FTSE 100 Live: Gas price surge after LNG halt, stocks slide amid Iran conflict March 2, 2026 Good morning and welcome to the Morning Wire liveblog. Global markets were in store for another dose of risk to kick off the new week after tensions in the Middle East reached a boiling point over the weekend. The cost of a barrel of brent crude – the international benchmark for oil prices – climbed [...]
Investors tremble as Iran risks oil price spiral with attack on Strait of Hormuz February 28, 2026 City analysts and policymakers are on edge as a possible attack by Iran on the Strait of Hormuz could send oil prices spiralling. Investors fear a new inflationary shock could hit major economies including the UK as a result of full-blown war between the US and Iran. Many had pinned hopes on nuclear programme negotiations [...]
FTSE 100 Live: WPP sinks; LSEG, Rolls-Royce bumper buybacks February 26, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the Morning Wire liveblog. After a few days of tariff-induced risk aversion, the FTSE 100 was back on blistering form on Wednesday, finishing the day’s trading session with a new record. London’s blue-chip index soared over one per cent to seal yet another record close at 10,806.41p. This was [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Retail sales inch up; Segro ups dividend February 20, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the Morning Wire liveblog. The FTSE 100 took a breather from its blistering record run on Thursday after a major stock tumble at British Gas owner Centrica led the index into the red. Centrica shed over five per cent after telling markets it would hit pause on its share [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Natwest bumper dividend, stocks tick up February 13, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the Morning Wire liveblog. The City was left stunned yesterday after Schroders entered into a surprise £10bn deal with Nuveen, which holds $1.4tn in assets, after speculation of a sale was rebuffed in July. Schroders Group chief Richard Oldfield had previously squashed rumours that the Schroder family, who control [...]
BP shares down: What is going on at the oil giant? February 10, 2026 Once-dominant energy giant BP is running on empty as it curbs shareholder payouts and unveils fresh attempts to bolster its balance sheet. The London-based oil baron announced in its final results on Tuesday that it has suspended its share buyback programme and increased its cost-cutting goal as it looks to reverse its fortunes in the [...]
BP shares slide as suspends share buybacks and increases cost-cutting goal February 10, 2026 Energy giant BP has suspended its share buyback programme and deepened its cost-cutting target, as it scrambles to bolster its balance sheet amid the anticipation of a weaker oil price. In its final results, the company said the decisions were taken to allow it invest in its oil production business and “fully allocate excess cash” [...]
Bank of England Live: Interest rates held in narrow 5-4 call February 5, 2026 Good morning and welcome to the Morning Wire liveblog. The Bank of England’s monetary committee has decided to hold rates in its first meet of the year. Markets – and Morning Wire‘s own Shadow MPC – had placed their bets on a hold as the Bank continues its gradual chop to the base rate. In [...]
BP shares fall as net zero plans trigger hit of up to $5bn January 14, 2026 Oil giant BP has warned it will take a hit of up to $5bn in the final quarter of 2025 as the value of green energy projects withered. The FTSE 100 firm said it expects a write-down of between $4bn and $5bn (£3.7bn), as it rethinks its strategy for transition assets and partnerships in the [...]
Trump tells Iranian people: ‘Help is on its way’ January 13, 2026 President Trump has threatened Iran’s autocratic leaders over the killing of protestors while suggesting he was preparing to intervene with military action in the country, In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the country’s authorities “will pay a big price” over the killing of protestors following unrest in the country. He added that he [...]