Features
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Why cloud orders are surging — and what Oracle’s record pipeline tells us
Cloud demand is soaring across industries amid AI-enabled infrastructure transformation. Oracle’s remaining performance obligations jumped to $455 billion, reflecting the speed of adoption and investor confidence. AI workloads, multicloud strategies and hyperscale build-outs are reshaping cloud from optional service into critical corporate infrastructure.
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Todd Davison on reshaping SME finance risk
Todd Davison wanted SMEs to borrow without risking everything. His insurance venture has grown steadily, offering protection for directors against personal guarantee liabilities, and is now preparing for international expansion into other markets where guarantees are common.
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Managing political polarisation in the workplace
Political debate is spilling into the workplace more than ever. Conference season highlights how reputational risk shapes external corporate behaviour, while managers and HR leaders face the internal challenge of navigating political polarisation without undermining cohesion, inclusivity, or professionalism.
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UK M&A deals of the week: 5 September 2025
This week’s UK M&A spanned energy, finance, transport, and more. Consolidation, global investment, and IP expansion defined the landscape, from battery storage to wealth management. Together, the deals highlight the UK’s ongoing role as a hub for cross-border acquisitions.
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UK M&A deals of the week: 29 August 2025
Wood Group nears Sidara takeover as Boots goes private. The UK M&A market saw high-profile transactions this week, spanning energy, retail, fashion, infrastructure, and leisure. From Wood Group’s contested future to Boots’ transition into private ownership, the breadth of deals underscores both sector diversity and investor appetite.
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Nvidia’s record quarter underlines AI’s boom — and its biggest risks
Nvidia posted record quarterly revenue but shares still fell. The chipmaker’s dominance is being tested by valuation concerns, rival competition, and escalating US–China trade tensions. Hyperscaler spending secures demand for now, but questions grow over whether Nvidia’s strength is a shield or a liability.
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US M&A deals of the week: 22 August 2025
Broadcasting, biotech, and wealth management dominated U.S. M&A this week. Nexstar’s $6.2 billion bid for Tegna led the headlines, while Honeywell added utility platforms, XOMA Royalty expanded in oncology, and wealth managers pursued consolidation. Mubadala’s take-private of CI Financial added sovereign weight to a diverse week of deals.
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UK M&A deals of the week: 22 August 2025
UK M&A activity spanned semiconductors, fintech, property, advisory, and aerospace. Five key transactions defined this week, led by Haylo Labs’ security-approved purchase of Plessey, alongside Starling’s acquisition of Ember and Leonard Curtis’s stake sale to Pollen Street Capital, highlighting national-interest sectors and private capital momentum.
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A continent divided: Europe recovers — but UK remains cautious
Eurozone businesses show growth as UK company confidence remains fragile. Fresh data reveals continental factories and services gaining pace, while UK surveys highlight costs, labour pressures, and deep uncertainty. But why is Europe moving forward while Britain struggles to find momentum?
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Ex-EU chief warns of green backsliding — but businesses call for more ambition
Europe is losing climate ground, warns the bloc’s first commissioner. Former EU climate chief Connie Hedegaard has warned that political and corporate complacency is eroding the European Union’s environmental leadership. Her remarks follow a series of policy rollbacks and investor concerns over the credibility of Europe’s net zero transition.