Business As Usual | City AM
Matt Kenyon, Alys Denby and Simon Hunt speak to City AM's top journalists to bring you all the business news you need to start your day. Business As Usual drops in your podcast feed at 6am Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. We aim to make economics, business and politics as accessible and entertaining as possible.Featuring big-name guests, City AM journalists and market analysts, this is the only podcast you'll need to sound informed for the first meeting of your day.
A quarter of Brits are stockpiling, Mid-Terms spook markets, the CEO taking on AI agents
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A quarter of Brits are stockpiling… And even the Prime Minister is encouraging them to. We'll dig into why, and what this means
Meanwhile, what do the Mid-Term election results mean for the UK and its capital markets?
Plus: We speak to the CEO whose company advises major US firms on how to handle AI – in one, he found 10,000 AI agents that the company didn’t even know about.
Hosts: Matt Kenyon & Alys Denby
Producer: Joey Curay-Teneda
This episode's supported by Matchbook. And honestly, if you...
The wood-powered data centre, supermarket fridges HACKED, can this CEO save Britain billions?
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Energy company Drax has unveiled plans to build a new data centre at the site of its North Yorkshire power plant, which uses wood as fuel. What will Ed Miliband make of this?
Meanwhile, a major refrigerator hack has hit European supermarkets - is the UK next?
Plus: We speak to the CEO of a firm who says he can save Britain billions from cutting the cost of government. Can he?
Hosts: Matt Kenyon & Alys Denby
Producer: Joey Curay-Teneda
This episode's supported by Matchbook. And...
Robert Jenrick on Budget and Poundland, Ryanair's cost-cutting drive, PwC vs WFH
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They're no longer the frontrunners for power, but Reform UK remain a contender. City AM speaks to the party's Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick. What would a Reform Budget look like? And would his party nationalise Poundland?
Plus: Inside Ryanair's cost-cutting drive, and is this consultancy about to end Work From Home for good?
Hosts: Matt Kenyon & Alys Denby
Producer: Joe Lee
This episode's supported by Matchbook. And honestly, if you spend your day around markets, you'll get this straight away. Matchbook is a bet...
Budget to hit rental market, Poundland on the brink of collapse, legal trainees in limbo
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John Healey's 'do no harm' Budget may, in fact, do some harm - with rents set to go up again.
Meanwhile, both Poundland and a major law firm are set to go under.
Hosts: Matt Kenyon & Simon Hunt
Producer: Joe Lee
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Budget winners and losers, energy announcements explained, will the bank tax really be 'temporary'?
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Was this a Budget or the pre-amble to an election? Well, that's the big question as the dust settles on John Healey's first fiscal statement.
Who are the winners and losers of the Budget? And, what do the tax raids on banks and gambling firms tell us about Labour's plans?
Hosts: Matt Kenyon & Simon Hunt
Producer: Joey Curay-Teneda
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SPECIAL: Everything you need to know about the Budget, Labour MP reaction, election incoming?
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John Healey has delivered his first Budget, and the Chancellor promised (repeatedly) to give voters "breathing space". But, is any of that true? And - amongst all of the tax tweaks and mini-retail offerings - is Andy Burnham getting Labour ready for an early election?
City AM's Christian May and Alys Denby discuss with Helen Thomas, CEO of Blonde Money, and they get the government view from Labour MP Callum Anderson.
Hosts: Christian May and Alys Denby
Producer: Joey Curay-Teneda
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Nigel Farage 'hates' banks, HSBC stocks tumble, Anthropic IPO looms large
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Reform leader Nigel Farage says he hates the banks, but he also doesn't think they should be taxed any more than they are.
Meanwhile, even in the face of boosted profits, HSBC shares have tumbled. What does this tell us about the state of the banking sector?
Plus: Anthropic is gearing up for an IPO with a prospectus warning of infrastructure costs, huge circular investments and massive AI risk. What could possibly go wrong?
Hosts: Matt Kenyon & Alys Denby
Producer: Joey Curay-Teneda
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Healey's defence pledge, Oxford Street pedestrianised, 40 years since the 'Big Bang'
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Just three months ago, John Healey resigned as defence secretary over a lack of military funding. Now that he's Chancellor, will he really fund defence properly?
Meanwhile, Oxford Street has - after years of consultations and preparation - been pedestrianised this week. What will this mean for central London?
