UK market News

City of London Hit Harder Than Rest of Economy Since Brexit Vote

The City of London, once considered the crown jewel of Britain’s dominant services sector, has performed even worse than the rest of the economy in the years following the Brexit referendum. Financial and insurance output has grown just 2.8% since …

Theft and Violence in UK Retail Soar to Record Levels, Survey Shows

Theft and violence against retail workers in Britain soared to record levels last year and are “out of control,” driven partly by criminal gangs, according to a report published on Thursday. Industry body the British Retail Consortium’s annual crime survey …

UK’s Reeves to Meet Key Financial Services Sectors

British finance minister Rachel Reeves said on Monday she would meet representatives from key financial services sectors, such as banking and insurance, over the coming months to formulate a new growth and competitiveness strategy. “I am committed to working hand-in-hand …

One in Four UK Firms Cut Jobs After Reeves Budget, PMI Shows

Almost one in four British businesses cut jobs in December amid widespread pessimism over the squeeze on their finances from Labour’s tax-raising budget. S&P Global’s purchasing managers’ index confirmed that the private sector stagnated at the end of 2024 with …

European Insurers’ Fundamentals Resilient to Moderating Premium Rates, Falling Yields

European insurers approached the new year from a position of strength, having benefited from supportive interest rates and pricing cycles over the past two years. However, 2025 is expected to present more challenges, with falling yields and moderating premium rates …

Aviva Reaches Initial £3.6 Billion Deal to Buy Direct Line

Aviva Plc reached a preliminary agreement to buy Direct Line Insurance Group Plc for £3.6 billion ($4.6 billion) in a deal that would create the UK’s largest motor insurer. London-listed Aviva sweetened its bid in the latest negotiations with Direct …

Insurer Fortegra Launches Subsidiary in UK

The Fortegra Group Inc., the Jacksonville, Florida-based specialty insurer and subsidiary of Tiptree Inc., announced it has received regulatory approval to launch a UK subsidiary, called Fortegra Insurance Company UK. The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) granted Fortegra UK the license, …

UK Business Activity Set to Shrink in Wake of Budget, CBI Says

Business activity in the UK is on course to shrink for the first time in more than two years as companies cut jobs and rein in investment following the budget, according to the Confederation of British Industry’s monthly growth indicator. …

Bank of England Finds Non-Bank Financial Firms Pose Wider Risks in Crisis Periods

Non-bank financial institutions such as hedge funds remain vulnerable to a sudden financial shock and would not all be able to access the funding they would need in such a crisis, the Bank of England said on Friday. Announcing the …

UK Employers Warn Tax Rise Will Hit Investment and Pay

British employers have been caught off guard by a 25 billion-pound ($31 billion) tax rise at last month’s budget and plan to cut training, investment and jobs in response, a leading employers group said on Monday. The Confederation of British …