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Prime Minister to meet Shell, HSBC and Goldman Sachs bosses over Iran war energy crisis

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Top officials from energy, finance and logistics sectors will meet Sir Keir Starmer on Monday as the government scrambles to ease the energy crisis from the Iran war

Starmer will meet business leaders. (Photo by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

Sir Keir Starmer will meet business leaders to discuss energy prices rises(Image: Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

A number of senior executives from the likes of HSBC, Goldman Sachs and Shell are set to meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Monday, as the government moves swiftly to help address the deepening energy crisis triggered by the war in Iran.

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Senior figures from the energy, finance and logistics industries will attend the roundtable on Monday, which will also feature an operational briefing from the Commander Maritime Operations, who is responsible for directing and coordinating UK naval and Royal Marine operations globally.

Also in attendance will be chief executives from BP, Centrica, Equinor, Maersk, CMA, HSBC, Goldman Sachs and Lloyd’s of London.

The gathering will enable senior ministers to hear directly from industry figures, and for the government to outline how it is engaging with partners and allies in the region to pursue de-escalation.

Starmer has pledged to use “every lever” at his disposal to shield households from rising energy costs, amid mounting concerns that the Iran war is causing significant damage to the UK economy, as reported by City AM.

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Rachel Reeves has confirmed that “contingency plans” are being drawn up to address various scenarios in which energy prices remain elevated for a prolonged period.

However, the Chancellor has indicated that any measures will concentrate on ‘targeted support’, having criticised a Conservative government-era energy support package that cost approximately £40bn.

“That left us with high levels of national debt, a cheque written then for a bill that is still being paid today,” Reeves said.

The meeting with industry leaders arrives as the US and Iran display few indications of reaching a peace settlement.

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Expectations had been heightened following reports the US had delivered a 15-point peace proposal to Iran over the past week. Trump has also since postponed his ultimatum for Iran to re-open the Strait of Hormuz by another 10 days following a previous five-day extension.

However, Iranian officials have rejected such notions of “progress” on talks, accusing the US of “negotiating with [itself]”.

Sources have also informed the Washington Post that the Pentagon is preparing for “weeks of ground operations” in Iran.

Iran’s parliament speaker has cautioned the US against a ground operation and threatened to set American troops “on fire” as well as intensify attacks on allies.

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Elsewhere on Monday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband will meet their G7 counterparts and central bank governors.

Reeves is anticipated to urge the G7 nations to follow the UK’s example in the transition to renewable power.

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SoftBank-backed AceVector files updated IPO papers; targets to raise Rs 300 cr via fresh issue

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SoftBank-backed AceVector files updated IPO papers; targets to raise Rs 300 cr via fresh issue
SoftBank-backed digital-commerce ecosystem AceVector Ltd has filed updated draft papers with markets regulator Sebi for an initial public offering (IPO), which will include a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 300 crore.

In addition to the fresh issue, the IPO will also involve an offer-for-sale (OFS) of 6.38 crore shares by existing shareholders, according to the updated draft red herring prospectus (UDRHP).

As part of the OFS, promoter Starfish I Pte Ltd and other shareholders Nexus, Wonderful Star Pte Ltd, Kenneth Stuart Glass, Jason Ashok Kothari, Priyanka Shreevar Kheruka, Rupen Investment and Industries, and Centaurus Trading and Investments will offload their holdings.

Despite the share sale by several investors, AceVector’s promoters and founders Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal, who together hold a 23.56 per cent stake, will not participate in the OFS. However, another promoter entity Starfish, which owns 30.68 per cent stake in the company, will be divesting part of its stake.

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The company plans to use the IPO proceeds to strengthen technology infrastructure, support marketing and business promotion for Snapdeal, pursue inorganic growth through acquisitions, and meet general corporate requirements.


The Gurugram-based company operates Snapdeal, a value-focused lifestyle e-commerce marketplace; Unicommerce, an e-commerce enablement SaaS platform; and Stellaro Brands, an omnichannel consumer brands arm.
Financially, AceVector reported operating revenue of Rs 244 crore in H1 FY26, up 34 per cent from Rs 181 crore in H1 FY25. During the same period, its adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed significantly to Rs 9.2 crore from Rs 28 crore a year earlier.

AceVector had initiated its IPO journey earlier this year by filing confidential draft papers with Sebi in July and subsequently securing approval in November. By opting for the confidential pre-filing route, the company gained the flexibility to delay public disclosure of IPO details until the later stages.