PLUS: The 'Big Bang' was 40 years ago today. We dig into how sweeping deregulation changed the Square Mile forever.
Hosts: Matt Kenyon & Alys Denby
Producer: Joey Curay-Teneda
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Barclays slashes 5,000 jobs, 'tough' conditions for Sainsbury's, a Budget for 'bloody minded entrepreneurs'?
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Barclays has announced 5,000 job cuts as the FTSE 100 bank guns for cost-cutting measures and AI.
Meanwhile, the banking sector is poised for a banks tax - but what else is at the menu at next week's Budget?
City AM's Editor-in-Chief Christian May gives his view on the measures on the table, and the relative lack of fiscal leaks so far.
Hosts: Matt Kenyon & Alys Denby
Producer: Joey Curay-Teneda
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UK debt hits £3 TRILLION, inflation up to 3.5 per cent, government approves Jackdaw
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A triple whammy of grim economic news for the government today: UK public debt is up to £3 trillion, inflation is up to 3.5% and borrowing in September overshot by £2bn.
Meanwhile, the government has finally given the green light for North Sea gas development at its Jackdaw site.
And a Green council in Lewisham has effectively blocked a £1.5bn development project in the borough. We'll explain what's gone on...
Hosts: Matt Kenyon & Alys Denby
Producer: Joey Curay-Teneda
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Fewest job vacancies since Covid, Healey rules out CGT hike, Apple Pay hit by UK ruling
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The last time there were this few job vacancies in the UK, there were still Covid restrictions. And we’ve not even had the Budget yet…
Meanwhile, the Chancellor has, at least, ruled out a hike to capital gains tax rates.
PLUS: Our tech reporter Saskia Koopman discusses the new UK ruling on Apple Pay.
Hosts: Matt Kenyon & Alys Denby
Producer: Joe Lee
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Labour's family business tax raid, Microsoft pulls out of Nscale deal, crackdown on 'headphone dodgers'
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Labour is planning a punishing tax raid on family businesses, which could push thousands of firms into selling up.
Meanwhile, we delve into why Microsoft pulled out of a partnership that would have delivered Britain's biggest AI data centre.
PLUS: Could a London-wide plan to crack down on playing music out loud on public transport really be enforced?
Hosts: Matt Kenyon & Alys Denby
Producer: Joe Lee
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Economic growth slows, bank tax looms at Budget, what the non-competes ban means for businesses
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The British economy is just about growing, but it’s also slowing. And the small glimmer of light from this week’s economic data could be short lived.
Meanwhile, the banking sector could soon be pummelled by extra taxes at John Healey's Budget at the end of the month.
Plus: Andy Burnham is banning 'non-compete' agreements. Will this boost growth? Or stimulate a corporate leaking culture?
Hosts: Matt Kenyon & Charlie Conchie
Producer: Joe Lee
Remember to download the City AM app: https://tr.ee/BwDcEwX...
Healey pledges Neets plan, Poundland back on the market, Checkatrade CEO on unemployment and skills crisis
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Britain's youth unemployment crisis is spiralling out of control, and the Chancellor John Healey has now stepped in to pledge to take action at the Budget. But is it too late?
Meanwhile, we take you inside the battle to buy Poundland, and chat to the chief executive of Checkatrade.
Hosts: Matt Kenyon & Alys Denby
Producer: Joe Lee
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BP's £3.4bn Net Zero write-down, Plus 500 tries "everything app", Brits back Heathrow third runway
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The staggering, multi-billion cost of BP's experiment in strict Net Zero targets has been laid bare. What does this tell us about the geopolitical chaos hitting Britain? And where did it all go wrong?
Meanwhile, we delve into the Plus 500 plan to build an "everything app" for customers in the West.
PLUS: New polling reveals that most of the public backs a third runway at Heathrow. So, why doesn't Andy Burnham? (Or, for that matter, our reporter Sam?)
Hosts: Matt Kenyon & Alys Denby
Producer: Joe Lee
Healey's £35bn black hole, one pub closing every day, boardroom battle at King's favourite interior designer
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As new research from major think tanks paints a brutal economic picture, it looks as though John Healey no longer has the option of a "safe" Budget. Just how bad could this get? And can Labour really face up to tough decisions?
Meanwhile, a British pub is closing down every day, as the cost of living, doing business and employing people continue to bite.
Plus: We dig into why King Charles' favourite interior designer is in the throes of a major boardroom battle.
