Goldman Sachs beats trading haul record by $1bn after Iran volatility April 13, 2026 Goldman Sachs equities traders have beaten their all-time quarterly high as the Wall Street titan revealed a major market haul amidst the volatility triggered by the Middle East. The banking giant’s stock division reaped $5.3bn (£3.9bn) in revenue for the first quarter of the year, surpassing the previous record of $4.3bn secured by the bank [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Stocks tumble amid Trump’s Strait of Hormuz blockade April 13, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the Morning Wire liveblog. Markets are returning from the weekend to a major blow in hopes of a ceasefire in the Middle East. After Donald Trump revealed his two-week reprieve on strikes whilst negotiations begin, those very talks now look to be hanging by a thread. Vice President JD [...]
“War in Iran will come at a cost,” Reeves warns UK businesses April 12, 2026 Rachel Reeves has warned the escalating conflict in Iran will feed directly into higher costs for British businesses, as pressure builds on energy prices and inflation. “I am going to be straight with people”, Reeves said, “the war in Iran will come at a cost to British families and business,” signalling that the economic fallout [...]
Middle East expats rush back to London, luxury property rents spike April 10, 2026 An influx of people who have recently moved to the Middle East are now seeking short-term refuge in London, pushing up rents in the capital’s luxury property market – according to a leading estate agency. British, European and North American nationals have rushed to snap up short-term rentals in high-value London properties since the Iran [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Stocks jittery as North Sea oil prices smash record April 10, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the Morning Wire liveblog. Markets are continuing to digest the ever-changing narrative coming out of the conflict in the Middle East but even as hopes of a peace deal rise, the economic overhang still threatens to send shocks across the country. In a speech by Kristalina Georgieva, the IMF’s managing [...]
Tech stocks regain safe haven status amid Iran ceasefire April 9, 2026 American tech stocks have reasserted their role as a market safe haven, as easing tensions between Washington and Tehran trigger a sharp rebound across beaten-down AI and software names. A two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, alongside a potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, has already sparked a relief rally. The Nasdaq jumped [...]
JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs to lead Wall Street profit haul on back of Iran war April 9, 2026 Top Wall Street banks are tipped to reveal huge profit growth next week amid firm investment banking activity and soaring trading volumes on the back of volatility in the Middle East. Goldman Sachs will issue the starting gun on US banks earnings season on Monday, where boss David Solomon has already teased a boom in [...]
Peace in Iran – but for how long? April 9, 2026 Markets are decidedly relieved at news that despite unhinged threats from the orange occupant of the White House, a civilisation has not in fact been wiped out and the US reached a temporary ceasefire with Iran. But as Trump gets around the negotiating table – let’s hope he can stay awake – how certain can [...]
Safe havens are tempting in a geopolitical crisis, but fear is not an investment strategy April 9, 2026 With much of the Middle East still upended by the war, the urge to pull back from the markets is understandable. But the evidence, both historical and behavioural, points to a different conclusion, says Liz Ann Sonders As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines and market volatility once again tests investor resolve, the temptation to [...]
Mood has shifted on housing market as rates rattle demand April 9, 2026 High mortgage rates are unlikely to deflate immediately even if the Iran ceasefire holds, property experts have warned, as rising rates stifle demand for houses. The number of Brits enquiring to buy a new home fell even further in March, down from negative 29 per cent in February to minus 39 per cent last month, [...]