REPLY S.p.A.: Shareholders’ Meeting Approves the 2025 Financial Statements
Reply S.p.A. reported a strong 2025 fiscal year, with consolidated turnover climbing 8% to €2.48 bn (≈$2.71 bn) and net profit rising to €250.9 mn (≈$273 mn). EBITDA reached €467.6 mn (≈$510 mn), up 13.9%, while EBIT grew 18.5% to €397.1 mn (≈$433 mn). The shareholders approved a gross dividend of €1.35 per share (≈$1.47) payable on 20 May 2026 and authorized a new share‑buyback programme up to €550 mn (≈$600 mn). The board also ratified the remuneration report and continued its incentive‑share strategy.
Watch: Sluggish Economy Puts Brits at Their Gloomiest for Nearly 50 Years
A recent City AM poll shows British consumer confidence has fallen to its lowest level since 1978, reflecting deep economic pessimism. Respondents cite high taxes, persistent inflation and stagnant growth as the main drivers of gloom. The sentiment marks a stark...
Regulator Fines PwC £95m over Chinese Evergrande Audit
Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission fined PwC Hong Kong HK$1 billion (≈$120 million) for audit failures tied to the liquidated China Evergrande Group. The regulator said PwC lacked scepticism, performed poor verifications, and did not confirm the authenticity of supporting records,...
AI-Focused Services Make up 40 per Cent of BCG’s 2025 Revenue
Boston Consulting Group reported a 7% rise in global revenue to $14.4 bn in 2025, its 22nd consecutive growth year. AI‑focused services now account for over 40% of total revenue, driven by a 25% year‑over‑year increase in AI offerings. The firm...
BRC Chief: Red Tape ‘Weighs Heavily’ on Retailers
British Retail Consortium chief Helen Dickinson warned that mounting regulation is hampering retailers’ ability to innovate and keep prices low. She highlighted the cumulative burden of policy, tax and new compliance rules, especially as food inflation climbs to 3.7% and...
FTSE 100 Banks £16bn Payday to Face Economic Reality Check
Barclays will open the FTSE 100 banks earnings season next week, with the Big Five expected to post just under £16bn ($20bn) of pre‑tax profit for Q1. That would edge ahead of the £15.2bn ($19.3bn) earned in the first quarter...
FCA: Changes to SM&CR Regime Aren’t Deregulation, They’re Better Regulation
The FCA announced practical tweaks to the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SM&CR) aimed at simplifying accountability without diluting standards. Changes include cutting overlapping certifications, reducing the number of roles needing certification by about 15%, and raising enhanced‑firm thresholds by...
Scottish Mortgage Manager Baillie Gifford Eyes £3bn Return on Historic Space X Bet
Baillie Gifford, the Edinburgh‑based manager of the Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust, stands to realise roughly £3 bn (about $3.9 bn) from its early bet on SpaceX when the rocket company goes public later this year. The firm’s four flagship trusts could collectively...
Inside the Fintech Industry’s Pensions Gambit
Fintech leaders gathered at Innovate Finance’s Global Fintech summit to press the UK government for greater pension‑fund allocation to the sector. A dedicated hour‑long discussion highlighted that UK pensions now hold roughly 0.1% of venture‑capital assets, down from 50% of...
Almost Half UK Firms Cite AI Skills Shortage as Barrier to Growth
A new Amazon Web Services study finds that 49% of UK organisations view a shortage of AI and digital skills as the primary obstacle to scaling artificial intelligence, even as adoption accelerates. The report highlights a widening gap between AI...
McDonald’s Targets Jobless Gen Z with ‘UK’s Largest Work Experience Programme’
McDonald’s has launched the UK’s largest work‑experience scheme, offering 2,500 paid placements to people aged 16 and over. The initiative targets a record‑high 14.3% NEET rate among 18‑24‑year‑olds and the 34% of 16‑17‑year‑olds not in work or education. It comes...
‘Disgraceful’: Khan and RMT in Tube Strike Deadlock Ahead of Disruption
London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Transport for London (TfL) are at an impasse with the RMT union over a proposed shift to a four‑day workweek for tube staff. The union insists on a 32‑hour week and has scheduled strikes from...
