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 [...]
Airport Commission sinks £70bn Boris Island plan as too risky September 2, 2014 LONDON mayor Boris Johnson yesterday refused to throw in the towel over his plans for a Thames Estuary airport, despite the scheme being grounded by the Airport Commission for being too risky. Undaunted by the crushing blow to his proposal, the mayor hit back yesterday against the commission and its head, Sir Howard Davies. Johnson [...]
Uber to be driven off track in Germany after court ban September 2, 2014 Worldwide cab firm Uber yesterday vowed to fight on in Germany after a court issued a temporary injunction against the app-based service, saying its drivers lacked the necessary commercial licences to pick up passengers. The ruling by Frankfurt regional court last week came after a challenge brought by the German taxi industry for non-compliance with [...]
Sainsbury’s celebrates 10 years in fashion September 2, 2014 Sainsbury’s non-food director James Brown said clothing was on track to become a £1bn business as it unveiled its new collection yesterday to mark the 10-year anniversary of fashion brand Tu. The UK’s seventh largest clothing retailer by volume has doubled the number of in-house designers to 30 over the past 12 months and also [...]
Andy Palmer takes the wheel at Aston Martin September 2, 2014 LUXURY carmaker Aston Martin revealed yesterday that Andy Palmer would sit in the driving seat as its new chief executive, after scooping him from Nissan, and bringing to an end a nine month search for a new leader. Palmer’s move to Aston Martin comes as the 101-year-old carmaker, famous for featuring in the James Bond [...]