City AM’s 10 stock picks for 2026 Markets 2025 was a rollercoaster year for the stock market. Equity indices fell off a cliff in April when the unveiling of US president Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs spooked investors and triggered a widespread sell-off. They have since made a strong recovery, helped along by enthusiasm for the innovative potential of AI and the stocks [...]
AI needs to prove itself where it matters most Tech People don’t step back from AI because they’re fearful of the technology itself. They step back when it doesn’t align with how their business actually works, writes Sage CEO Steve Hare. A few weeks ago, I spoke with a small business owner who had heard AI could help with her accounts. She wasn’t sure how. [...]
I’ve been speaking to CEOs all year – this is what they really think Business After spending a year interviewing some of the UK’s top business leaders, a number of themes have emerged which paint a concerning picture of their confidence in this country’s future prospects – but there is also hope. In 25 episodes of City AM‘s Boardroom Uncovered podcast series in 2025, a large number of the CEOs [...]
Could FTSE 100 giant Sage jump ship to the Nasdaq? October 20, 2025 Software giant Sage has become a rare beast in recent years – a highly valued technology company still listed on the London Stock Exchange. Worth around £11bn currently, the Newcastle-headquartered group is a firm member of the FTSE 100 index and showing no signs of its growth slowing down. But while Sage has stuck to [...]
This is why London-listed companies are undervalued – Sage CEO October 13, 2025 Businesses listed on the London Stock Exchange need to tell their stories better and deliver for investors if they are to boost their valuations, the CEO of FTSE 100 technology giant Sage has said. Steve Hare, speaking on an up-coming episode of City AM‘s Boardroom Uncovered, said a lower number of competitors listed in London [...]
Sage boosts profit and margins as AI tools drive growth May 15, 2025 Accounting software giant Sage has posted a strong set of half year results, powered by rising demand for cloud services and adoption of its AI tools. The firm’s operating profit went up 16 per cent to £288m, whilst revenue saw a nine per cent uptick to £1.24bn, Sage told the market on Thursday. Sage said [...]
Small businesses ‘held back’ by £112bn of late payments May 14, 2025 Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are owed some £112bn in late payments, new research has suggested, with buyers “holding back” UK growth. Nearly 5.5m companies with fewer than 250 employees and modest revenues are seen as the “backbone” of the UK economy and key to unlocking growth. But new research by the Centre for Economics [...]
UK tech start-up vows to ‘do to Sage what Netflix did to Blockbuster’ April 10, 2025 When Netflix began quietly mailing DVDs to American homes in 1998, Blockbuster barely flinched. By the time it did, the game had changed. And, with its business model firmly based on late fees and physical stores, it was too late. Fast forward a quarter of a century, and UK tech company iplicit is hoping to [...]
This is how UK small businesses are managing despite rising costs March 12, 2025 According to the latest Sage small business tracker, rising operational costs, mounting financial pressures, and pivoting business strategies are creating a challenging economic landscape for SMEs. But despite growing headwinds and challenges, such as higher costs and economic uncertainty, small businesses across the UK are adapting to the changing environment. Profit slows as costs rise [...]
Sage: Profit booms sends FTSE 100 tech shares flying November 20, 2024 Enterprise technology firm Sage has reported a boom in revenue and profit as the UK tech champion has capitalised on artificial intelligence. Underlying operating profit at the Newcastle-based firm rose 21 per cent over the last year to £529m. Its operating profit margin grew 220 basis points to 22.7 per cent. Meanwhile, Sage’s annualised recurring [...]