Chip Makers and Defence Contractors Power Profit Upgrade for London Tech Stock Renishaw
Renishaw, the UK‑based precision‑technology group, upgraded its profit guidance, sending its FTSE 250 shares above 7% to a multi‑month high. The company now expects revenue of £775‑£805 million (about $985‑$1.02 bn) and profit of £145‑£165 million ($184‑$210 million), up from its February outlook. Growth is...
Revolut’s Blockbuster IPO Is Two Years Out, Says Nik Storonsky
Revolut founder Nik Storonsky told Bloomberg TV the fintech’s public listing is at least two years away, pushing the IPO timeline to 2026 or later. The company recently secured a $75 bn valuation in a secondary share sale that included Nvidia’s...
Airfares, Petrol Pumps, Rent: Inflation to Jump Due to Iran War
The UK Office for National Statistics is set to report CPI inflation of 3.3% for March, up from 3% in February, as the fallout from the Iran‑US conflict lifts fuel costs. Petrol prices are projected to rise 6.5% and diesel...
‘No More Mr Nice Guy’: Oil Prices Spike as Trump Renews Iran Power Plant Threats
Oil prices surged over six percent on Monday, pushing Brent crude above $96 per barrel as tensions in the Middle East intensified. President Donald Trump threatened to target Iran’s power plants if Tehran rejects a U.S. deal, while Iran’s closure...
Echodyne Named as Radar System for Trust Automation’s $490M Air Force Counter-UAS Engineering Contract
Echodyne announced that its EchoShield radar will serve as the primary sensor in Trust Automation’s Small‑Unmanned Air Defense System (SUADS) platforms for a U.S. Air Force IDIQ contract valued at $490 million. The contract covers three variants—rapid‑deployable, fixed‑site, and expeditionary SUADS—each...
Unemployment to Peak at 5.8 per Cent as Jobs Market Faces ‘Biggest Hit’ Since Pandemic
The Item Club predicts UK unemployment will peak at 5.8% by mid‑2027, wiping out roughly 250,000 jobs as soaring energy costs from the Iran‑Hormuz conflict hit the labour market. Economic growth is expected to flatten at just 0.7% in 2026,...
‘Concerned but Not Surprised’: Three-Quarters of UK Landlords and Sole Traders Miss Digital Tax Launch
The UK’s Making Tax Digital for Income Tax scheme, which requires anyone earning over £50,000 (≈ $64,000) from property or self‑employment to file quarterly updates via approved software, saw only 218,000 of the 864,000 eligible landlords and sole traders register by...
What Next for LIV Golf and Newcastle United After Saudi PIF Strategy Shift?
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) released its latest Vision strategy, emphasizing long‑term value creation, private‑sector growth and domestic ecosystem development. The new plan signals a shift from opportunistic sport deals to profit‑driven assets, putting pressure on holdings such as...
Women’s Health Strategy Won’t End Medical Misogyny – but the Markets Could
The UK government unveiled a renewed Women’s Health Strategy, featuring a £1.5 million (~$1.9 million) femtech challenge fund, commitments to slash gynae waiting lists, embed menopause checks in routine NHS exams, and require sex‑based data for publicly funded research. The plan tackles...
The Watch Podcast Disrupting the ‘Pale, Male and Stale’ Image
The Wrist Check Pod, launched in 2021 by New York‑based Rashawn Smith and Perri Dash, has quickly become a leading voice in watch media. Their informal, inclusive style demystifies mechanical, quartz and hybrid movements for both novices and seasoned collectors....
‘Bond Market Tantrum Risks’: Gilt Traders Brace for Labour Leftward Pivot as Starmer Future Uncertain
Bond traders warn that a possible ouster of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer could trigger a surge in gilt yields as a left‑wing Labour successor is expected to pursue higher spending and tax changes. The market already sees UK gilts as...
Energy Price Cap: Household Bill Spike Could Be Lower than Originally Feared
The UK energy price cap for July is now forecast at £1,837 (about $2,335), a 12% rise from April, lower than the previously warned surge to £1,973 ($2,506). The downgrade follows the de‑escalation of the Iran‑US standoff, which sent Brent...
