks eleventh mega takeover of 2026 July 22, 2026 Mitie’s takeover by rival facilities management group OCS marks the London Stock Exchange’s eleventh £1bn takeover so far this year, as the market continues to serve as a hunting ground for private buyers. OCS agreed to pay 218.5p per share and a final dividend of up to 3.1p. The offer price comes at a 44.7 [...]
FTSE 250 facilities manager swept off London Stock Exchange in £3.1bn deal July 21, 2026 Mitie is set to become the latest company picked off the London Stock Exchange, after agreeing to a £3.1bn takeover by UK rival OCS. The global facilities management company agreed to pay 221.6p in cash for the firm, comprising 218.5p per Mitie share and a final dividend of up to 3.1p. The offer price is [...]
Private equity firms eye valuation gap as City falls to takeovers July 20, 2026 The London Stock Exchange has seen a sharp uptick in takeover premiums this year as a deals spree from led by private equity firms and foreign buyers accelerates. The average price paid by acquirers relative to companies’ share prices has hit 45 per cent, according to data from AJ Bell. Foreign buyers account for 86 [...]