Latest news and financial insights

Market update - 3rd June 2026

A combination of renewed enthusiasm for AI, diverging manufacturing trends, and unresolved geopolitical tensions has set the tone for markets this week. Excitement in the technology sector followed reports that Anthropic, the artificial intelligence company behind ChatGPT rival Claude, is taking steps towards a US stock market listing.

Week ending 29th May 2026

As shown in the accompanying table, market performance was mixed over the week, with strong gains in the US contrasted by more subdued results across the UK, and the wider European markets. It was a holiday-shortened week, with both UK and US markets closed on Monday for the late May bank holiday and Memorial Day.

Week ending 22nd May 2026

Global equity markets finished the week higher, with the U.S. S&P 500 recording its eighth consecutive weekly gain. European markets also delivered strong performances, up over 2% and the UK’s FTSE 100 climbing 2.66%. After a volatile start to the week, sentiment improved as optimism surrounding technology and AI continued to support markets, helped in part by stronger-than-expected earnings from chipmaker NVIDIA.

Market update - 20th May 2026

So far it has been a mixed week for markets, with sentiment swinging between possible easing in geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, inflation concerns and some softer economic data.

Week ending 15th May 2026

As you can see from the accompanying table markets experienced a more volatile week as investors balanced political developments in the UK, Middle East tensions and ongoing concerns around inflation and interest rates. Part of this week’s weakness appears to also reflect some profit-taking, following strong market performance following a robust first-quarter earnings season, in which many companies continued to deliver solid results despite an uncertain backdrop.

Market update - 13th May 2026

Global markets have turned notably more cautious through the middle of the week. While first-quarter earnings have broadly surprised to the upside, particularly across technology, financials and industrials, markets are increasingly focused on higher energy prices and the possibility that central banks may need to keep interest rates elevated for longer.