FTSE 100 Jumps as Strait of Hormuz Fully Open Following Ceasefire
Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz is fully open for commercial vessels amid a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. The news lifted risk sentiment, sending the FTSE 100 up 0.5% to 10,645 points, while travel stocks such as EasyJet and...
‘Relentless Pressures’: More Hospitality Firms Forced to Shut Even Before Iran War
Hospitality insolvencies surged 22% in February, reaching 270 firms, with 254 food‑and‑beverage outlets—including 171 restaurants and 64 pubs—shutting down. The sector has seen over 700 pub closures annually for three consecutive years, a trend amplified by rising costs. Chancellor Rachel...
Bank of England’s Breeden Warns Iran War Could Set Off Bond and Private Credit Crisis
Bank of England deputy governor Sarah Breeden warned that the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have created the worst energy shock of her career, heightening bond‑yield volatility and exposing fragile sovereign debt levels. She linked...
A Price Cap on Bread and Milk? SNP Plan Is Unnecessary and Unworkable
The Scottish National Party (SNP) has pledged to introduce a price cap on a basket of 20‑50 essential grocery items, including bread, milk, cheese and chicken, as a cost‑of‑living and public‑health measure. The article argues that basic foods are already...
Exclusive: Treasury and Regulator to Hold Crunch Talks with UK Fintech Unicorns
Top UK fintech unicorns, including Monzo, Revolut and Oaknorth, will meet Treasury minister Lucy Rigby and FCA chief Nikhil Rathi during fintech week. The Innovate Finance Unicorn Council aims to turn regulatory rhetoric into concrete reforms, especially around deregulation and...
UK Launches £500m Sovereign AI Fund as Kendall Backs ‘British Winners’
The UK government announced a £500 million (≈$630 million) Sovereign AI Unit, a state‑backed fund designed to help British artificial‑intelligence companies scale globally. The fund will provide capital, access to national supercomputing resources, procurement pipelines and regulatory guidance, addressing the long‑standing “scale‑up...
KBRA Assigns Preliminary Ratings to Harvest Funding PLC
Kroll Bond Rating Agency UK (KBRA) has issued preliminary ratings for seven classes of notes issued by Harvest Funding PLC. The notes are backed by a static residential mortgage‑backed securitisation (RMBS) containing roughly £2 bn (about $2.5 bn) of first‑lien UK mortgages,...
Reeves Says Diplomacy Is ‘Best Economy Policy’ as UK Tax Burden to Mount
Chancellor Rachel Reeves told CNBC in Washington that de‑escalating the Middle East conflict, especially reopening the Strait of Hormuz, is the “best economic policy” for the UK. She made the remarks after the IMF warned the UK’s tax burden will...
London Lions CEO: We’d Love to Be in NBA Europe but We Have a Reason to Exist Anyway
London Lions CEO Lenz Balan says the upcoming NBA Europe franchise in London is an opportunity, not a threat, and that multiple clubs can grow the sport’s market. The Lions are chasing a domestic quadruple while still owing more than...
Talon.One Releases Integration With Adobe Experience Platform to Power Real-Time Loyalty and Promotions for Enterprise Brands
Talon.One, the incentives platform behind more than 300 enterprise brands, has launched a native integration with Adobe Experience Platform (AEP). The connector links Talon.One to Adobe Real‑Time CDP and Journey Optimizer, allowing loyalty and promotion logic to run instantly across...
PwC Moves to Unify Global Services as AI Reshapes Consulting Sector
PwC is drafting a global blueprint to standardise its consulting services as AI accelerates change across the sector. The plan calls for unified service offerings, shared technology platforms, and greater use of staff in low‑cost locations, notably India. In the...
Acumetis Launches as a Single Integrated Brand to Transform Life Sciences Commercialization
Acumetis launched today as a unified global commercialization firm for life‑sciences companies, merging five specialist consultancies—Herspiegel, Adivo Associates, Decisive Consulting, Fiecon and Sixsense Strategy Group. The new entity brings together commercial, insights, medical, market‑access and patient‑strategy capabilities under a single...
