Today: 21 May 2026
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UK Economy 9 March 2026 - 21 May 2026

HMRC pay code error could cut UK take-home, warns tax accountants

HMRC pay code error could cut UK take-home, warns tax accountants

Hundreds of Zopa customers and potentially thousands of UK savers have had tax codes changed after HMRC used incorrect savings-interest data, including wrongly treating tax-free ISA interest as taxable. Some savers saw pay drop or overpaid tax before errors were fixed. HMRC said affected taxpayers should contact the agency if their records are wrong.
21 May 2026
British Gas Debt Warning: Why A £7bn Energy Bill Problem Is Hitting UK Households Now

British Gas Debt Warning: Why A £7bn Energy Bill Problem Is Hitting UK Households Now

Britain’s £500 million energy debt relief scheme for low-income households remains stalled, with consumer arrears projected to top £7 billion by year-end. Ofgem says the scheme’s launch depends on new data-sharing laws, while ministers have yet to approve changes. Energy UK reports household energy debt has doubled in three years. British Gas alone saw over £1 billion in unpaid bills last year.
13 May 2026
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FTSE 100’s Third Weekly Loss: Why UK Stocks Are Back on Edge

FTSE 100’s Third Weekly Loss: Why UK Stocks Are Back on Edge

Britain’s FTSE 100 closed down 0.4% at 10,233.07 on Friday, falling 1.4% for the week as Gulf clashes and Labour’s local-election losses weighed on sentiment. Brent crude jumped to $101.49 a barrel after renewed fighting in the Strait of Hormuz. British Airways owner IAG dropped 2.8% after warning of higher fuel costs and lower profit. The pound strengthened, pressuring UK multinationals.
9 May 2026
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UK Stock Market Live: FTSE 100 Falls Again as Oil Tops $100 and Labour Losses Hit London Shares

UK Stock Market Live: FTSE 100 Falls Again as Oil Tops $100 and Labour Losses Hit London Shares

The FTSE 100 fell 0.75% to 10,200.29 in Friday morning trade, extending losses as renewed U.S.-Iran clashes pushed Brent oil above $100 a barrel. Labour’s local election setbacks weighed on sterling and gilts, adding political risk to the market downturn. Airlines including IAG warned of lower profits due to rising fuel costs. European shares tracked lower, with the STOXX 600 down 0.8%.
8 May 2026
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Centrica Shares Sink as British Gas Owner’s Retail Warning Overshadows £370 Million Severn Deal

Centrica Shares Sink as British Gas Owner’s Retail Warning Overshadows £370 Million Severn Deal

Centrica shares dropped 5.16% after warning retail energy earnings will hit the low end of 2026 forecasts, despite announcing a £370 million deal to buy the Severn gas power plant. The company expects retail EBITDA near £500 million, while infrastructure EBITDA should exceed £650 million. Severn is set to add up to £60 million in annual EBITDA from 2027. Shareholders approved all AGM resolutions, including a final dividend.
8 May 2026
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FTSE 100 Today: Why UK Stocks Are Barely Moving as DCC, Unilever and the BoE Dominate London Trading

FTSE 100 Today: Why UK Stocks Are Barely Moving as DCC, Unilever and the BoE Dominate London Trading

The FTSE 100 rose 0.10% to 10,222.85 in early London trading, recovering after a 1.2% drop on Wednesday. DCC shares fell 5% after rejecting a £4.95 billion takeover bid from KKR and Energy Capital Partners. Unilever began a €1.5 billion share buyback and posted 3.8% underlying sales growth. Investors awaited the Bank of England’s rate decision, with no change expected.
30 April 2026
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FTSE 100 Today: BP Rally Lifts UK Stocks as Barclays and Taylor Wimpey Fall

FTSE 100 Today: BP Rally Lifts UK Stocks as Barclays and Taylor Wimpey Fall

BP jumped after posting $3.2 billion in first-quarter profit, its highest in over two years, lifting the FTSE 100 by 0.2% to around 10,340 as oil traded above $110 a barrel. Barclays shares fell over 3% after a £228 million provision linked to Market Financial Solutions offset higher profits and a £500 million buyback. Taylor Wimpey dropped after warning of rising build-cost inflation.
28 April 2026
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UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 Slips as Oil Jump Puts BoE Week in Focus

UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 Slips as Oil Jump Puts BoE Week in Focus

Britain’s FTSE 100 slipped 0.30% to 10,348.26 by 09:09 BST Monday as higher oil prices and stalled U.S.-Iran talks weighed on sentiment ahead of key central bank meetings. Brent crude rose over 2% to $107.97 a barrel. Sainsbury’s shares dropped more than 3% after downgrades from Goldman Sachs and Citigroup. Intertek declined after rejecting a takeover bid from EQT; Whitbread rose on asset sale speculation.
27 April 2026
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FTSE 100 Today: British Land Rally Masks AB Foods Slide as UK Stocks Edge Up

