Royal Mail veteran Allan Leighton announced as chair of Peppa Pig owner March 31, 2014 Allan Leighton, chief executive of jewellery company Pandora and former chairman of Royal Mail, has been appointed chairman of Entertainment One, who jointly own, with Astley Baker Davies, popular children's TV programme Peppa Pig. Leighton is a boardroom heavyweight; he's been chief executive of Asda, chairman of lastminute.com, and on the board of BSkyB. Chairman James Corsellis has stepped [...]
EasyJet says 10-year Luton deal will see passengers double March 31, 2014 EasyJet’s said it expects to carry 20 per cent more passengers next year, having secured more space at Luton airport, as part of a 10-year deal. The low-cost airline added that it’ll double the number of passengers it flies from the airport, where it's headquartered, over the next decade, to more than 9m a year. [...]
What you need to know before the open March 31, 2014 European markets are expected to open higher this morning in wake of last week's gains. Investors hope that the European Central Bank will take a more dovish approach to monetary policy and China will take steps to counter economic slowdown. German retail sales rose by a better than expected 1.3 per cent in February. Corporate [...]
Carillion lands £200m hospital deal March 31, 2014 London-listed support services firm Carillion has been chosen as the preferred bidder for a £200m support services contract by Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust. The trust is one of the largest in the country and includes Queen's Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital. Carillion chief executive, Richard Howson, commented: We look forward to working [...]
Rolls Royce bags $50m US Marines Corps contract March 31, 2014 Rolls Royce has won a contract worth more than $50m (£30m) to support the US Marines Corps fleet of KC-130J air-to-air refuelling tankers, it’s said this morning. The one-year deal covers sustainment services for over 200 Rolls Royce AE 2100 engines, as well as propellers and other system repairs for the fleet. It’ll also see [...]
Nikkei climbs as hopes of Chinese stimulus grow March 31, 2014 Chinese stimulus hopes are pushing Asian equities higher today, with the Nikkei gaining one per cent to a two-and-a-half week high and a softer yen encouraging exporters. China’s yuan, meanwhile, has fallen to a one-week low. On Friday, premier Li Keqiang moved to alleviate concerns over China’s slowdown by reassuring that the government has the [...]
Chinese on brink of House of Fraser bid March 31, 2014 HOUSE of Fraser is on the verge of a takeover by a Chinese conglomerate, in a landmark deal valuing the retailer at £450m. Chinese powerhouse Sanpower Group, led by 49-year-old multi-millionaire Yuan Yafei, has tabled an all-cash offer to buy out the 165-year-old British department store’s diverse patchwork of shareholders and its £160m of debts. [...]
Financial firms to lead £200bn spending spree in the UK March 31, 2014 FINANCIAL services firms are planning to splash out on staff and offices this summer, leading the way in an investment boom that will see the UK’s biggest businesses spend £200bn by the end of next year, according to two reports. Research released this morning by Deloitte estimates that UK firms with sales of more than [...]
Hollande hit by National Front gains in France March 31, 2014 FRENCH President Francois Hollande suffered a humiliating blow in yesterday’s local elections, as his ruling Socialist party lost out to both its mainstream right-wing rival and to the National Front (FN). Results last night showed Marine Le Pen’s anti-immigration FN had added 10 town halls to its victory last week in Henin-Beaumont, while over 100 [...]
Watchdog under pressure after insurance firm fiasco March 31, 2014 THE CITY watchdog will come under renewed pressure from insurers today demanding urgent action from George Osborne to prevent a repeat of the regulator’s mis-step that led insurance shares to plunge on Friday. The industry will write to the chancellor to raise “serious concerns” about the disclosure of information by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) [...]