Rachel Reeves’ Wealth Fund Pumps £600m Into Rolls-Royce SMR
The UK National Wealth Fund, chaired by Finance Minister Rachel Reeves, has pledged a £599 million (≈$760 million) financing package for Rolls‑Royce’s Small Modular Reactor (SMR) programme in partnership with Great British Energy. The deal targets the construction of the country’s first...
UK Fintech Wise to Downgrade London Listing This Quarter
Wise confirmed it will move its primary listing from London to the United States this quarter, publishing its next‑year results in dollars. The fintech reported a 26% jump in cross‑border volumes to roughly $63.5 bn and a 22% rise in active...
Tech Bosses Line up for Cabinet Under New Whitehall Plans
Hundreds of business, tech and former military leaders will be fast‑tracked for senior Whitehall positions through a new programme run by the Centre for Government Reform. Chaired by Conservative peers Lord Nash and Lord Agnew, the initiative aims to train...
“War in Iran Will Come at a Cost,” Reeves Warns UK Businesses
Chancellor Rachel Reeves warned that the escalating conflict in Iran will directly raise costs for British businesses, as disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz tighten global oil supplies. Higher gas prices are already feeding through to manufacturers, threatening to reignite...
Ovo Sues Talktalk over Failed Broadband Customer Deal
Ovo Energy has sued TalkTalk over a 2022 deal that transferred about 135,000 broadband customers. TalkTalk stopped paying the agreed instalments after high churn reduced the transaction's value. The dispute comes as Ovo seeks £300 million in new funding while reporting...
New Insurance Products for Female Sports Stars Must Cover Fertility Care
Insurance products for elite female athletes are being reformed after the Independent Review of Women’s Football, adding coverage for pregnancy, contraception and menopause. However, the reforms still omit fertility support, a critical gap as two‑thirds of professional athletes experience irregular...
Oil Prices Could Race Past $150 as Ceasefire in ‘Difficult Phase’
Oil analysts at Kpler warn that Brent crude could surge past $150 per barrel if the flow of ships through the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained as the US‑Iran ceasefire enters a difficult phase. Brent currently trades around $94, reflecting...
AI Security Officials Test Anthropic Cyber Threat as Bank of England to Convene Chiefs
UK officials have tested Anthropic’s new AI model, Claude Mythos, which successfully completed a full cyber‑range simulation, revealing its ability to locate unknown vulnerabilities. The AI Security Institute labeled it the most capable cyber‑focused model ever evaluated, prompting the Bank...
Fury: The Real Fight Is Not in the Ring or Ad Spend, but Brand Alignment
Tyson Fury’s comeback fight will stream on Netflix to 300 million viewers, turning the bout into a massive branding platform. Havas Media argues that success for advertisers now hinges on aligning with the live‑sport moment rather than chasing low CPM reach....
Deloitte Enters Rugby League as NRL Super League Investment Talks Near
Deloitte has been appointed by Rugby League Commercial (RL Commercial) as a strategic advisor as talks intensify over a potential investment by Australia’s NRL into the UK’s Super League. The firm recently advised on the sale of eight Hundred franchises...
Starmer Told Trump to Be ‘Practical’ Amid Strait of Hormuz Tax Rumours
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told Donald Trump he spent most of their call discussing a practical plan to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, after warning that Trump’s actions were inflating UK energy bills. He emphasized that any...
Peter Kyle Touts US Opportunities as OpenAI Pauses UK Investment
British Business Secretary Peter Kyle highlighted a "really great economic set of opportunities" between the United States and the United Kingdom, pointing to roughly $300 bn (£223 bn) of ongoing tech‑related commercial activity. He announced a trade mission that will send about...
Female Rugby CEOs on Breaking Barriers in Male-Dominated Industries
Senior rugby union CEOs Julia Chapman and Andrea Pinchen joined Investec’s Jane Niles to discuss the persistent barriers women face in UK corporate leadership. They highlighted the scarcity of female CEOs—only eight women in FTSE 100 firms and a decline in...
Warburg Pincus Establishes European Defence Investment Platform
Warburg Pincus announced a dedicated European defence investment platform, with early backing from MEAG, the asset manager of Munich Re. The platform will channel capital into defence, resilience and strategic‑sovereignty industries as European governments boost spending on security. Warburg brings...