Treasury confirms shift to one-day settlements as Rachel Reeves calls in City bankers February 19, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed that the UK will move to a ‘T+1’ standard for settling securities trades from 2027. She is meeting with chiefs of investment banking and asset management firms today to discuss the overhaul. The government has set 11 October 2027 as the date for the UK to transition to a one-day [...]
Glencore launches $1bn buyback programme despite profit fall February 19, 2025 Glencore has launched a $1bn (£792m) share buyback programme despite recording a 16 per cent drop in adjusted earnings before interest, tax, deprecation and amortisation (EBITDA) in 2024. The firm’s EBITDA fell to $14.4bn, down from $17.1bn in 2023, while adjusted earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) fell by a third. Despite the fall, the [...]
Global investors shun UK market amid stagflation fears February 18, 2025 Britain has become the least attractive market to invest in among global fund managers, with sentiment towards UK stocks slumping. Stock pickers held 18 per cent less UK shares than their benchmarks suggested they should in February, compared to a 12 per cent overweight position on European stocks, according to Bank of America’s latest Global [...]
Government backtracks on tax hike for private equity firms February 18, 2025 The government has reversed a decision to hike taxes on private equity firms by ditching changes to the tax treatment of members at limited liability partnerships (LLPs). The new guidelines, which were released last year, targeted salaried members on what tax contribution they pay, which affected the partner compensation at most firms. Before the new changes, members [...]
St James’s Place investors brace for results as Citi upgrades stock February 18, 2025 St James’s Place investors are gearing up for the release of the wealth manager’s full-year results next week as Citi analysts have upgraded their price target for the stock. In a note yesterday, Citi analysts upgraded the stock’s price target from 1,080p to 1,280p compared to the current share price of 1,130p. “Our funds under [...]
UK jumps to fifth for M&A attractiveness globally February 17, 2025 The UK has been ranked fifth for the most attractive destination for merger and acquisition (M&A) investors internationally, beating out all but Germany across Europe. The UK climbed two spaces from last year with an index score of 71 per cent, compared to the top US score of 78 per cent, according to the latest [...]
UK defence stocks soar ahead of European summit on Ukraine February 17, 2025 Shares in UK weapons manufacturers have soared today as leaders from across the continent convene for an emergency meeting in Paris to discuss the war in Ukraine. “We’re facing a generational challenge when it comes to national security,” said Prime Minister Keir Starmer before heading to the meeting, adding that he was “ready and willing” [...]
Gold price highs ‘are yet to come’, says UBS February 17, 2025 Gold prices have already increased 10 per cent in 2025 to $2,900 (£2,300), but UBS has upgraded its target price for the precious metal again. UBS analyst Joni Teves said gold has had “unprecedented market dislocations” and reached a record high in 2024, but it’s only expected to move higher in 2025. Teves explained that [...]
Reeves expected to float income tax hikes next month February 15, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to float income tax rises next month as she attempts to stick to the government’s fiscal rules. A freeze on income tax thresholds is currently being discussed in the Treasury, which could raise as much as £4bn a year, according to reports from the Financial Times. One aide told reports [...]
UK government acting ‘too slow’ on growth agenda, says City boss February 11, 2025 While Tim Levene is supportive of the government’s growth agenda, the fintech boss feels things are moving too slowly for the City to be hopeful of a boost to equity markets anytime soon. The CEO of Augmentum Fintech said he has already met Chancellor Rachel Reeves three times since the election, including attending the government’s [...]