British brewery drafts plan to join Pisces platform Markets A British brewery has drawn up plans to become the inaugural member of Asset Match’s new private markets platform, granting it a major boost as it competes to lure over unlisted companies to its framework. The online private stock market has welcomed Wiltshire-based brewer and pub operator Wadworth to its Private Intermittent Securities and Capital [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 hits new high after interest rates held Markets Welcome back to the Morning Wire liveblog. The Bank of England has held interest rates at 3.75 per cent in a 6-3 split. The City had pencilled in a hawkish hold from the Monetary Policy Committee after inflationary pressures were renewed on the latest round of strikes in the Middle East. Megan Greene, Catherine Mann and [...]
Moneybox boosts London’s Pisces market in ‘milestone’ £45m sale Markets Moneybox has granted London’s novice private markets platform another major boost after confirming a £45m employee share sale. The move has been hailed a “milestone transaction” in the City’s efforts to keep tech firms from looking for opportunities abroad. The fintech will use the London Stock Exchange’s Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System (PISCES) [...]
Forvis Mazars and top partner hit with £600,000 fine for audit failings July 2, 2026 The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has hit accountancy giant Forvis Mazars and a top partner at the firm, David Allen, with a combined £610,537 for audit failings relating to a retail firm listed on the London Stock Exchange’s main market. The FRC said it has issued the fines following an investigation into both Forvis Mazars [...]
Housebuilding giants hit with £4.5bn lawsuit for allegedly overcharging buyers June 30, 2026 Seven of Britain’s largest housebuilders are facing a class action lawsuit worth a potential £4.5bn in damages over allegations they overcharged 700,000 buyers of new-build properties. Mark McLaren, former parliamentary and legal affairs manager at consumer group Which?, is planning on launching the claim against FTSE 100 firms Barratt Redrow and Persimmon, FTSE 250 companies [...]
LSE draws up ‘worst case scenario’ US listing flight risk June 28, 2026 The London Stock Exchange is preparing for as many as 20 FTSE 100-listed companies to move their direct listings to New York, according to reports, in a move that would leave a £2bn gap in the Treasury’s earnings from stamp duty on share trades. The exchange has drawn up a worst-case scenario plan in which [...]
Thames Water eyes return to London Stock Exchange while Pennon back in profit June 10, 2026 There was a stark reminder for the City of the risks and rewards on offer to investors in water utilities on Wednesday, from two of the industry’s biggest names. One of them, Thames Water, is eyeing a return to the London Stock Exchange after a disastrous spell in private hands loaded it with debt and [...]
Surging military spending boosts London-listed defence sales June 2, 2026 Two London-listed manufacturing contractors are reaping the benefits of a surge in defence spending as the period of geopolitical turmoil boosts sales across the sector. FTSE AIM-listed firm Gooch & Housego’s saw its profits before tax surge by nearly 16 per cent in the first half of the financial year, up to £3.3bn, driven by [...]
Small business tax rule changes will not boost Exchequer coffers, top accounting firm argues April 30, 2026 A leading accountancy and advisory firm has sounded the alarm over a consultation by HMRC into tax rules for small businesses, arguing it will not close the tax gap and would leave firms tangled in even more red tape. Blick Rothenberg argued that the current HMRC consultation into so-called close companies, which have fewer than [...]
Airtel eyes fintech IPO spin off in $10bn boost for London market April 28, 2026 British telecommunications giant Airtel is mulling listing its mobile money business on the London Stock Market in what could be one of the largest public debuts on a European exchange in years. Airtel Money – a digital commerce service that allows users to store money, transfer funds and buy mobile data – is said to [...]