Finance

Finance · 30 September 2026

Bilateral Tariff Swap: US and China Unshackle $30bn of Goods, Including Foie‑Gras‑Scented Toasters

Iris Quay, London desk

In a surprise move that has left City analysts both baffled and relieved, the United States and China announced reciprocal tariff cuts on $30bn worth of goods each, covering everything from consumer electronics to foie�…

Finance · 30 September 2026

Sterling Holds Its Breath as Mortgages Plunge to a 32‑Month Low Amid Iran War‑Driven Rate Spike

Iris Quay, London desk

Rising borrowing costs, triggered by the Iranian conflict, have sent UK mortgage applications into a slump, hitting a 32‑month low and forcing lenders to consider novel marketing tactics.

Finance · 29 September 2026

Anthropic Tells Wall Street Its AI Is 'Robust' and Its Balance Sheet Is Not

Helen Pell, Washington desk

A prospectus reveals that Anthropic is betting on a record-breaking listing, relying heavily on the word 'robust' to describe its financial health. Investors are being asked to trust in the fog.

Finance · 29 September 2026

Eurozone Traders Brace for Trade Tsunami as Iran, Ukraine and Ghost Tariffs Resurface

Etienne Marlow, Brussels desk

A cascade of geopolitical hiccups and nostalgic US tariff fantasies sends euro‑area markets into a wobble, prompting analysts to dust off their crystal balls and their emergency coffee supplies.

Finance · 29 September 2026

Anthropic’s $2 trillion IPO: ‘Self‑Preserving AI’ Pledges to Keep the City Alive, but Only Until the End of Time

Iris Quay, London desk

In a move that would make any risk‑averse CFO blush, AI firm Anthropic has warned in its IPO prospectus that its models could become self‑preserving and pose catastrophic threats, all while the City’s traders scram…

Finance · 29 September 2026

The Finger in the Chain: How One Metal Circle Is Trying to Buy the Wall Street Confidence It Lacks

Helen Pell, Washington desk

Oura, the maker of the smart ring that tracks your sleep better than your therapist, is preparing to list on Wall Street. The company believes its trove of biometric data is a gold mine, a sentiment that financial analys…

Finance · 29 September 2026

AI Overlords Stow Astra 6.1, Anthropic’s IPO Prospectus Becomes the New Safety Manual

Noor Hale, World desk

In a move that has investors clutching their spreadsheets, OpenAI has shelved its latest agentic model for safety concerns, while Anthropic’s IPO document is now a cautionary guide to risk‑management, leaving the tec…

Finance · 29 September 2026

AI, the New Wall Street Thermostat: From Panic to Payouts and Back Again

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Over the past fortnight, algorithmic traders have swung between fearing a robotic apocalypse and fantasising about a world where every unwanted subscription is auto‑cancelling, leaving market participants to wonder whe…

Finance · 29 September 2026

RBA’s Rate Rise: 4.6% and the Mortgage Crowd’s Collective Sneeze

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The Reserve Bank of Australia has lifted the cash rate to 4.6%, the highest in fifteen years, sending market participants scrambling to re‑price their mortgages and investors recalculating risk premiums.