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QGRO Can Deliver Healthy Risk-Adjusted Returns In 2026

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QGRO Can Deliver Healthy Risk-Adjusted Returns In 2026

QGRO Can Deliver Healthy Risk-Adjusted Returns In 2026

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Warren Buffett is buying, Michael Burry is shorting: The AI trade splitting Wall Street

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Warren Buffett is buying, Michael Burry is shorting: The AI trade splitting Wall Street
Warren Buffett and Michael Burry, two investors closely watched across global markets, are taking diametrically opposite positions on the artificial intelligence frenzy, setting up a rare, high-stakes clash over whether Silicon Valley’s hottest trade is a once-in-a-generation opportunity or a bubble waiting to burst. Their positions, revealed in recent disclosures and letters, come as concerns about an AI bubble gain mainstream attention while investors continue pouring capital into the sector.

Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway last month unveiled a large new stake in Alphabet, instantly propelling the Google parent into Berkshire Hathaway’s top 10 holdings. The move is widely seen as an endorsement of Alphabet’s heavy AI investments and the market’s view of the company as a frontrunner in the AI race.

The investment comes at a moment of transition for Berkshire. Buffett announced in May that he will step down as CEO at the end of this year, though he will retain his stock, handing the reins to vice chairman Greg Abel after decades at the helm of a company that began as a Nebraska textile mill and grew into one of the most influential conglomerates in American finance.

Burry doubles down on his skepticism

Michael Burry, however, is moving in the opposite direction. The investor who famously profited from betting against the U.S. housing market in 2008 has taken new short positions in Palantir and Nvidia, two of the highest-profile beneficiaries of the AI boom.He has been particularly critical of accounting practices across Big Tech, arguing that companies “have been systematically increasing the useful lives of chips and servers, for depreciation purposes, as they invest hundreds of billions of dollars in graphics chips with accelerating planned obsolescence.”

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Burry is also in a period of transition. Scion Asset Management, his hedge fund, will close by year-end. In a recent investor letter, he wrote that his “estimation of value in securities is not now, and has not been for some time, in sync with the markets.” He has since launched a financial newsletter, Cassandra Unchained, where he continues to express skepticism about the AI boom.

A market split as AI hype peaks

Their opposing moves come as even industry leaders begin to acknowledge stretched expectations. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has voiced concerns about the pace and scale of speculative fervor surrounding artificial intelligence.
Still, capital continues to flood the sector, and the disagreement between two investors of such high reputation underscores the uncertainty in the market. Buffett turned Berkshire Hathaway into one of the most recognizable names in American investing, while Burry inspired Michael Lewis’s The Big Short and the film adaptation starring Christian Bale.Now, with both navigating turning points in their own careers, the divergence in their AI positions is emerging as one of the most closely watched splits in the market—one that could signal whether the boom is built on solid ground or heading toward another historic correction.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

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TCAI: Strong Tailwinds, Priced-In Valuations (NYSE:TCAI)

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TCAI: Strong Tailwinds, Priced-In Valuations (NYSE:TCAI)

This article was written by

I have been managing investments for over eight years in capital markets. By qualification I am a CFA Charter holder. I primarily look for discrepancies between the price and value of a security. With a focus on first-principal mindset, I try breaking down ideas into their core- most tangible parts, affecting the theses while deliberately avoiding the non-significant matter into crowding the analysis. If you like my ideas or frameworks, reach out via email/message for more granular and concentrated- portfolio level specific investment researches and ideas. I am at prakhar@shrihittruealphacapital.com.

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Readers are advised to fact-check thoroughly before committing any capital to this idea; this reflects the personal views of the author and should not be pursued as formal financial or investment advice in any manner. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, errors may exist in the data and financial projections presented. The author is not responsible for any financial gains or losses incurred from investments made based on this content. For any additional information regarding the company or any clarification, feel free to comment. Happy to discuss anything further with regard to the presented investment thesis

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Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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Church & Dwight: Hammer This Short (NYSE:CHD)

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Church & Dwight: Hammer This Short (NYSE:CHD)

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Passage Research focuses on identifying variant perception through a blend of fundamental analysis and alternative data. The research process combines detailed financial modeling with real-time datasets to underwrite earnings power, margin durability, and forward expectations.The author has spent over a decade on Wall Street, most recently spending the last five years working in the hedge fund industry as an analyst. Typical coverage spans consumer, TMT, industrials and special situations, with an emphasis on asymmetric risk/reward and catalyst-driven opportunities.

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Short position through short-selling of the stock, or purchase of put options or similar derivatives in CHD over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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Insurance firms boost stakes in 10 mid-cap stocks in Q4FY26

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Insurance companies increased their stakes in 10 mid-cap stocks in Q4FY26, signalling rising confidence and a strategic shift toward higher equity exposure.

