HSBC profit drops after Iran war and private credit charges bite May 5, 2026 HSBC missed its profit target in the first quarter of the year after the blue-chip lender booked a mammoth credit charge. The FTSE 100 giant – which boasts a huge £230bn market cap – recorded a pre-tax profit of $9.4bn (£6.5bn), missing the $9.6bn pencilled in by analysts. This figure is also down $100m on [...]
Lloyds shares drop after income upgrade on higher interest rates April 29, 2026 Lloyds Banking Group has upgraded its income targets for the year as the bank expects to bring in more cash as interest rates remain elevated from the Iran war. The FTSE 100 financial giant – which counts Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland among its subsidiaries – said it expects net interest income to [...]
Big Tech earnings to test AI demand – and Nvidia surge April 28, 2026 Big Tech earnings this week are expected to provide a clearer picture of the AI state of play, with results from Microsoft, Alphabet, Meta and Amazon set to offer updates on capital expenditure and AI-related revenues. The results come as Nvidia, the booming chip darling, closed last week at a record high, taking its market [...]
Intel hails highest share price in decade as earnings smash forecasts April 24, 2026 Intel shares jumped as much as 24.4 per cent on Friday after the chipmaker delivered a strong earnings beat and upbeat outlook, raising hopes of a sustained turnaround. The stock surged in early trading after already climbing more than 20 per cent in after-hours moves, putting it on track for one of its biggest one-day [...]
‘There’s a lot of risk out there’ – Bank of England warns of market ‘adjustment’ April 24, 2026 A top Bank of England official has warned that global markets could fall even further with current share prices not reflecting the economic risks at play. Sarah Breeden, the Bank’s deputy governor for financial stability, said: “There’s a lot of risk out there and yet asset prices are at all-time highs. “We expect there will [...]
RELX: FTSE 100 group says AI tools power strong start to 2026 April 23, 2026 RELX has told markets on it started 2026 strongly, with growth across all parts of the business supported by demand for AI-enabled data and analytics products. In a trading update released ahead of its annual general meeting, the FTSE 100 group said it is seeing continued growth in both revenue and profit, alongside strong new [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Stocks slump as oil rises; Reeves tax hikes trigger borrowing boost April 23, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the Morning Wire liveblog. An extended ceasefire may have been announced in the Middle East, but its left markets with major appetite for further peace before investor sentiment recovers. Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil prices – was trading back over the $100 mark on Thursday morning. [...]
Inside the fintech industry’s pensions gambit April 22, 2026 The fintech industry are on the offensive and in this week’s column Samuel Norman gives an insight into the sector’s lobbying calls for pension fund allocation. London has found itself brought to a halt this week. One may have thought the Tube strikes would bring Square Mile to a standstill, too. But the lack of [...]
Revolut’s blockbuster IPO is two years out, says Nik Storonsky April 20, 2026 The boss of Revolut has ruled out a public listing for the next two years in a move that extends the Treasury’s timeline to shore up one of Europe’s most-desired IPO prospects. Nik Storonsky, the straight-talking founder of Revolut, said a public debut was “two years away”. “We’re a bank, and for a bank, it’s [...]
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 [...]