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The exodus of firms from the London Stock Exchange has reached a "pivotal moment" for the UK's financial services sector, according to the CBI. Since 2016, 213 firms have departed, driven by lighter regulation and a lack of investor interest. CBI Chair Rupert Soames stressed the need for better marketing and incentives to attract investment, suggesting changes to cash ISAs to encourage stock market participation. "Of all the investments that God ever invented, cash [ISA] is the worst possible one," Mr Soames said. The report highlights that last year alone saw 88 companies leave the UK, with 70 more exiting this year. The CBI calls for a more competitive environment to retain top companies, as the stock market is crucial for funding public services. The government is expected to announce further reforms to enhance the attractiveness of UK capital markets.

 

BBC News

Financial Times

City A.M.

The Guardian

Investor campaigns among activist shareholders have seen a significant decline, dropping 32% from last year, with only 59 campaigns launched in Q2 2025. However, experts predict a resurgence in the latter half of the year, as "activity in the back half of the year will be more significant," according to Alfredo Porretti of JPMorgan Chase. Companies are preparing for potential challenges, with board members hiring advisors to assess vulnerabilities. The favourite demand from activists has been for board changes, which appeared in 43% of campaigns in the first half of 2025. As the market stabilises, there is growing confidence that demands for sales or spin-offs will increase, with a shift towards quieter settlements rather than public confrontations.

 

Reuters

The Bundeskartellamt has concluded its investigation into Deutsche Post, ending a two-year procedure against the company and its subsidiaries. A spokesperson for Deutsche Post stated: "We welcome the closure of the proceedings by the Bundeskartellamt," affirming their belief that they had not violated competition laws. The investigation initially began in July 2023, focusing on potential anti-competitive agreements involving Deutsche Post InHaus Services and competitors Postcon and Compador in the area of letter consolidation services. Despite this victory, Deutsche Post faces ongoing challenges from rival DVS, which has accused the company of systematically suppressing competition in the business customer sector, claiming damages of approximately €1bn.

 

Handelsblatt

The first report from Sir Wyn Williams’ inquiry into the Post Office Horizon IT scandal highlights devastating human impacts, including mental health crises, addiction, and suicide. At least 59 people considered suicide, 10 attempted it, and over 13 may have died due to wrongful prosecutions. Sir Wyn found that many victims experienced divorce and long-term trauma, stating, “One postmistress said she ‘went to rehab for eight months as the Post Office had turned her to drink.’” He condemned slow, adversarial compensation processes and called for reforms, including legal aid, support for families, and restorative justice. Around 10,000 people are currently seeking redress, a number expected to grow.

 

Sky News

BBC News

The Guardian

In a passionate address to Parliament, Tory former prime minister Theresa May stressed that victims of modern slavery must not be "abandoned" due to fears of creating legal loopholes. Speaking during the scrutiny of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, she expressed concern that trafficking victims could be inadvertently criminalised under the proposed legislation. May said: "We cannot simply say that we abandon those in slavery, or those who are being exploited, because we are worried about a loophole." She called for the inclusion of "duress of slavery" as a legal defence for victims coerced into committing immigration offences. Despite concerns from her own party about potential exploitation of such provisions, May argued that existing mechanisms could effectively differentiate between genuine victims and criminals. 

 

Daily Mail

London Evening Standard

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is examining Greencore's £1.2bn acquisition of rival Bakkavor due to potential competition concerns. The merger aims to create a food-to-go giant with approximately 30,500 employees and annual sales of about £4bn. The CMA has initiated a consultation process, inviting feedback from interested parties by July 22. The deal, structured as a reverse takeover, is expected to complete in early 2026, pending regulatory approval. Concerns have been raised regarding job cuts and factory closures, with estimates suggesting that up to 5% of the combined workforce may be affected. However, the firms do not anticipate “material” redundancies, as many cuts will occur through attrition.

 

Daily Mail

London Evening Standard

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has imposed a £21m fine on Monzo due to inadequate financial crime controls during customer onboarding. The investigation revealed that Monzo allowed customers to register with "obviously implausible" addresses, including notable landmarks like 10 Downing Street and Buckingham Palace. The bank's customer base surged from 600,000 in 2018 to over 5.8m by 2022, but its internal controls failed to adapt accordingly. Monzo's CEO, TS Anil, acknowledged the fine but asserted that the issues have been resolved, leading to “substantial improvements” in their controls. The penalty follows a similar £29m fine imposed on rival Starling for lax financial crime measures.

 

Financial Times

City AM

The Guardian

Ofgem has mandated Octopus Energy to pay £1.5m in refunds and compensation due to failures in issuing final bills to 34,000 prepayment customers who switched suppliers or ended contracts between 2014 and October 2023. The company will compensate £1.25m to affected customers and refund £231,000 in remaining account credits, averaging £43 per customer. Ben Martin, Ofgem's director for consumer protection, stressed the importance of final bills for customers, particularly those in financial difficulty. Octopus Energy disputes the necessity of final bills, claiming that only 16% of prepay customers would receive them under Ofgem's rules. Rachel Fletcher, director of economics and regulation at Octopus, expressed a desire for Ofgem to prioritise lower bills for consumers amidst rising energy costs.

 

Daily Express

The Guardian

MPs have approved the Football Governance Bill, paving the way for the establishment of the Independent Football Regulator. The Bill, which passed with a majority of 317 votes, aims to ensure clubs operate sustainably and remain accountable to their fans. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy stated: "We promised in our manifesto that we would end years of inaction and make the changes that fans have fought for for so long." The regulator will have the authority to impose financial settlements between the English Football League and the Premier League if necessary. Additionally, calls to consult on lifting the alcohol ban in football stands were rejected, with Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock saying such changes fell outside of the scope of the bill.

