City London Financial News

Here's all you need to know about the week ahead in world markets from Lewis Krauskopf in New York, Kevin Buckland in Tokyo and Karin Strohecker, Dhara Ranasinghe and Alun John in London.

S Jaishankar during a discussion at Chatham House in London. The shift, largely driven by US President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, is helping reshape global alliances. “If I were to look at the big priorities of this president, many of them work for us,” Jaishankar stated. “He seems to be committed to keeping energy prices reasonably affordable and stable—we welcome that. He is putting a lot of emphasis on tech and on the use of tech as a game changer in global politics. That offers a lot of possibilities for us.” Jaishankar noted that the US administration under Trump is actively moving towards multipolarity, a shift that aligns with India’s vision for the future. “We see a president and an administration moving towards multipolarity, and that is something which suits India.”

At Investment Week's Fixed Income Market Focus on 13 March at One Moorgate Place in London, speakers will discuss their outlook for fixed income in the current market environment, as difficult decisions loom for governments and central banks as the year unfolds. They will also identify where opportunities are opening up for bond investors across the spectrum, how they are managing the biggest risks to their strategies, as well as how their funds may fit in investors' portfolios. By attending this interactive event, you will get the chance to network with peers, quiz our expert speaker...

Kashmir dispute would be solved after the «return of the stolen part of Kashmir which is under illegal Pakistani occupation,» External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said. Jaishankar was speaking at a session at the Chatham House think tank in London on Wednesday, prompting Pakistan on Thursday to reject as «baseless» his remarks regarding Kashmir, while making counter demands to address the issue. Responding to an audience question on «solving» issues in Kashmir, Jaishankar stated, «On Kashmir, actually we have done, I think, a good job solving most of it.» «Removing Article 370 was step number one, restoring growth and economic activity and social justice in Kashmir was step number two, and holding elections with a very high turnout was step number three.

It came after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called on the UK to «live up to their diplomatic obligations» after a man from a small group of protesters chanting pro-Khalistan slogans and waving separatist flags attempted to breach the security perimeter as Jaishankar left the Chatham House think tank in London on Wednesday evening. The protester was swiftly taken aside by officers of the Metropolitan Police, which said that no arrests had been made.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Early indicators suggest the US economy is slowing even as US President Donald Trump’s additional import tariffs on China, Canada and Brazil kicked in on Tuesday. Trump also paused military aid to Ukraine on 4 March following a televised clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the Oval office last week.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, currently on a visit to the United Kingdom, has addressed key global economic issues, including the role of the US dollar, BRICS' position on de-dollarisation, and the internationalisation of the Indian rupee. Speaking at Chatham House in London, he dismissed speculation that India is working to replace the US dollar as the world’s primary reserve currency. «I don't think there's any policy on our part to replace the dollar. As I said, at the end of the day, the dollar as the reserve currency is the source of international economic stability, and right now, what we want in the world is more economic stability, not less,» he said.

S Jaishankar faced a tense moment in London when Khalistani extremists attempted to attack him as he departed from a discussion at Chatham House. A video shared by THE_SQUADR0N (@THE_SQUADR0N) shows a man sprinting towards Jaishankar’s vehicle and tearing the Indian national flag in full view of London police officers. Despite the act of vandalism, the officers appeared unresponsive. Pro-Khalistan demonstrators gathered outside the venue, waving flags and protesting against Jaishankar’s presence. ANI (@ANI) reported that the demonstrators were vocal in their opposition, attempting to disrupt the minister’s engagements.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to visit London later this month to deliver a lecture at the University of Oxford, a well-placed official said on Wednesday. Banerjee is likely to leave for London on March 21, he said. She was invited to deliver the lecture by the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University Jonathan Michie, during the Bengal Global Business Summit in November 2023. «The CM has accepted the invitation of the University of Oxford, where she is scheduled to deliver a lecture. Her flight to London is scheduled on March 21 via Dubai,» the official said, adding that the lecture is scheduled on March 27.

trans-Atlantic security. As evident, the Trump administration is unlikely to commit to a security framework in Europe where it pits Washington against Moscow. In fact, Washington is demonstrably against security commitments abroad, to the extent that its age-old commitments under Nato now hang in the balance. What is certain, though, is that any road to getting Washington's security commitments is likely to involve a large economic component. As such, the semblance of an offer that the US has put on the table for Ukraine as a guarantee against Moscow is a mineral deal without any explicit security guarantees. Clearly, this approach may not be acceptable to most countries, certainly not to Ukraine. An immediate repercussion of Washington's security recoil has been the beginning of an almost pan-European consensus on the need to step up and fill potential gaps that could emerge as a result. Most European leaders appeared bound in a consensus to carve a new security assurance for Ukraine, except this time without the US. France, Germany and Britain, along with the EU as a bloc, depicted existential urgency at Sunday's leaders' European security summit in London, knowing that the block may have to take charge of not just its own security but also negotiations on part of Ukraine.