Hosts: Matt Kenyon & Alys D...
Heathrow third runway woes, interest rates hike looks inevitable, inside party conference season
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After decades of debate, and with wavering backing from the Labour government, is the third runway at Heathrow Airport ever going to get built? And if it can't, what does that tell us about Britain's ability to develop infrastructure?
Meanwhile, with the Budget coming up and key economic data releases inbound, we delve into why an interest rates hike by the Bank of England looks more and more nailed on in November.
PLUS: Our politics reporter Mauricio Alencar takes us inside party conference season, from the most enthusiastic crowds t...
London property prices dip (again), Kemi's big IHT swing, is the new Jaguar Type 01 any good?
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As London house prices dip again this month - this time by 2.2% - what is going wrong with the capital's housing market? Are building costs too high? Regulations too tight? Or is there simply not enough demand to fuel ever-inflating prices?
Also, we get stuck into Kemi Badenoch's big Tory conference speech. Her rabbit-in-a-hat this year was a major reform to inheritance tax - we'll talk about whether that works.
Plus: Two years on from Jaguar's disastrous 'woke' rebrand, a production car is here. The Business As Usual crew d...
Inside Britain's supermarket war, City AM speaks to retail tycoon Touker Suleyman
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It's a febrile time for Britain's supermarkets, who have been hit particularly hard by geopolitical instability and War in Iran. But what does it mean for the sector and, more importantly, for your pocket?
Could we start to see supermarkets buying each other out? And, can Ken Murphy's Tesco maintain its dominance at the top of Britain's supermarket ranking?
Plus: We speak to the retail tycoon and former Dragon's Den star Touker Suleyman - who gives his unfiltered takes on the British high street.
Hosts: Matt Kenyon & S...
Tories set out economic stall, BT acquires Talktalk, the financial analyst who made his own shoe brand
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With Conservative party conference underway, Kemi Badenoch is looking to get her party fighting fit for the next election. The leader of the opposition has doubled down on her party’s support for the triple lock on the state pension, whilst offering up a cut to inheritance tax and bring back free childcare for high earners.
The long-running saga over the fate of struggling telco Talktalk finally came to an end this morning after BT unveiled an agreement to swoop in and rescue it.
Plus: We speak to the fin...
Britain's bond market meltdown, Nubank abandons Monzo takeover plans, Robert De Niro speaks to City AM
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In this episode, we dive into the UK's brewing financial storm as 30-year gilt yields hit 6%—pushing borrowing costs into the danger zone just weeks ahead of the budget. You will learn exactly how a slashed £9 billion in fiscal headroom could derail upcoming spending pledges and what this instability means for the City of London.
We also reveal why the highly anticipated takeover of British fintech darling Monzo by Brazil's Nubank abruptly collapsed, and whether a London IPO is now the primary objective. Plus, discover why Airtel Money's £5.3 billion float could resur...
Burnham hints at return to EU, Greggs to cut 740 jobs, is Zilch London's next big IPO?
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As the dust settles on Labour party conference, the Business As Usual team dig into the economic dividing lines for the next general election. Is Andy Burnham set to drag Britain back into the 1970s?
Plus: Why are Greggs and Shepherd Neame undergoing aggressive streamlining? And, could Zilch be the IPO that gives London's capital markets the shot in the arm that they need?
Hosts: Matt Kenyon, Alys Denby & Simon Hunt
Produced by: Joey Curay-Teneda & Joe Lee
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Burnham axes triple lock, Selfridges pushes for VAT-free shopping, Man City charges chaos
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Today on Business As Usual: It's finally happened... A major party has broken rank and pledged to scrap the triple lock on state pensions. What does this mean for Labour and - more importantly - for the public finances?
We dig into Labour's plans for 'Great British Grid', and the pressure on the government to bring back VAT-free shopping last seen when Rishi Sunak was Chancellor.
Plus: How the charges against Man City could have sweeping impacts, even fraying a key UK diplomatic relationship...
Hosts: Matt Kenyon & Sim...
Healey pledges to re-industrialise Britain, housebuilder shares surge, could Monzo be acquired?
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John Healey set out his stall at Labour conference with bold promises of a "new age of industrialisation". But the Chancellor has to contend with bleak economic headwinds, and dubious backing from the Labour party for tough economic decisions.
And Angela Rayner's new Right To Buy scheme has put rocket boosters in FTSE housing stocks, but is this really enough to get Britain building again?
