FTI Consulting News Bytes – 10 October 2025

FTI Consulting News Bytes

This week, signs of a revival in London’s IPO market are emerging, as UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves steps up efforts to make the city a more attractive listing venue. A meeting with business leaders signalled a “listening mode” approach, while Shawbrook’s decision to float on the LSE offered a rare boost for the exchange. Meanwhile, the IMF and Bank of England have joined a chorus of warnings about a potential AI bubble, drawing comparisons to the dotcom crash and urging caution amid surging valuations. In the AI space, Microsoft is doubling down on healthcare with a Copilot update featuring licensed content from Harvard Health Publishing to improve medical accuracy. In Brussels, the EU is preparing a €1bn push to promote homegrown AI platforms and reduce reliance on foreign tech providers, citing digital sovereignty as a strategic priority. And finally, Netflix is expanding into living room gaming by launching TV-compatible games like Tetris Time Warp that use smartphones as controllers, marking a strategic shift toward social gaming experiences as part of its broader entertainment ambitions.

This week’s news

The revival of London listings

The UK Chancellor is reportedly intensifying her push to persuade tech firms and investors that the country is an attractive listing venue. According to the Financial Times, Rachel Reeves is looking to grant tax reliefs to entrepreneurs on proceeds from a flotation and is also discussing the option of giving tax relief on the costs of an initial public offering, with conditions being set on the firm and founder remaining in the UK for a defined period. The Times reported that Reeves had a meeting on Monday attended by senior figures from private companies and was in “listening mode” as to how the UK can improve its appeal to stock market debutants. News of the meeting came as Shawbrook announced plans to float on the London Stock Exchange and was described by the Financial Times as a “much-needed” boost for the LSE.

IMF and Bank of England warn of an AI bubble

The International Monetary Fund and Bank of England are the latest financial institutions to warn that global stock markets could be in trouble if investor appetite for artificial intelligence turns sour. Kristalina Georgieva, a managing director at the IMF, said bullish market sentiment around “the productivity-enhancing potential of AI” could “turn abruptly,” hitting the world economy.  Her comments came after the Bank of England’s body overseeing financial stability risks drew parallels with the 2000 crash that followed the dotcom boom, warning of the risk of a “sudden correction” in global financial markets. According to Sky News, fears have been growing that the AI-driven stock market rally in the US is unsustainable and there are signs that a number of investors are rushing to hedge against a correction, with the spot gold price surpassing $4,000 per ounce for the first time. Elsewhere, CNBC notes that the IMF and Bank of England join the likes of OpenAI’s Sam Altman, JPMorgan boss Jamie Dimon and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell in warning about the risk of a stock market correction as AI spending surges.

Copilot checks in for a checkup

Microsoft is accelerating its push to become an AI chatbot powerhouse, aiming to reduce reliance on OpenAI by carving out a leadership role in healthcare. A major Copilot update, expected this month, will introduce a collaboration with Harvard Medical School, using licensed content from Harvard Health Publishing to deliver more credible, practitioner-like responses. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Dominic King, VP of Health at Microsoft AI, said the goal is to provide health answers that reflect what users might hear from real clinicians. As Microsoft builds its own models and tools, it’s positioning Copilot as a credible, medically informed alternative in a space where chatbot accuracy remains under scrutiny.

EU pushes AI strategy to curb foreign tech reliance

Brussels is preparing to unveil a new strategy aimed at boosting Europe’s competitiveness in artificial intelligence and reducing its dependence on foreign tech providers. According to a draft proposal seen by the Financial Times, the European Commission’s ‘Apply AI strategy’ will promote homegrown AI platforms across key sectors like healthcare, defence and manufacturing, positioning AI as a strategic asset rather than just a productivity tool. The plan warns that reliance on external infrastructure could be “weaponised” by geopolitical rivals, especially amid growing concerns over US disengagement and China’s rapid AI advances. To counter this, the EU will mobilise €1bn to accelerate adoption of European-made generative AI tools with the goal of strengthening digital sovereignty and securing critical technologies.

Netflix brings game night to the big screen

Netflix is making a strategic move into living room gaming, rolling out titles like Boggle Party, Tetris Time Warp, and Lego Party for smart TVs. Co-CEO Greg Peters announced the initiative at the Bloomberg Screentime conference, describing it as a push toward “social gaming experiences that can show up on your TV.” While he gave Netflix a B-minus for its progress so far, Peters emphasised the long-term ambition, noting that “to entertain the world, we must include games.” With users now able to play using their phones as controllers, Netflix is exploring new ways to engage audiences – though its place in the competitive gaming landscape is still evolving.

Top Tweets of the Week

• Andrew Hill, Senior Business Editor at the FT, tweets: “Are business leaders faking it – and does it matter? My latest column on the danger of authenticity traps and origin stories https://t.co/Qs7Zm1J35m.”
• Bloomberg Live tweets: “This week’s #BloombergTech #ChartoftheWeek reveals nearly $200 billion is being spent to safeguard power grids from cyberattacks.”
• The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology tweets: “Lord Vallance calls for pension firms to invest more in UK science & tech. In his speech @BVCA Private Capital Showcase, the Science Minister unveiled a new Innovation Cluster Map to help investors identify high-growth companies, sectors, and regions across the UK.”

Number of the week

80% The contribution of AI companies to US stock market growth so far this year. ( Financial Times) return in 2024. (The Times)