Reasons to be cheerful on the UK economy? They’re there, if you’re looking for them January 16, 2023 Nobody likes to be negative, so perhaps that explains the surprising survey results on our front page today. Perhaps confidence in the economy is coming not from sensible forecasting but from unguarded new year’s optimism. Or, to borrow a line from Blackadder’s General Melchett, “that’s the spirit: if nothing else works, then a total pig-headed [...]
Heathrow uranium incident: Police arrest man under terror laws after traces found in cargo January 15, 2023 A man has been arrested under terrorism laws after traces of uranium were found in a cargo package at Heathrow Airport, police said. Border Force officers found the radioactive material with a shipment of scrap metal on December 29 which, according to the Sun newspaper, had originated in Pakistan and was bound for Iranians in [...]
Takeover bid: MJ Hudson to declare offers after suspension of shares January 15, 2023 The embattled financial services firm MJ Hudson is set to tell markets tomorrow it has received offers for parts of the business. Sky News’ Mark Kleinman has reported that the group – whose shares are currently suspended after it reported “issues” around historical trading reports – appointed Alvarez & Marsal to look at possible disposals. [...]
Shell claimed £200m from Ofgem heaping pressure onto household bills January 15, 2023 Shell claimed almost £200m for costs associated with taking on customers whose suppliers had gone bankrupt in 2021, before generating record profits in 2022 on the back of soaring oil and gas prices. Shell’s UK utility business claimed £197m under Ofgem rules for costs linked to picking up 500,000 new customers from five energy suppliers [...]
Legal & General to vote against NewMed’s takeover bid for Capricorn Energy January 15, 2023 A fight over the future of Capricorn Energy is set to come to a head this week on the announcement that one of its top investors is set to vote against the oil and gas firm’s board in a push to veto NewMed Energy’s £3bn takeover deal. Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) is set [...]
Credit Suisse preparing to cut 10 per cent of European investment bankers – report January 15, 2023 Credit Suisse is preparing to lay off more than 10 per cent of its European investment bankers after issuing redundancies to hundreds of staff last month. The Swiss bank is planning to make widespread layoffs, as it pushes forwards with plans to sack thousands of workers, the Financial Times reported. Credit Suisse declined to comment [...]
Cashed-up banks ready to buy UK fintech firms on the cheap in 2023, says VC chief January 15, 2023 The UK’s fintech sector will see a wave of acquisitions this year as cashed-up banks and investment firms will swoop in to buy struggling firms on the cheap, a top venture capital chief has predicted. Tim Levene, chief of London-listed venture vehicle Augmentum Fintech, said that banks had failed to properly digitally transform over the [...]
Ocado set to post grocery growth in latest festive update January 15, 2023 Ocado investors will be hoping it becomes the latest retailer to indicate that consumer spending over the key festive quarter was more resilient than many expected. The online retail giant is set to post an increase in grocery sales over the latest period when it updates investors on Tuesday 17 January. The firm’s technology operation [...]
Train operators given ‘revised mandate’ for latest union talks, Mark Harper says January 15, 2023 Train company bosses will be working with a “revised mandate” which could include a better pay offer as they enter the latest round of talks with unions, the transport secretary has suggested. Mark Harper said train operators have been given his “permission” to make a new offer to the trade unions. The minister claimed he [...]
Netflix: Guidance this week to show whether share price jump can continue January 15, 2023 Streaming giant Netflix’s share price has enjoyed a six-month recovery from summer lows and the Silicon Valley titan will give investors a sense of whether it is deserved when it updates markets on Thursday. Investors ditched the stock in numbers as the firm appeared to suggest it had reached a plateau on subscriber numbers in [...]