FCA charges City lawyer with insider dealing over maternity brand acquisition July 8, 2026 The financial watchdog has charged a City lawyer with five counts of alleged insider dealing for trading in the assets of maternity fashion brand Seraphine Group using confidential information he gained while working on the company’s acquisition. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said Richard Bloomfield, 38, worked on an acquisition of the City-based maternity clothing company [...]
Tesco ‘in talks’ to exit eastern Europe July 8, 2026 Tesco is reportedly considering cutting loose its business in central and eastern Europe in a move to end its expansion outside of the UK and Ireland. The supermarket giant has hired bankers to explore the possibility of a sale of its operations in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, according to the Financial Times. A [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 slump as oil soars; Trump says Iran will be ‘hit hard’ tonight July 8, 2026 Welcome back to the Morning Wire liveblog. Global markets are strapping in for a return to risk-aversion after the US and Iran traded strikes overnight following the breakdown of a peace deal in the Middle East. The US kicked off its “series of powerful strikes” late Monday night. The nation’s Central Command said the attacks [...]
M&S chair: Tax and employment costs holding back Britain July 7, 2026 Rising taxes and employment costs are holding businesses back from investing in Britain and helping it “prosper,” an M&S boss has said. Archie Norman, chairman of the retail giant and former chief executive of Asda, told shareholders on Tuesday that these “big regulatory headwinds” are “not making it easier to invest and prosper in Britain”. [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 rises to defy tech gloom; oil creeps up on fresh Iran tensions July 7, 2026 Welcome back to the Morning Wire liveblog. Donald Trump warned the US will “finish the job” in Iran leaving investors unnerved as he renewed military threats following the funeral of Tehran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil – traded above $72 per barrel on the news, but [...]
Everyman to open at Elephant & Castle as £500m regeneration gains pace July 7, 2026 Everyman is set to expand its presence in the capital with a new five-screen cinema at the £500m regeneration of Elephant and Castle. The up-market cinema chain has faced tough trading conditions in recent years but hopes to take a boost from the footfall expected at The Elephant, the redevelopment of the south London area. [...]
M&S to face shareholder grilling over cyber attack recovery July 6, 2026 Marks and Spencer is set to take a grilling from shareholders over whether it has made a meaningful recovery from the cyber attack which wiped out nearly a third of its profit. The FTSE 100 retailer will face investors at its annual general meeting on Tuesday, where it will expect to be quizzed on whether [...]
Ocado founder Steiner set to quit as boss after board coup July 6, 2026 Ocado chief executive Tim Steiner will quit the business he founded as part of a replacement plan masterminded by chairman Adam Warby. The FTSE 250 firm, which offers online shopping and warehouse automation services, said on Monday that Steiner will depart at the start of its 2028 financial year. Ocado’s share price fell nearly five [...]
As it happened: Stocks slide despite tech and data boost; Oil falls after OPEC+ ups output July 6, 2026 Welcome back to the Morning Wire liveblog. Markets are dealing with a double dose of pressures to start of the new week as investors brace for a crucial earnings season in the artificial sector, whilst an increase of supply on the oil market weighs on prices. Over in Asia, stock markets slipped following a week [...]
World Cup boost fails to land UK services sector on front foot July 3, 2026 A World Cup boost failed to drag the UK’s services sector to growth last month after it recorded its fastest rate of decline in three-and-a-half years as businesses braced for the Andy Burnham coronation. The latest Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) from S&P Global showed a reading of 48.8 in June, falling from 49.3 in May. [...]