 

Daily Mail

In May 2025, nominal wage growth reached 5.5% in the UK, 5.3% in the Netherlands, 3.8% in Germany, and 1.9% in France, according to Indeed. Adjusted for inflation, real wage increases stood at 2.3% in the UK, 1.8% in the Netherlands, 1.6% in Germany, and 1.1% in France. Legal roles topped the list of wage growth, rising 5.7% in Germany and 4.3% in the UK. UK lawyers earn an average of £53,420 (€61,900), with London-based lawyers reaching £70,450 (€81,670). France’s top sectors were management and public safety (2%), while the Netherlands saw a 4% rise in cleaning roles. UK retail, manufacturing, and customer service jobs posted real wage increases of 3% or more, while health-related roles saw modest gains. Wage pressure stems from factors including a higher minimum wage, low immigration, and high economic inactivity. Meanwhile, Germany’s IT roles suffered sharp declines—helpdesk (-6.4%) and software development (-4.2%)—indicating real wage losses in tech sectors.

 

Euronews

New research from LawDeb Pensions reveals a significant shift in the UK’s defined contribution (DC) pension schemes, with 80% of businesses planning to change their provision type. The study indicates a trend towards consolidation and specialised management, with 63% of firms expecting to transition to a master trust or own trust. Key drivers for this change include the pursuit of better value for money, with 50% of firms citing this as their main motivation, alongside the need for robust governance and evolving regulatory pressures. The upcoming Pensions Schemes Bill is expected to further impact the DC market, necessitating careful consideration from businesses.

 

IFA Magazine

The rise of AI is raising concerns about the future of entry-level jobs, with CEOs suggesting that as many as half of all white-collar positions could be affected. Aneesh Raman, a LinkedIn executive, noted that the bottom rungs of the white-collar career ladder are “breaking.” However, he also pointed out that there is no definitive evidence linking AI to the current instability in the entry-level job market. The disruption could lead to a shortage of skilled mid- and high-level employees, as companies may struggle to cultivate talent if entry-level positions diminish. To address this, educators and employers must collaborate to reimagine the talent pipeline, ensuring that graduates possess skills that AI cannot replicate. The urgency is clear, as the investment in AI is accelerating rapidly, and the time to adapt is now.

 

Washingtonpost.com

City leaders, including Sir Martin Sorrell and Sir Rocco Forte, have expressed concern that a proposed wealth tax could lead to a significant exodus of entrepreneurs from the UK. Sir Rocco said: "Labour has already seen a huge exodus of wealthy people," warning that the tax would exacerbate this trend. S4 Capital's Sir Martin Sorrell added that it would not only drive away the wealthy but also those aspiring to accumulate wealth. Former RBS chair Sir Philip Hampton described the policy as "very anti-growth," stressing that it would deter investment in the country. Meanwhile, Labour figures, including transport secretary Heidi Alexander, argue that those with "the broadest shoulders" should bear the highest tax burden, aiming for fairness in taxation while promoting economic growth.

 

City AM

Daily Express

Information gleaned from a FoI request suggests HMRC gave large companies involved in the loan charge scandal 85% discounts on their settlements whilst punishing independent contractors with life-changing bills. The agreements were revealed in Parliament by Conservative MP, Greg Smith, during Treasury Questions last week, but HMRC denies the claims. The loan charge was introduced in 2017 to target contractors who were paid through non-taxable loans rather than salaries. It left 50,000 self-employed workers with crippling tax bills and has been linked to 10 suicides. But in 2015, large companies were able to pay just 15% of what was owed.

 

The Sunday Telegraph

HMRC has imposed late penalties on 600,000 low earners, many of whom owe no tax. The automatic £100 fine for missing the January 31 deadline can escalate to over £1,600. Dan Neidle from Tax Policy Associates highlighted that "the Government should act, and stop the most vulnerable in society having their lives made harder by HMRC." A Freedom of Information request revealed that those with no tax liability are more likely to incur penalties. The Low Income Tax Reform Group (LITRG) warned of a "two-tier" system, where low earners face higher penalties. Antonia Stokes from LITRG urged HMRC to expedite the new penalty regime rollout to benefit all taxpayers. HMRC stated that 11.5m customers filed their 2023-24 tax return on time and encouraged those who believe they have been wrongly fined to appeal.

 

The Daily Telegraph

Archie Norman, chair of Marks & Spencer, has called for a legal requirement for businesses to report significant cyber-attacks to authorities. During a session with the parliamentary Business and Trade Select Committee, he revealed that "a large number" of serious cyber-attacks go unreported, citing two major incidents affecting large UK firms in the past four months. Norman described the April cyberattack on M&S as "traumatic," leading to a £300m loss in profit. He stressed the need for companies of a certain size to report material attacks to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) within a specified timeframe, stating: "I don't think it would be regulatory overkill."

 

Computer Weekly

Reuters

The Daily Telegraph

A conflict in Myanmar's Kachin state between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the military junta could destabilize nearly half the global supply of heavy rare earths. The KIA's advance on Bhamo—a key town near the China border—has led Beijing to threaten a rare-earth trade blockade unless the rebels pull back. Despite mining disruptions, China imported 12,944 metric tons from Myanmar between January and May 2025, down 50% year-over-year. Prices for minerals like terbium spiked after KIA raised taxes and throttled production. China’s move reflects its effort to preserve its mineral pipeline and strategic leverage in Myanmar.

 

Reuters