Meanwhile, new reports suggest that the Brazilian banking giant Nubank could be poised to snap up Monzo - the UK fintech darling that had be...
Labour Conference woes, Vistry's £500m mega write-down, exclusive interview with former Dragon Sara Davies
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On today's Business As Usual: We dig into the hostile reception awaiting Andy Burnham at the Labour Party conference amid growing fears of a fiscal crisis. Will City leaders warm to Labour again, or is the new PM's honeymoon officially over?
Plus: The real reason Tesco is surrendering a £5 billion chunk of its European empire to Lidl and what it means for British grocers. We also look into the mega £500 million write-down at housebuilder Vistry, exploring whether this massive loss signals a wider collapse in UK property development.
And the...
Trump and Xi's AI dilemma, major London IPO incoming, and is this Britain's worst stealth tax?
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Are AI cyber threats about to trigger catastrophic banking freezes and nationwide power cuts across the City of London? And can Presidents Trump and Xi forge an unlikely alliance to put the brakes on the technology?
In this episode of Business as Usual, we'll also take a look at some good news (FINALLY) for London's IPO market, with a major $9bn fintech float being mooted.
Plus: the devastating £50bn stealth tax squeeze quietly wiping out City salaries through decade-long frozen tax thresholds.
Hosts: Matt Kenyon & Alys Denby
'Dismal' government borrowing figures, 4,000 Ineos jobs at risk, Haringey Council battles Spurs
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Is Britain’s economy at breaking point? We dive deep into the terrifying new data showing UK public borrowing has wildly overshot expectations, pushing the nation towards an unprecedented £3 trillion debt mountain.
Just a month out from the Budget, what levers does the new Chancellor John Healey have to avoid disaster?
We also break down the grim news from Ineos that as many as 4,000 industrial jobs are at risk of being cut across the North of England due to cripplingly high energy costs. Plus, why is Haringey's Green council attem...
How a mansion tax would punish Londoners, NScale's mega IPO, does anyone care about the Lib Dems?
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In today's Business As Usual podcast: With reports growing that John Healey will lower the threshold for mansion tax to £1.5m, here's how the policy would hit Londoners hardest.
Homegrown tech success story NScale is listing (in the US...). We discuss their chief executive's enormous salary and how the firm scaled so quickly in just a couple of years.
Plus: Opposition parties fight for the political spotlight, as Tories pledge to restore tax-free shopping whilst the Lib Dems vie to get themselves back on the news agenda.
Host...
Why Andrew Bailey held interest rates while Kevin Warsh hiked them, & what it all means for savers
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On today's Business As Usual: It's the economy... While Fed chair Kevin Warsh hiked interest rates across the Atlantic, over here the Bank of England held them.
Was this a good idea? And what lays ahead for the British economy? City AM's Ali Lyon and Maisie Grice weigh in.
Plus: What does this all mean for savers and investors? We get top insights from the wealth platform Investec.
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Ex-adviser hits out at PM, London mayor candidates speak to City AM, investing in an age of crisis
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On today's Business As Usual podcast: A senior economist - who advised Andy Burnham in the Labour leadership election - has hit out at "socialists with better Tiktok".
City AM speaks to two major rivals to Sadiq Khan in the 2028 election for London mayor, Laila Cunningham from Reform and James Cleverly from the Tories.
PLUS: We speak to the economist and author Professor Alex Edmans. He says that, for investors navigating chaotic times, sometimes it's better to consume much, much less information.
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Healey's pension timebomb, Andrew Bailey AI warnings, is the Square Mile ignoring tech?
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On Business As Usual today: Grim economic news for the Chancellor, as private sector wage growth slows to a crawl just as the state pension hits £13,000 - what will this mean for John Healey's first Budget in October?
Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey warns that exponential increases in AI power are an "OMG moment", and countries need to "arm themselves" against possible technological threats.
Plus: Is the City doing enough to get behind Britain's tech sector? A VC expert says, possibly not...
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Odey ban upheld, Revolut faces ransom request, MPs push for AI regulation
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On today's Business As Usual podcast: Hedge fund founder Crispin Odey has lost his battle against working in financial services after a tribunal found he showed "reckless disregard for good governance".
Revolut hackers are threatening to release stolen customer data unless the fintech pays a ransom, after the firm inadvertently handed over a trove of users’ private information over the weekend.
