Morning Wire — business, markets & finance

Wednesday 19 August 2026London --:--Frankfurt --:--Zurich --:--

Newsletters SearchEN · DE · FR

LatestFrasers Group lifts stake in Hugo Boss to almost halfRetail

Donald Trump speaking emphatically at a podium, wearing a navy suit and blue tie, with a microphone and lights visible.

FTSE 100 Live

Oil spikes above $91 as Trump ends US‑Iran ceasefire, shaking the FTSE 100

Klarna IPO announcement showcased on Times Square billboard, highlighting fintech growth and market anticipation

Fintech

Klarna trims revenue forecast as European sales soften

ASDA storefront exterior showcasing the latest promotions and branding in a bustling retail environment

Fintech

Jaja Finance’s 15% debt cost pushes Asda card business into loss

UK class actions surge, lawyers perceived as primary beneficiaries, public awareness highest since 2020, report finds

Lawsuit

Law firm behind BHP dam case sued by its own funder for £84m

Aviva's deal to buy Direct Line was agreed in March

Insurance

How Amanda Blanc turned Aviva around and what lies ahead

Tesco quiche, cured meats, olives, and dip on a wooden board, ready for a party or meal.

Retail

Heatwave drives UK shoppers to grab more chilled finger foods

Redhead woman excitedly biting into a piece of KFC fried chicken dipped in green sauce.

Retail

Youth joblessness fuels a boom in UK chicken shops

Red Virgin high-speed train on tracks at a station platform, under an arched glass roof, with blurred people.

Transport & Infrastructure

Virgin Trains cleared for Eurostar rival services from 2030

Goldman Sach bosses said that US stocks were increasingly less preferable than those in the UK and Europe.

Tech

Goldman and Intel lead $400m round that lifts Higgsfield to $5.4bn

Andy Burnham speaking at a public event, emphasizing local governance and policy changes, wearing a suit and gesturing pas...

Economics

UK growth beats forecasts but war and tax clouds loom

Market BriefingAs of 12:40 BST

European markets at a glance

FTSE 10010,725.57-0.02%

DAX26,126.29-0.01%

CAC 408,548.27+0.46%

STOXX 506,481.20+0.20%

Full market coverage →

UK & Ireland

Pickleball in Guildhall Yard last year as part of the launch of the London Sports Festival

Lead storyLondon Sports Festival brings pickleball to New Street Square in push to activate City spaces