Finance

Finance · 13 October 2026

UK grocery price inflation climbs again, shoppers chase deals and early Halloween bargains

Iris Quay, London desk

UK grocery price inflation has edged up again, prompting shoppers to rely on special offers and prompting a premature Halloween buying frenzy.

Finance · 13 October 2026

Pound’s Power‑Nap: IMF Says UK Growth Beats Forecast While Inflation Still Stings

Iris Quay, London desk

The International Monetary Fund projects the UK economy will grow faster than expected this year, but warns that household inflation will rise more sharply, leaving families to feel the pinch despite the upbeat growth ou…

Finance · 13 October 2026

IMF lifts UK growth outlook, but warns AI could crash markets – City sips tea in disbelief

Iris Quay, London desk

The IMF’s latest Global Financial Stability Report nudged up its forecast for UK growth, offering a modest boost to the Chancellor’s outlook. At the same time it warned that an AI‑driven plunge in share prices coul…

Finance · 13 October 2026

AI Shares Could Crumble Like a Scone, IMF Warns Global Markets Are on a Sticky Edge

Iris Quay, London desk

The International Monetary Fund has warned that an AI‑driven share‑price crash – fueled by soaring valuations, rising debt, government borrowing and cyber‑attack risks – could spill over into global financial s…

Finance · 12 October 2026

Inflation hits three‑year high as Nobel economics prize awarded, FTSE nudges up 0.5%

Iris Quay, London desk

UK inflation pressures rose to a three‑year high on the same day a Nobel economics prize was awarded, nudging the FTSE 100 up 53 points (0.5%) to 10,604, with HSBC gaining 2.1% and Standard Chartered 1.8%.

Finance · 10 October 2026

NS&I's 5% Surge: The Great Rate Race May Hit a Speed Limit

Iris Quay, London desk

National Savings & Investments has pushed some accounts above 5% for the first time in almost three years, sparking a short‑lived rate frenzy that experts say could cool quickly as competition heats up.

Finance · 10 October 2026

The City’s Courtroom Clean‑Up: Bittar Joins the ‘Unconvicted Eight’

Iris Quay, London desk

Former City trader Christian Bittar’s conviction for rigging interest rates has been quashed, making him the eighth former banker to have his conviction overturned, days after five other ex‑bankers were acquitted.

Finance · 9 October 2026

Bank Governor’s Plea to Chancellor Leaves Market Traders Chuckling

Iris Quay, London desk

Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey urged Chancellor John Healey to craft a budget that reassures markets amid bond‑market turbulence, stressing that fiscal policy must be credible. The comments sparked a light‑…

Finance · 8 October 2026

Oil attacks send City’s spreadsheets into a tailspin as Brent tops $104 and the euro limps towards 17‑month low

Iris Quay, London desk

Middle‑East shipping attacks and a looming Gulf storm have pushed Brent above $104 a barrel, lifted bond yields and nudged the euro towards a 17‑month trough, sending City traders scrambling.