Connecting? Vodafone confirms merger talks with Three UK October 3, 2022 Vodafone confirmed it was in merger talks with Three UK this morning, setting the scene to become the largest mobile telecoms supplier in Britain. The FTSE 100 firm said it was in discussions with CK Hutchison, Three’s Hong-Kong parent company, with the view of combining the two UK arms, with Vodafone owning 51 per cent [...]
Telecom Plus shares surge as customers snap up bargain deals October 3, 2022 Telecom Plus shares surged over 20 per cent this afternoon after the utility services giant hiked full-year profit guidance after posting record customer growth during the first half of the year. The company nabbed 86,004 new customers in the six months to September, taking its total customer base to 814,684 and representing an annualised growth rate of [...]
IFS warns ‘massive spending cuts will still be needed’ despite Kwarteng U-turn October 3, 2022 The Chancellor’s U-turn on his plans to axe the 45p tax rate will do little to ease the pressure on the UK’s public finances and the mammoth spending cuts needed to get borrowing back on track, think tank experts have warned. Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), said the about-turn on [...]
Hurricane Ian set to cost insurers £27-36bn October 3, 2022 The category 4 storm Hurricane Ian that hit the southwest coast of Florida earlier this month is set to cost insurers $30- 40bn (£27- £36bn), according to new analysis from S&P Global. However, US insurers are currently well positioned to absorb losses in having sufficient reserves to weather any financial hit, the ratings agency said [...]
Credit Suisse shares tumble as investor concerns grow October 3, 2022 Shares in Credit Suisse have tumbled beyond seven per per cent today as a charm offensive by bosses over the weekend failed to reassure investors over the bank’s financial stability.
Oil rebounds with OPEC+ expected to confirm swingeing output cuts October 3, 2022 Oil prices climbed more than $3 this morning, with investors expecting the biggest cut to oil output this week since the start of the pandemic.
Drax hacks down Canadian forests to fuel power plant, investigation claims October 3, 2022 Drax has been cutting down environmentally-important forests in Canada to fuel the UK's biggest power station.
Ashurst seeks to capitalise on consulting boom with launch of UK advice business October 3, 2022 City law firm Ashurst is set to expand its services offering by launching a UK consulting business. The Silver Circle firm plans to build on the successes it has had in Australia by launching a London based risk advisory business. Ashurst’s new consulting business will be led by a trio made up of current Ashurst [...]
AJ Bell strikes consultancy deal with founder October 3, 2022 AJ Bell has struck a deal with a consultancy firm owned by founder Andy Bell today as he prepares to step down as chief executive and into an advisory role.
Pensions fund collapse fears were ‘overreaction’, says PwC executive October 3, 2022 Fears of a wave of pension fund insolvencies last week were an “overreaction”, the global pensions chief of PwC said today, after concerns spread amid the fallout of the government’s so-called mini budget.