As it happened: Stocks rise as oil fluctuates after Red Sea attack; US-Iran deal ‘being circulated’ FTSE 100 Live 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 FTSE 100 Live 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? Markets 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 [...]
As it happened: Stocks rise despite IEA warning of ‘critical’ oil issue July 17, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Oil is on track to gain around 12 per cent for the week after the continued escalation of strikes between the US and Iran. Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil – is holding steady around the $85 per barrel mark after US’ multiple strike offensives against [...]
Engineering group picked off London Stock Exchange in £4.1bn deal July 16, 2026 Rotork is set to become the latest company snapped off the London Stock Exchange by a foreign buyer after agreeing to a £4.1bn takeover by Swiss rival ABB. The engineering group agreed to pay 506p per share in cash for the FTSE 250 firm, comprising 503p in cash and a dividend of up to 3p. [...]
As it happened: Stocks drop on Trump-Iran warning; Mahmood tipped to be chancellor July 16, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The UK has received fresh economic growth data this morning which has put GDP expansion at a sluggish 0.1 per cent for the month of May. The services sector – which contributes more than 80 per cent of total economic output – grew 0.3 per cent against steep [...]