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 [...]
Vote No to Scottish independence urges Lloyd’s of London boss John Nelson September 3, 2014 The chairman of Lloyd’s of London last night urged Scots to vote No in the independence referendum which is just two weeks away, warning a Yes vote would be a blow to the City. At the insurance market’s annual dinner, John Nelson threw his weight behind a united UK, telling guests he would be “extremely [...]
Standard Life signs £2.2bn deal to sell Canadian arm September 3, 2014 Edinburgh-based insurer Standard Life last night announced it has clinched a C$4bn (£2.2bn) deal to sell its Canadian operations to Toronto-based insurer Manulife Financial. The sale will see Standard Life shareholders receive a £1.75bn windfall, or 73p per share, as part of the deal that also sees the two firms agree a collaboration agreement that [...]
David Rudlin’s garden city plan to double size of UK towns wins Wolfson’s £250,000 prize September 3, 2014 The Wolfson economic prize and the £250,000 that comes with it were awarded to urban planner David Rudlin last night, for his design of a new garden city. The prize was offered to the best design of a new city, set up by Lord Simon Wolfson and organised by think tank Policy Exchange. Rudlin, who [...]
Perform Group’s board rejects £700m Len Blavatnik offer September 3, 2014 Directors at London-listed internet sports distribution firm Perform Group yesterday rejected the £701.6m takeover bid by Ukrainian-born billionaire Len Blavatnik’s investment group Access Industries. Perform – which floated in 2011 and supplies video clips, live action and sports news and data to media groups and online bookmakers – saw its shares soar 26.35 per cent [...]
Balfour sheds US design arm September 3, 2014 CANADA’S WSP Global is set to buy Balfour Beatty’s US design division Parsons Brinckerhoff for £820m, the business arm that had been a stumbling block for Balfour’s failed £3bn merger with rival Carillion. The deal will allow WSP to expand in the UK and give it a stronger presence in growth regions. Balfour said it [...]
US economic growth steady September 3, 2014 THE US recovery is on a relatively strong footing, the Federal Reserve said last night, as its car industry shows strong growth and banking conditions improve. In its Beige Book report of anecdotal information on business activity collected from contacts across the US, the Fed said six of its 12 districts reported “moderate” economic growth. [...]