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Tim Cook to step down as Apple CEO, John Ternus named successor

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Tim Cook to step down as Apple CEO, John Ternus named successor

Apple CEO Tim Cook is stepping down in a major leadership shakeup, the tech giant announced Monday.

He will transition to executive chairman of the company’s board of directors and will be succeeded by longtime Apple veteran John Ternus, the company’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, effective Sept. 1. 

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“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company,” Cook said. 

“I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world.”

APPLE CEO TIM COOK DOUBLES DOWN ON POLICY OVER POLITICS WHILE ALIGNING WITH TRUMP’S MANUFACTURING PUSH

John Ternus and Tim Cook

Tim Cook to become Apple Executive Chairman and John Ternus to become Apple CEO on September 1, 2026. (Reuters / Reuters)

The company said the transition followed a “thoughtful, long-term succession planning process” and was unanimously approved by the board of directors.

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The announcement follows Cook last month downplaying retirement rumors, saying he “can’t imagine life without Apple” after 28 years with the company, CNBC reported. Cook first joined Apple in 1998 as senior vice president of Worldwide Operations before eventually being named permanent CEO in 2011, weeks before the death of co-founder Steve Jobs.

In his new role as executive chairman, Cook will continue to assist with select company matters, with a particular focus on engagement with global policymakers. He will also work closely with Ternus throughout the transition period.

META PLANS TO SLASH ROUGHLY 8,000 JOBS NEXT MONTH: REPORT

Apple CEO Tim Cook

Tim Cook, chief executive officer of Apple Inc., during the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference at Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California, US, on Monday, June 10, 2024.  (Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Cook also expressed complete confidence in his successor, describing the longtime Apple executive, who has been with the company for nearly three decades, as a “visionary” best fit to lead Apple into its next chapter. 

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“John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor,” Cook said. 

“He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over 25 years are already too numerous to count, and he is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future. I could not be more confident in his abilities and his character, and I look forward to working closely with him on this transition and in my new role as executive chairman.” 

Ternus, who will also join the board of directors on Sept. 1, has built an extensive legacy in hardware engineering since joining Apple’s product design team in 2001, eventually rising to senior vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2021.

META VOWS APPEAL OF ‘LANDMARK’ SOCIAL MEDIA VERDICTS, WARNS OF FREE SPEECH EROSION

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Guests visiting an Apple store in Atlanta's Cumberland Mall

People visit the Apple store at the Cumberland Mall in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., May 3, 2022. (REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer)

He has made numerous contributions across Apple’s hardware ecosystem, playing a key role in the development of successive generations of the iPhone, Mac and Apple Watch, as well as the iPad and AirPods product lines.

Beyond specific devices, Ternus has also championed key innovations in product sustainability, including the use of 3D-printed titanium in the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and efforts to improve device repairability to extend overall product lifespans.

Ticker Security Last Change Change %
AAPL APPLE INC. 273.05 +2.82 +1.04%

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Apple also announced on Monday additional leadership changes alongside Cook’s departure and Ternus’ promotion.

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Arthur Levinson, who has served as Apple’s non-executive chairman for the past 15 years, will transition to lead independent director on Sept. 1, 2026.

Johny Srouji, who held the role of senior vice president of Hardware Technologies, has been promoted to chief hardware officer, effective immediately.

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Airlines hike fares and bag fees as jet fuel prices surge amid Iran war

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Airlines hike fares and bag fees as jet fuel prices surge amid Iran war

Americans who will be traveling this summer could see the cost of their summer vacations jump due to the spike in jet fuel prices.

The energy market has seen increased volatility since the Iran war began and the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely constrained by the threat of Iranian attacks, impacting the availability of a key input in making jet fuel.

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Data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Jet Fuel Price Index showed that the global price of jet fuel surged from nearly $100 a barrel late last year and at the outset of 2026 to more than $200 a barrel this month before easing back just below that threshold. As of last week, global jet fuel prices are up 105.1% from the prior year, while in North America they’ve risen 82.6% in that period, the lowest increase among regions in the report.

Those price increases have impacted air fares as airlines have looked to mitigate their increased costs through higher prices as well as other measures, such as hiking fees on checked baggage.

RISING FUEL COSTS THREATEN SPIRIT AIRLINES’ BANKRUPTCY EXIT PLAN: REPORTS

Airport travelers carry suitcases by airplane

Surging jet fuel prices are impacting airlines as fares and fees rise to account for higher fuel costs. (Mark Felix/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Phil Flynn, senior market analyst at The PRICE Futures Group and a FOX Business contributor, said that jet fuel is the “wild card in the petroleum complex right now” and explained that “airlines are feeling the pain, especially those that have not hedged.”

