WEF: UK is ninth most competitive economy – and second most “technologically ready”? September 3, 2014 The UK is now the ninth-most competitive economy in the world, figures published this morning showed – and the second-most competitive when it comes to "technological readiness". Blighty rose one place from last year in the rankings, published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), while Switzerland came top of the list and Finland (fourth) and [...]
Ryanair share price rises as passenger numbers soar to a record high September 3, 2014 Outspoken Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary stayed resolutely quiet this morning as the budget airline announced record monthly traffic. Passenger numbers grew four per cent, from 9 million in August 2013 to 9.4 million in the same month this year, pushing shares up 1.35 per cent in early trading. Marketing manager Kenny Jacobs put the rise [...]
Ashtead thanks recovering construction markets for record profits September 3, 2014 As the housebuilders surf the wave of rising house prices, so too does Ashstead, supplier of construction tools. The company, which rents plant machinery and other tools to the construction industry, released its first quarter results today, showing record rises in pre-tax profits and revenue, enough to encourage an upward adjustment of expected full-year results. Profit [...]
FTSE at its highest in 14 years as Ukraine agrees “permanent ceasefire” with Russia September 3, 2014 Markets reacted with relief this morning after Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko tweeted that the country had agreed a "permanent ceasefire" with Russia. The FTSE 100 rose 1 per cent to 6,897 – its highest in 14 years – while the euro jumped 0.12 per cent, to 1.31 dollars. Investors also piled back into Russian equities, [...]
Hargreaves Lansdown profits up 7pc as client base rises 90 pc September 3, 2014 Profits at financial adviser Hargreaves Lansdown rose seven per cent in the year to the end of June on the back of a 29 per cent rise in managed assets, the company said today. Pre-tax profits reached £209.8m for the year to 30 June compared to £195.2m the previous year. It added an additional £6.4bn [...]
UK energy supply for winter is uncertain, National Grid admits September 2, 2014 The UK’s energy supply for this winter is “uncertain”, the National Grid admitted yesterday, as it launched a plan to shore up the supply ahead of cold weather in the coming months. The electricity network operator is seeking extra supply capacity from power generators as a precautionary measure, according to a statement yesterday. It has [...]
Sterling sinks as independence win in Scotland looks more likely September 2, 2014 The pound slumped yesterday in the wake of a fresh poll which suggested that Scotland’s looming independence referendum could go right down to the wire. The Yes campaign was buoyed by the release of a YouGov poll which showed 47 per cent of voters were ready to back independence, against 53 per cent who planned [...]
Militants claim to have killed second US man September 2, 2014 ISLAMIC State (IS) militants claim to have killed a second US journalist held captive alongside James Foley, who was murdered last month. A video released yesterday and entitled “A second message to America” is thought to show the beheading of writer Steven Sotloff, who was captured in Syria last year. Sotloff’s life had been threatened by [...]
Lib Dems plan free childcare September 2, 2014 NICK Clegg has today promised free childcare for all two-year-olds if he is re-elected next year, paid for in part by scrapping the Tory-backed tax break for married couples. The plan to get rid of the tax incentive will not go down well with the Prime Minister, who pushed hard for the policy. Under the [...]
Direct Line set to join FTSE 100 as Barratt slides down the list September 2, 2014 Insurer Direct Line looks set to join the coveted FTSE 100 listing this week alongside newcomer Dixons Carphone, as the FTSE committee conducts its quarterly review. The changes are likely to be announced later today and could also see homebuilder Barratt demoted out of the top 100 blue chip companies. The developer only joined the [...]