Competition watchdog investigates British Airways’ transatlantic flight agreement October 11, 2018 An investigation into British Airways’ revenue-sharing partnership on transatlantic flights is underway, a watchdog announced today. The decade-old Atlantic Joint Business Agreement sees BA, American Airlines, Iberia and Finnair split revenue on all passenger routes between Europe and the US. Read more: Moody's: BA and Easyjet among airlines 'most exposed to a no-deal Brexit' The European [...]
UK recruitment giant Hays sees share price slip despite strong overseas performance October 11, 2018 Shares in leading recruitment firm Hays slumped more than 10 per cent in early morning trading, as a rise in net fees seemingly did little to ease investor nerves about currency headwinds and volatility in the sector’s UK market. Hays reported a nine per cent like-for-like growth in net fees in the quarter to the end [...]
It’s a mistake to dismiss the Anglosphere as mere romance – it could be the future October 11, 2018 The Prime Minister’s strong point is not vision, particularly when it comes to post-Brexit Britain. But as the Chequers Agreement dies a slow death, she would do well to consider the possibilities for a much wider geopolitical shift with regard to the so-called Anglosphere. A Canada+++ agreement with the EU could lead to trade agreements [...]
Theresa May’s crude policy is the wrong way to manage immigration October 11, 2018 The government's announcement of a new immigration policy post-Brexit has at least the merit of providing a clearer sense of direction – assuming Brexit happens and does so in a reasonably orderly way (which are some big “ifs”). The news also provides an opportunity to think, from first principles, what a sensible immigration policy should [...]
WH Smith to restructure its high street business as travel takes off October 11, 2018 WH Smith intends to restructure its high street business after conducting a thorough review of the challenging environment faced by UK stores, as its total revenue edged upwards off the back of growth in its travel locations. While its high street profit was its third highest in 15 years, the retailer said it will wind down [...]
Severe delays hit commuters on District Line and Piccadilly Line due to a person on the track October 11, 2018 Severe delays have struck the District Line and Piccadilly Line this morning due to a person on the track. The District Line is suspended between Turnham Green and Ealing Broadway due to the incident, with tickets being accepted on local bus routes and South Western Railway. Severe delays also hit the Piccadilly Line, which is [...]
The Scotsman publisher Johnston Press puts itself up for sale as it tries to tackle huge £220m debt pile October 11, 2018 Struggling publisher Johnston Press’s share price dropped over seven per cent today on the news that it was putting itself up for sale. The newspaper group behind the ‘i’ newspaper, The Scotsman and the Yorkshire Post, amid 200 regional titles, has a towering pile of debt totalling £220m that it must pay off by 1 June [...]
IMF data shows there’s even less cash to splash October 11, 2018 Positive news around the public finances has been forthcoming in 2018, following years of disappointingly slow deficit reduction. Borrowing fell to a 16-year low in the fiscal year that ended in April, while in July the Treasury recorded its biggest surplus since 2000. Thus it was a shame to be brought crashing back down to [...]
Asos teams up with Google to launch a shopping skill for Google Assistant October 11, 2018 Asos is expanding into voice-assistant technology in a partnership with Google, making it one of the first UK fashion retailers to debut on Google Assistant. Customers in the UK and US will be able to engage with Asos' fashion chatbot Enki, starting a conversation using the phrase "Hey Google, talk to Asos" on a smartphone or [...]
Investor demand for environment-friendly firms is becoming ‘phenomenon’ says top Barclays banker October 11, 2018 Demand for investments in businesses pursuing environmentally and socially responsible aims is building up unstoppable momentum, according to a top banker at Barclays. Joe McGrath, global head of banking at the British bank, says the growth of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns in business has become a “phenomenon” in the last five years. ESG [...]