Exclusive: Formula 1 teams scramble to move freight stuck in Middle East March 20, 2026 Formula 1 teams are scrambling to access key racing components stuck in the Middle East due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Iran conflict, Morning Wire can reveal. The regional tensions have already caused both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix to be postponed, and potentially cancelled, leaving a [...]
Unilever food spin off gets marmite reception March 20, 2026 Unilever’s talks over selling its food business has been met with a marmite reception as analysts warned a deal may not pay off until the long-term. The FTSE 100 giant said on Friday it is in talks with US spice and seasoning maker McCormick over offloading its food brands, including Marmite and Hellman’s. The move [...]
Bank of England to hike interest rates twice, JP Morgan says March 20, 2026 The Bank of England will hike interest rates at its next meeting in late April, JP Morgan has predicted, presenting a new threat to the security of the UK economy. JP Morgan economist Allan Monks has said that the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will opt to raise interest rates at least twice this year. [...]
Analysis: Could £1bn IPL RCB cricket windfall begin Diageo’s comeback? March 20, 2026 It’s been a tough few months for Diageo – and a tough few years for Diageo shareholders. The London-listed drinks giant has seen its share price melt away amid a slump in demand for premium spirits, rising production costs and a flurry of tariffs from across the pond. The stock is already down by an [...]
Energy watchdog: Work from home and avoid flying amid oil crisis March 20, 2026 The world’s energy watchdog has urged people to work from home to mitigate soaring oil prices and supply constraints caused by the intensifying Iran conflict. The International Energy Agency (IEA) said people should limit commuting where possible as the impact on markets and national economies becomes “more and more severe”. The advice was part of [...]
Unilever confirms talks to sell food arm March 20, 2026 FTSE 100 giant Unilever has confirmed it is in talks to offload its foods business, which includes iconic brands like Hellman’s and Marmite. The mayonnaise-maker said it has received an offer from US seasoning manufacturer McCormick and is now in discussions with the firms. The company has been prioritising its €13bn (£11.2bn) beauty and personal [...]
Reeves hit by spike in government borrowing March 20, 2026 UK government borrowing rose by more than expected in February, it has been revealed, adding a strain on public finances as Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces trouble ahead with deciding the government’s response to the war in Iran. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said that the government borrowed £14bn, with economists having predicted the [...]
Wetherspoon shares tumble as profit disappoints March 20, 2026 Shares in the country’s best-known pub chain have tumbled after profit failed to meet expectations even after they were downgraded. Pre-tax profit at JD Wetherspoon fell by 32 per cent to £22m for the first half of this year, and operating profit fell 18 per cent to £53m, below analyst expectations of an eight per [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Gilt yields soar, Bank of England rate hike fears grow, Wetherspoon shares tumble March 20, 2026 Good morning from the Morning Wire liveblog team. Stocks made gains on Friday morning after a statement from Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu that he could see “this war ending a lot faster than people think” reassured markets that conflict in the Middle East could soon recede. The remarks follow further missile strikes by the US [...]
Is AI ‘vibe coding’ too good to be true? March 20, 2026 AI means companies can now 'vibe code' their own software products on the cheap – but they may soon discover the risks, writes Paul Armstrong.