Chip Stocks Bounce Back as AI Rally Resumes; CMA Launches Inquiry Into Paramount-Warner Bros Deal – Business Live
OpenAI confidentially filed for a U.S. IPO, joining Anthropic in a wave of AI mega‑listings and reigniting the AI rally that lifted chip stocks. The company is valued at roughly $850 bn, while Anthropic trades at about $965 bn, underscoring massive market appetite for AI infrastructure. OpenAI’s disclosed spend of over $100 bn a year on compute aims to cement a defensive moat and eventually transition to a product‑focused business. Meanwhile, the UK pound steadied at $1.3376 as macro news remained muted, and the CMA opened an inquiry into the Paramount‑Warner Bros merger.
Oil Price Falls Back and Markets Recovering After Iran Announces ‘End of Military Operations’ Against Israel – Business Live
Markets steadied after Tehran announced the end of its military operations against Israel, pulling Brent crude down to $94.58 a barrel from a brief $98 peak. European equities, led by the FTSE 100, edged higher, while bond yields fell across the...
OECD Predicts Spate of Recessions Globally if Iran Conflict Drags Into 2027
The OECD’s latest Economic Outlook warns that a prolonged Iran‑U.S. standoff lasting until 2027 could slash global GDP growth to 2.1% in 2026, down from 3.4% in 2025, pushing several economies into recession. Energy shortages would trigger rationing, higher fertilizer...
The Guardian View on Britain’s Economy: To Profit Politically a Recovery Must Be Felt in People’s Pockets | Editorial
The Guardian editorial warns that political claims of a British economic recovery are outpacing the lived experience of households. Recent data shows unemployment unexpectedly rising to 5% and vacancies hitting their lowest level since early 2021, while real disposable income...
Even if the Iran War Ended Today, US Fuel Prices Aren’t Likely to Normalize This Year
U.S. gasoline prices sit at $4.55 per gallon, roughly $1.50 above pre‑war levels, as the Iran conflict disrupts about 20 million barrels of daily crude flow through the Strait of Hormuz. Energy analysts warn that even an immediate cease‑fire would not...
UK Borrows More than Forecast in April as Inflation Adds to Benefits Bill
The Office for National Statistics reported that the UK recorded net public‑sector borrowing of £24.3 billion (about $31 billion) in April 2026, roughly £3.4 billion ($4.3 billion) above economists’ forecasts. Debt‑service costs surged to a record £10.3 billion ($13 billion) for the month, driven by higher gilt...
Britain’s Politicians Need to Worry Less About the Bond Markets – and More About the Bank of England | Daniela...
British politicians are urged to shift focus from bond‑market panic to the Bank of England’s role in shaping borrowing costs. The BoE has sold roughly £134 bn ($167 bn) of gilts since 2022, adding a 0.7 percentage‑point “Bailey premium” to UK debt rates,...
UK Inflation Eases More than Expected to 2.8%, Led by Lower Electricity and Gas Bills – Business Live
UK consumer price inflation eased to 2.8% in April, the biggest drop in months, as lower electricity and gas bills offset other pressures. House prices remained flat at about £268,000 while private rents climbed 3.5% year‑on‑year to £1,381, underscoring a...
Germany Urged to Stop Admiring Beijing and Wake up to ‘China Shock 2.0’
The Centre for European Reform warned that a "China Shock 2.0" is already reshaping Germany’s industrial landscape, as China’s surplus with Germany surged from $12 bn to $25 bn in 2025, creating a $94 bn trade imbalance. The think‑tank links the widening gap to...
No Feelgood Factor for Reeves as Iran War Snuffs Out Economic Upturn
UK unemployment rose back to 5% in March, the first set of figures directly impacted by the Iran war, erasing a brief dip to 4.9%. Pay‑rolled jobs fell by 100,000 in April, marking the third‑largest monthly decline since 2014, while...
IMF Raises UK Growth Forecast and Backs Reeves’s Deficit Reduction Plans; Bonds Recover After Sell-Off – as It Happened
The International Monetary Fund has raised its 2026 UK GDP growth projection to 1.0% from 0.8%, citing strong pre‑war momentum and a robust first‑quarter performance. The upgrade comes alongside praise for Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ balanced approach to deficit reduction and...
UK Firms Halt Investments and Hiring as Iran War Pushes up Costs, Bosses Warn
A new Guardian survey reveals UK firms are suspending investment projects and freezing hiring as the Iran‑Israel conflict drives up input costs and fuels broader economic uncertainty. Companies are shifting focus from growth to cost‑control, with many executives citing rising...
The Gilt Market Will Hover over Any Labour Leadership Contest | Nils Pratley
The UK gilt market has seen 10‑year yields climb from 4.2% to 5% since early March, driven primarily by the Iran war and soaring energy prices rather than domestic political drama. While a Labour leadership contest could spark a market...
Global Oil Inventories Falling at Record Pace Amid Iran War; US Producer Price Inflation Hits Four-Year High – as It...
The International Energy Agency reported that global oil inventories fell by 129 million barrels in March and another 117 million barrels in April, a record draw caused by supply losses after the Iran‑Israel conflict shut the Strait of Hormuz. The agency now...
UK Housebuilder Vistry Warns of ‘Significantly’ Lower Profits Amid Iran War Uncertainty
Vistry Group, the owner of Bovis Homes, warned that first‑half profits will be "significantly" lower after it was forced to cut house prices amid heightened uncertainty from the US‑Israeli conflict with Iran. The warning sent Vistry's shares down 10.5% in...