Plus: Could MPs pushing for AI regulation hurt Britain's competitive edge in the tech sector? And, why are companies giving less to charity than they did in the wa...
Tim Martin's wealth exodus warning, John Lewis' £120m loss, ex-Anthropic engineer on AI apocalypse
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On today's Business As Usual... An exclusive City AM interview with Wetherspoon's boss Tim Martin, who warns that more wealthy Brits could be poised to flee the UK.
The owner of John Lewis has posted a £120m loss, amid worries that the cost of doing business is rising and tax pressures are deepening.
Plus: The ex-Anthropic and OpenAI engineer now giving grave prophecies about killer AI.
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Sadiq Khan's e-bike dilemma, £400 Glastonbury tickets, Jubel chief on the brand's mega summer
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On today's Business As Usual podcast... The e-bike provider Forest tells Sadiq Khan: Enough is enough. The firm calls for London-wide licences.
Jesse Wilson, the chief executive of insurgent brewer Jubel, gives the pod the inside view on the beer brand's big summer. Plus: He tells us why he'd never open a pub.
And, Glastonbury 2027 tickets will go on sale in October for more than £400. Is that remotely worth it?
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Third-highest tax-payer flees Britain, airport parking charges take off & Liverpool sign record-setting deal
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Chris Rokos, Britain’s third-highest tax-payer has left for Greece, having contributed £300m to the public coffers just last year alone. City Editor, Simon Hunt has the story.
Meanwhile, new figures show just how expensive airport parking has become - Alice Fowler, Operations Consultant at the Airport Parking Shop website joins us to explain just how much.
Plus: Liverpool sign the biggest front-of-shirt deal in Premier League history.
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Healey refuses to rule out tax hikes, Hormuz to push prices higher & raving in St Paul's Cathedral
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John Healey, the new Chancellor, gave his first major speech on the economy on Monday. He promised a more dynamic, innovative state as the key mechanism to push for growth. City Editor Simon Hunt assesses if he's on track to succeed.
Meanwhile, Andy Burnham's promise to cut mortgage rates looks in peril as inflation looks set to jump as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed. Nikos Petrakakos, Managing Director at shipping investment firm Tufton joins the podcast to discuss.
Plus: the controversial tie up between Fabric nightclub and... St...
Rent caps deal blow to FTSE 100 landlord, Zack Polanski to run in Starmer's seat & Zoom hires Jeffrey Epstein
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The FTSE 100 giant M&G asset manager swung into a loss this week – and it looks as though a Labour rental policy is to blame. City Editor, Simon Hunt has the story.
Meanwhile, the hard-Left leader of the Green Party looks set to run in the seat of former Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer as preparations are made for yet another by-election. Reporter, Felix Armstrong joins the pod.
Plus: why Zoom has hired Jeffrey Epstein (yes, you read that right), and the 5* London hotel serving food with a side of s...
Shadow Chancellor hits back at Burnham, graduates unlikely to ever repay loans & F1 plans to expand
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The newly appointed Shadow Chancellor has told City AM he wasn't involved in formulating Liz Truss's disastrous mini-budget, following accusations from Andy Burnham that he contributed to the chaos at Wednesday's PMQs - City Editor Simon Hunt has the interview.
Meanwhile, new data suggests many graduates are unlikely to ever repay their student loans, and that only the top earners will ever be free of their punitively high interest rate.
Plus: Inside F1's plans to expand - and the Premier League teams that spent the most in this ye...
Taxes scupper first time buyers in London, geopolitics expert on the Budget & Batman battles Irn Bru
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A raft of government stealth taxes is driving the London property market even further out of reach for first time buyers, according to research - City Editor, Simon Hunt has the latest.
Meanwhile Andy Burnham and John Healey prepare for their first budget as the UK is blown from pillar to post by global headwinds - Wall Street geopolitical adviser Tina Fordham, joins the pod to explain the uphill battle the government faces.
Plus: forget The Joker - Batman's ultimate nemesis might just turn out to be... Irn Bru.
<...Reform hopes to woo business, Apple's new CEO & Gen Z trained to speak on the phone
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In this episode of Business As Usual, we get stuck into the business side of Reform UK's party conference. Can Nigel Farage woo big FTSE firms?
Apple's new chief executive John Ternus takes the reins today. In his in-tray: a big AI dilemma and soaring component costs.
Plus: We'll take you inside the law firm training its Gen Z juniors to speak on the phone...
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