FTSE 100 Today: British Land Rally Masks AB Foods Slide as UK Stocks Edge Up

The FTSE 100 rose 0.12% to 10,622.06 in delayed London trade Tuesday, while the FTSE 250 gained 0.39%. British Land climbed after boosting earnings guidance and signing Anthropic as a tenant. Associated British Foods fell on plans to split Primark from its food units and a profit warning. Crest Nicholson plunged nearly a third after cutting its outlook and warning on home completions.
21 April 2026
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LiveScore Revenue Tops £200 Million, but UK Gambling Tax Shock Threatens Profit Push

LiveScore Revenue Tops £200 Million, but UK Gambling Tax Shock Threatens Profit Push

LiveScore Group’s turnover rose 15.3% to £206.3 million for the year ended March 2025, with operating loss nearly halved to £26.7 million, according to UK filings. The results come days after Britain raised Remote Gaming Duty to 40%, a move expected to add £20–25 million to LiveScore’s UK tax bill. UK revenue climbed 26% to £175.6 million. Virgin Bet launched in South Africa on March 30.
14 April 2026
Lloyds Banking Group Share Price Falls to 94p as App Glitch Adds to UK Bank Selloff

Lloyds Banking Group Share Price Falls to 94p as App Glitch Adds to UK Bank Selloff

Lloyds Banking Group shares closed down 1.38% at 94.18 pence Friday, leading FTSE All-Share trading volume as investors reacted to a mobile-app glitch and sector-wide weakness. The bank repurchased 19.27 million shares for cancellation under its £1.75 billion buyback. Oil above $100 and stalled GDP dampened hopes for a Bank of England rate cut, pressuring UK lenders.
14 March 2026
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FTSE 100 Today: UK Stock Market Falls as $100 Oil Shifts Bank of England Outlook

FTSE 100 Today: UK Stock Market Falls as $100 Oil Shifts Bank of England Outlook

The FTSE 100 fell 0.47% to 10,305.15 on Thursday, about 5% below its February record, as oil rebounded to $100 a barrel after tanker attacks in Iraq. Money markets now price a 54% chance of a UK rate hike by December. HSBC dropped over 5% after closing Qatar branches. New UK homebuyer enquiries fell sharply in February, according to RICS.
12 March 2026
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SSE PLC insiders buy shares as utility enters key UK grid spending phase

SSE PLC insiders buy shares as utility enters key UK grid spending phase

SSE Plc disclosed Monday that CEO Martin Pibworth and six other executives acquired a total of 45 shares under its all-employee share plan, ahead of a closed period starting April 2. The company faces scrutiny over its ability to fund a £33 billion, five-year grid expansion, with five major transmission projects already under construction and 75% of key planning consents secured.
10 March 2026
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Persimmon Plc Shares Slide Ahead of 2025 Results as UK Housebuilder Pressure Builds

Persimmon Plc Shares Slide Ahead of 2025 Results as UK Housebuilder Pressure Builds

Persimmon Plc shares dropped 5.5% to 1,223.5 pence on Monday ahead of its full-year results due March 10. The fall followed warnings from rivals Vistry and Taylor Wimpey about lower margins and profits amid rising build costs and weaker demand. Persimmon previously reported 2025 completions up 12% and expects profit at the upper end of forecasts. Investors await any update on its 2026 outlook.
9 March 2026
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NatWest Mortgage Rates Rise Again as UK Rate-Cut Hopes Crumble

NatWest Mortgage Rates Rise Again as UK Rate-Cut Hopes Crumble

NatWest Group will raise mortgage rates for existing customers and additional borrowing from March 10, following recent hikes for new borrowers. Barclays, Halifax, and Santander are also increasing rates, while some smaller lenders have withdrawn products. The average UK two-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 4.84% this week. Mortgage approvals in January fell to a two-year low, according to Bank of England data.
9 March 2026
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UK stock market today: FTSE 100 pares early slump as oil shock hits London shares

UK stock market today: FTSE 100 pares early slump as oil shock hits London shares

FTSE 100 closed down 0.3% and FTSE 250 fell 1.6% after Brent crude surged over 25% to $119.50 a barrel amid the U.S.-Iran war. UK gilt yields jumped as traders shifted bets toward a possible Bank of England rate hike. Sterling weakened, while energy stocks like Shell and BP rose. Homebuilders and property shares led declines, with Persimmon down 5.5%.
9 March 2026
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Nike stock climbs but analysts hold back on turnaround calls

Nike stock climbs but analysts hold back on turnaround calls

21 May 2026
Nike shares climbed 3.4% to $44.07 Wednesday as falling oil prices and lower U.S. Treasury yields boosted consumer stocks. Nike reported flat quarterly revenue at $11.3 billion, with direct-to-consumer sales down 4% and net income down 35%. The company plans to launch a Google Gemini-powered shopping feature in June. Nike’s global footwear market share slipped to 22.9% in 2025, while Adidas gained, Reuters said.
Infleqtion shares react to $100 million quantum funding news in Washington

Infleqtion shares react to $100 million quantum funding news in Washington

21 May 2026
Infleqtion shares rose 5.1% premarket Thursday after the U.S. Commerce Department signed a preliminary $100 million funding letter for its neutral-atom quantum computing project, which would also give the government stock in the company. The proposed award, not yet final, is contingent on milestones and approvals. INFQ last traded at $11.18 before the New York open. D-Wave and Rigetti also saw premarket gains.
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