The three fund managers – Lisa Lim, Tim Love and Joaquim Nogueira – will be based in London and report to Tom Carroll, chief executive of Rathbones AM. Lim joins Rathbones AM as head of Asia ex-Japan equities and a fund manager. Prior to her move to Rathbones, she worked at Prusik Investment Management as a partner and portfolio manager, where she played a significant role in setting up and leading its sustainable investing capabilities. Rathbones profits surge 73% while outflows rise following IW&I integration Before that, she was a fund manager at Columbia Threadneedle for o...

European leaders are confronting their worst-case scenario: maybe they really are going to be dealing with a bellicose Russia alone.

Ukraine’s war effort is fading fast, and Europe will need to pick up the slack. While Sunday’s gathering of European leaders in London included a commitment to keep military aid flowing and to formulate a peace plan, it’s the details that will matter. So far, the US peace strategy has seemed to rest on appeasing the Kremlin — promising territorial concessions, parroting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s talking points and trash-talking the transatlantic alliance. Zelenskiy, on the heels of the leaders of France and Britain, failed to elicit firm security guarantees from the White House last week. The rebuke he received after pressing the matter — “Have you said ‘thank you’ once?” exclaimed Vice President JD Vance — has left relations with the US uncertain. How exactly the White House intends to stop the fighting remains to be seen. But Europe ought to recognize the leverage it does have to shape the endgame, as well as the urgent need to develop more.

King Charles III is set to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at his private retreat in Sandringham on Sunday. This meeting comes at a critical moment, following Zelensky’s contentious discussions with former US President Donald Trump in Washington. While royal engagements with foreign leaders typically follow government coordination, this visit is widely viewed as a pointed demonstration of Britain’s continued support for Ukraine. Speaking ahead of his audience with the King, Zelensky expressed gratitude: “I’m very happy that His Majesty the King accepted my meeting tomorrow.”

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. A combative White House meeting has presented Ukraine with the prospect of fighting Russia without the support of its primary military backer through the first three years of the war. Now, the question is whether Europe has the firepower—and the political will—to help Ukraine hold off the Russians.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has said he told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he had to «find a way to restore his relationship with the American president» after the two leaders engaged in an extraordinary meltdown at the White House on Friday. Rutte told the BBC on Saturday that he told Zelenskyy that «he really had to respect what (US) President (Donald) Trump has done so far for Ukraine.» He was referring to the first Trump administration's decision in 2019 to supply Ukraine with Javelin antitank missiles that Ukraine used to deadly effect against Russian tanks in the first wave of the 2022 invasion. Calling the Friday meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy «unfortunate,» Rutte said he «knew as a fact that the American administration is extremely invested in making sure that Ukraine gets to a durable peace» with Russia.

Keir Starmer on Saturday, Starmer's office said, ahead of a wider summit of European leaders in London on Sunday to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine. «The Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy will be meeting in Downing Street this afternoon,» a spokesperson for Starmer's office said. The meeting follows an extraordinary public spat between Zelenskyy and Donald Trump at the White House over the war with Russia, with the U.S. president threatening to withdraw support for Ukraine.

Blackpink is all set to embark on a world tour soon, travelling across several cities in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Gold’s stellar run is too shiny to ignore—and its rally could continue through 2025. The precious metal is certainly having a moment.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. LONDON : BP said it would boost oil-and-gas production and sharply cut investments in clean energy, pivoting back to fossil fuels in a bid to revive its flagging share price. The struggling British energy company announced the moves Wednesday as part of a much-anticipated strategy update aimed at winning over investors.

National Grid Plc agreed to sell its U.S. onshore renewables business to Brookfield Asset Management for US$1.7 billion after United States President Donald Trump vowed to curb the growth of green electricity.