Brexit: How the pound might react to parliament’s crunch vote tonight January 15, 2019 Sterling has been plagued by volatility in recent months as uncertainty around Brexit has heightened. Theresa May's withdrawal agreement has come under pressure from all sides, and she was forced to postpone a December vote on her deal until tonight, when MPs will get their say at 7pm. But what will happen to the pound? [...]
The future of infrastructure needs artificial intelligence and new ways of working January 15, 2019 During our morning commutes to work, many of us will grumble about unreliable trains, packed tube carriages, or too much traffic on our highways. And yet, despite these complaints, we tend to keep a stiff upper lip and bear with the current state of infrastructure, rather than question how things could become better. But if [...]
Savills: On target for 2018 but 2019 prospects overshadowed by uncertainty January 15, 2019 Property giant Savills delivered mixed messages to the City this morning after warning of future uncertainty despite maintaining expectations for its 2018 performance. Shares dipped two per cent in late-morning trading after it said its 2019 outlook was clouded by macro-economic and political volatility. The group said that it was forecasting to see transaction volumes [...]
Christmas sales grow at St Pancras International despite retail gloom January 15, 2019 Commuters choosing to do their Christmas shopping at St Pancras International station grew 6.3 per cent in 2018 compared to the year before, according to figures released by the station's operator today. The rise was driven by growing passenger numbers and strong growth in non-food sales, the company said. St Pancras has welcomed a number of [...]
M&S reveals next 17 stores in firing line for closure as hundreds of jobs face the chop January 15, 2019 Marks & Spencer revealed the identity of the latest stores that are earmarked for closure today, as a swathe of sites face the firing line amid a downturn for the beleaguered retailer. As many as 1,000 people could face losing their jobs as part of the latest stage in the company's turnaround plan that will [...]
Unlimited Group unveils alliance with German and Japanese agencies January 15, 2019 Digital marketing firm Unlimited Group today unveiled a new strategic alliance with international agencies in a bid to provide a global offering for its clients. UK-based Unlimited has signed an alliance with German ad giant Serviceplan and Japanese firm Hakuhodo to build joint teams offering a presence in all major markets. Read more: Brexit, ad fraud and [...]
German economy slumps to weakest growth in five years sending the euro down sharply January 15, 2019 The German economy grew at its weakest rate in five years in 2018 sending the euro down and further signalling a global downturn. Europe’s largest economy’s GDP grew by 1.5 per cent last year, compared with 2.2 per cent the previous year, according to data from the country’s Federal Statistics Office. The euro fell 0.3 per [...]
Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn denied bail by Tokyo court January 15, 2019 The Tokyo District Court today denied Carlos Ghosn’s request for bail as the former Nissan chairman faces a lengthy wait behind bars for his trial. Lawyers for Ghosn, who was indicted on two fresh charges of financial misconduct last week, are likely to appeal the decision, as the executive may have to wait up to [...]
Shell’s kitchen: Jamie Oliver launches deli range at petrol stations across the UK January 15, 2019 TV chef Jamie Oliver has defended his partnership with Shell as he prepares to launch a new deli range across the oil giant’s service stations. The restaurateur and UN environmental champion said the deal will help him bring healthier food-to-go to more people, despite criticism from groups such as Greenpeace. Read more: Restaurant profits plummet [...]
Lender Provident Financial shares tumble on profit warning January 15, 2019 Provident Financial’s share price plunged more than 20 per cent in early morning trading after the sub-prime lender issued a profit warning. The FTSE 250 firm led the market fallers today after saying that it expects earnings for 2018 to be at the lower end of expectations, blaming modestly higher payment arrangements at its credit [...]