Buckle your seatbelts for the next global recession – the world is not prepared March 5, 2019 A decade on from the global financial crisis, the world economy is not in good health. Britain is paralysed by Brexit uncertainty, the Eurozone – including its seemingly invincible German powerhouse – is stuttering, and China is experiencing its slowest economic growth since 1990. Read more: Eurozone economic confidence falls to fresh two-year low Even [...]
BMW warns production of iconic Mini could move out of Oxford in event of no-deal Brexit March 5, 2019 German car maker BMW has warned that production of its iconic Mini could be moved out of Britain if it leaves the EU without a deal. Peter Schwarzenbauer, who sits on the company board and is responsible for Mini and Rolls-Royce cars, told Sky News that the car giant would "need to consider" a production move [...]
Snubbed: Interserve rebel shareholder’s rescue deal demands ‘would risk future’ of the firm, says outsourcer March 5, 2019 Outsourcer Interserve has rebuffed attempts by its biggest shareholder to hijack a rescue deal designed to stop the firm going into administration. Coltrane Asset Management, US hedge fund which owns 27.7 per cent of Interserve, on Monday put forward a counter-proposal to Interserve’s own controversial rescue deal which suggests handing 95 per cent control of [...]
Brands have ‘Netflix envy’ and need expertise of advertising agencies, says WPP boss March 5, 2019 Brands are guilty of ‘Netflix envy’ and need the expertise of traditional advertising agencies, WPP chief executive Mark Read said today. Speaking at the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (ISBA) conference, Read played down fears brands are increasingly moving their advertising in-house and defended the role of conventional ad shops. Read more: Profits plunge at advertising [...]
Domestic M&A deal value reaches decade high in 2018 despite Brexit uncertainty March 5, 2019 Domestic merger and acquisition (M&A) value hit a ten-year high in 2018 despite Brexit uncertainty, according to the latest data. Acquisitions of UK companies by other UK firms rose from £18.8bn in 2017 to £26.5bn last year, the highest value since deals reached £36.5bn in 2008, research from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found. [...]
Eurostar business passengers rise 12 per cent in ‘record’ year of growth March 5, 2019 Eurostar's business passenger market increased by 12 per cent last year while overall passenger numbers swelled to 11m. The high speed rail link between London and the continent saw passenger numbers increase by a record seven per cent from 10.3m in 2017 to 11m last year, while sales revenues increased 12 per cent from £880m in 2017 [...]
Green shoots: British new car registrations up for first time in five months March 5, 2019 February brought signs of hope for Britain’s embattled car manufacturing industry, with new car registrations rising for the first time in five months. New car registrations in the UK rose 1.4 per cent to 81,969 vehicles after five straight months of decline, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Read [...]
Brexit: Geoffrey Cox and Stephen Barclay head to Brussels for final backstop push March 5, 2019 Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay and attorney general Geoffrey Cox will today head to Brussels in a bid to win changes to the Irish backstop in the run-up to another crunch Commons vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal. The two ministers are hoping EU officials will agree to a time limit to the backstop – the [...]
New London skyscrapers set to break record in 2019 March 5, 2019 The number of skyscrapers being completed in the capital is set to smash records this year, with demand for housing space driving a surge in new towers joining London’s skyline. Construction on 76 tall buildings is expected to be finished during the course of 2019, marking a three-fold increase on the previous year. Read more: What the [...]
To buy to not to buy? The pitfalls of online shopping when at work March 5, 2019 A furtive glance to the side, to gauge your neighbour’s gaze. A quick dart over the shoulder, perhaps a slight bob upwards in the chair above the rim of the screen, to check if the coast is clear. And then, the adrenaline building, comes the lightning-quick rattle of the keyboard, the double click and, yes, there [...]