NHS funding should target the old for tax hikes and benefit cuts, says report September 4, 2014 Higher earners over the age of 40 should be targeted for "critical needs taxes" if the UK is to keep up with demands from an increasingly strained NHS, a new report has said. Charges and private insurance were rejected as possible solutions by the report, compiled by a commission within charity the King's Fund. "We [...]
Paddy Power names Andy McCue successor to chief executive Patrick Kennedy September 4, 2014 A successor to Paddy Power chief executive Patrick Kennedy, who departs at the start of next year, has been found close to home. Despite an “international search”, a new leader was right under their noses all along: managing director of the online bookies’ UK and Ireland retail operations Andy McCue will takeover from 1 January [...]
European markets cautious as Nato summit begins September 4, 2014 European markets took a break from recent rallies as the leaders of Nato countries prepared to meet at the Celtic Manor resort in Wales this morning. Having hit its highest level in 14 years yesterday, the FTSE 100 rose a modest 0.1 per cent to 6,880 in early trading, while France's Cac fell 0.4 per [...]
Co-operative Group is back in profit as it confirms Richard Pennycook as chief executive September 4, 2014 The troubled Co-operative Group has made interim chief executive Richard Pennycook will take on the role full-time. Pennycook was promoted from his position of chief financial officer in March after the surprise resignation of Euan Sutherland. His appointment is likely to give the group's investors – including the hedge fund owners of its banking arm [...]
Betfair share price up with record quarterly revenue on target thanks to World Cup September 4, 2014 Betfair scored big in the three months to July – a period which happened to coincide with the World Cup – recording its best-ever quarterly revenues, which sent shares up three per cent this morning. The bookies’ revenue jumped by 30 per cent to £117.3m, largely down to the world's biggest football tournament, though stripping [...]
SuperGroup share price rises 4.2 pc as revenues jump September 4, 2014 SuperGroup shares opened 4.2 per cent higher this morning, after it reported a strong start to the year, with total revenues up 15.9 per cent, and both wholesale and retail divisions up by double-digits. The business, which owns the SuperDry brand, recorded group revenues of £87m for the three months to July 26, up [...]
Easyjet passenger numbers rise despite crisis in Ukraine September 4, 2014 Sanctions and conflicts are causing problems for the airline industry – and with some areas off limits, investors were watching to see how EasyJet's latest passenger figures would stand up. Very nicely indeed, it turns out. In a statement posted this morning, the airline said passenger numbers rose 510,731 on the same month last year, [...]
Go-Ahead profits steam ahead after rise in passenger numbers September 4, 2014 EasyJet's results showed Europe loves a budget trip abroad, but bus and train operator Go-Ahead is proving Brits still love a staycation. The Newcastle-based group's pre-tax profit rose 44 per cent, to £91.2m, the highest (unadjusted) figure since 2008. This means earnings per share were up too, to the tune of 26.4 per cent, to [...]
Finally: France puts Russian warship delivery on hold September 4, 2014 The French government has halted the controversial delivery of a warship to Russia over the escalating tensions in Ukraine. President Hollande said conditions were “not right” to deliver the first of two warships to the Russian navy as part of a €1.2bn (£959m) contract. The French government had previously resisted calls from other countries to halt [...]
Queens Park Rangers’ £6bn west London revamp to create homes, jobs and a new stadium September 3, 2014 A vast area of west London looks set to undergo a massive regeneration programme that could see 24,000 homes being built and 55,000 new jobs created. Hundreds of acres of brownfield around Old Oak Common, near the site of Wormwood Scrubs prison, could be transformed as a result. The £6.2bn plan is being spearheaded by [...]