‘No more Mr Nice Guy’: Oil prices spike as Trump renews Iran power plant threats April 20, 2026 The price of oil has been driven higher by the latest round of escalations in the Middle East renewing fears of a drastic global energy shock. Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil prices – jumped over six per cent on Monday morning to over $96. It follows a weekend of tensions where shipping [...]
DP World Tour events become first in sport to use Amazon Leo satellites April 20, 2026 Golf’s DP World Tour is to become the first live sport organiser to use Amazon Leo, the tech giant’s pioneering low-Earth orbit satellite broadband network. The European-based circuit will rely on Amazon Leo rather than miles of temporary fibre at tournaments to ensure more reliable high-speed internet connectivity essential for live scoring, broadcasting and commercial [...]
Unemployment to peak at 5.8 per cent as jobs market faces ‘biggest hit’ since pandemic April 20, 2026 Britain is set to be “pushed to the brink of a technical recession” in the coming year as the economic fallout of the war in Iran dampens growth prospects and sends unemployment soaring. The latest Item Club report sees the UK economy flatlining in the second and third quarters as it digests the consequences of [...]
Rachel Reeves to meet Lloyds and Natwest chiefs over Iran war April 20, 2026 Rachel Reeves has called in the bosses of Britain’s top banks for a summit this week to discuss the economic impact of the war in Iran. The Chancellor has invited executives from Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, Natwest, Santander UK as well as the UK’s biggest building society Nationwide for a meeting this Wednesday. The meeting – as [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Stocks slump on renewed Iran threats; UK to be ‘pushed to brink’ of recession April 20, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the Morning Wire liveblog. Markets are returning from the weekend to a fresh round of volatility. The mood ended last week on a high following the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz but that sentiment was quickly squashed over the weekend as tensions renewed. Shipping in the Strait of [...]
Semi-liquid vehicles set to surpass $3 trillion as more retail investors enter the market April 20, 2026 Wealth managers and private market fund managers anticipate semi-liquid assets under management to rocket over the next four years, as more retail investors tap into the market. Assets under management (AUM) held in semi-liquid vehicles is expected to exceed $3 trillion (£2.2 trillion) in 2030, according to Carne Group, with the market nearly tripling between [...]
Wales First Minister’s radar station objections show she is out of her depth April 20, 2026 Wales's First Minister has urged Keir Starmer to halt work on an AUKUS radar station. He would do best to ignore her, writes Eliot Wilson.
The UK has earned Japan’s respect – let’s use it to build our economy April 20, 2026 Japan holds a deep respect for the UK and is eager to strengthen our relationship further, writes Chris Hayward fresh back from Osaka.
Bolt expands London e-bikes ahead of Tube strike disruption April 20, 2026 Bolt is expanding its e-bike network across central and west London ahead of a fresh wave of Tube and bus strikes, Morning Wire understands, to try ease pressure on the capital’s strained transport system. The ride-hailing firm said its bikes are now available in Westminster and Hammersmith & Fulham, adding to its existing presence in [...]
UK fintech chiefs switch growth plans as capital conditions wane April 20, 2026 Over seven in ten UK fintech chiefs are switching growth plans due to the country’s ailing capital conditions. Some 71 per cent of the sector’s top bosses said they have had to adjust growth strategies as a result of tightening capital conditions, according to a fresh report from fintech advisory firm Chatsworth and market researcher [...]