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“Higher jet fuel costs are a direct hit to margins. Some carriers are hedging aggressively; others are passing costs through with fare hikes,” Flynn said.

“Global air travel demand keeps growing structurally. Any sustained period of high jet prices risks some demand destruction in price-sensitive routes, but the baseline trend is still upward as economies normalize and international travel rebounds,” he added.

AMERICAN AIRLINES JOINS WAVE OF CARRIERS HIKING CHECKED BAG FEES AS JET FUEL PRICES SKYROCKET

Turkish Airlines plane lands in the Netherlands

Jet fuel prices have surged amid the Iran war. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Clint Henderson, principal spokesperson at The Points Guy, told FOX Business that, “New data from The Points Guy and our partner Points Path shows average domestic airfare for the summer is up a whopping 10-15% and international European trips are up 20%.” 

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“Still, my advice remains the same – book all your trips now and then hope for a return to stability in the oil markets,” Henderson said. “If the price of your trip drops, you can get a trip credit for the difference (as long as you didn’t book basic economy).”

Henderson encouraged travelers to book trips with points and miles to save money when the cash price of air fares is high, saying “better safe than sorry and with most points and miles programs (at least in the U.S.) you can cancel and get your points back.”

UNITED AIRLINES CHECKED BAG FEES CLIMBS $10-50 AS FUEL PRICES NEARLY DOUBLE SINCE IRAN WAR

Oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed with few ships making the transit amid the Iran war due to the threat of Iranian attacks. (Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images)

Despite the higher prices for jet fuel and air fares, Henderson said that airlines aren’t noting major drops in demand as the “consumer remains resilient at least when it comes to travel,” though he cautioned that could change if inflation remains elevated.

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“The other thing to watch for is more capacity cuts. This will be a much bigger story if oil prices stay high. Already we are seeing many airlines cut some routes,” Henderson added.

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Flynn said that if tensions in the Middle East ease, it could lead to prices declining rapidly as jet fuel “remains one of the most geopolitically sensitive products in the barrel.”

“Any de-escalation in the Middle East could ease jet fuel premiums quickly. But persistent disruptions mean refiners will keep pushing yields toward middle distillates, supporting jet and diesel at the expense of gasoline cracks,” Flynn said.

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LARRY KUDLOW: Banking, blockading, and the final Iranian financial squeeze

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LARRY KUDLOW: Hormuz will not stop history

Last week Treasury Man Scott Bessent unveiled Operation Economic Fury to put maximum financial pressure on the hoodlums running the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. I’d like to give that economic fury some more visibility, because I think blockading Iran ports, which will keep the regime out of the money, along with a banking freeze, are two major weapons that will eventually bring the regime to an end.

We know the Iranian ports are being successfully blocked, and it won’t be long until their revenue dries up, and the IRGC, which is basically a government cartel mafioso business operation, won’t even be able to make payroll in the next couple of weeks and their retirement plans will go bust. More than $400 million of losses on a daily basis can really hurt a company. Let’s go a step further. These mob thugs all have bank accounts overseas with the money they have extorted and robbed the citizenry of Iran. Billions and billions of dollars are undoubtedly at stake.

I say these Iranian bank accounts should be seized. Places like Turkey, the UAE, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and I’m sure many others, should hand over the Iranian deposits, and then they could be placed in escrow in a special war account in the Treasury Department. You could say freezing the assets is enough, but I don’t think so. Actual seizure is more comprehensive. And any of these countries who refuse to comply with Operation Economic Fury will be subject to secondary sanctions and tariffs.

For example, that means any transactions by these foreign banks with America and hopefully its allies, would be removed from the international Swift payments ledger system, and would no longer be eligible to undertake financial transactions governed by the New York Fed wire in the United States. This would maximize the financial pressure on the Iranian regime. They have been stealing money and looting the Iranian treasury for decades.

I’m sure they tried to diversify their international portfolios. And for a long time they’ve been getting away with it because they own all these Iranian businesses. And that’s one reason they’re clinging to power against all odds of losing this war to America and Israel.

Here’s one of the key points Mr. Bessent made: “One of the what may prove to be fatal mistakes that the Iranians made was bombing” their “neighbors” in the Gulf Cooperation Council, “and who are now willing to be much more transparent in terms of the funds.”

And it’s not just oil money, it’s the non-oil businesses the IRGC thugs have taken over throughout the years.

Mr. Bessent suggested a freeze which is okay, but frankly I think seizure is more powerful, and I think secondary sanctions are still more powerful.

Banking, blockading, and the final Iranian financial squeeze. We are coming to the end game.

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