Lloyds Banking Group kicks off £1bn share buyback programme March 8, 2018 Lloyds Banking Group this morning launched its £1bn share buyback programme, unveiled at its full-year results last month. The bank said it had entered into an agreement with UBS to carry out the share buyback programme on its behalf – and to make trading decisions under the programme independently. The programme starts today and will [...]
Stobart to invest £40m in London Southend Airport from 2018 to 2021 March 8, 2018 Stobart is set to invest up to £40m in London Southend Airport between 2018 and 2021 after its aviation division benefited from a 25 per cent increase in passengers. Shares in Stobart were up three per cent at the time of writing. In its trading update the biomass energy firm said it would continue to invest [...]
Qatar Airways is launching direct flights to London Gatwick from Doha March 7, 2018 Qatar Airways said today it will launch direct flights to London's Gatwick Airport from 22 May with double-daily services from Doha. Gatwick's boss Stewart Wingate said the new flights bolster the airport's business credentials with Qatar "an important business destination, particularly for those working in finance, infrastructure, oil and gas". He added: "This new route [...]
The UK’s export economy is at its strongest point since 2000 March 7, 2018 UK exports are at their strongest position since 2000 despite threats posed by Brexit, a report by Heathrow Airport and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) has found. Heathrow's export climate index tracks factors including the consumer confidence of the UK's main trade partners by their share of UK exports; effective exchange rate [...]
EU threatens the US tariff reprisals as 18 WTO members including China and Russia express strong concerns over Trump’s move March 7, 2018 The EU has warned Donald Trump that it will launch tough new levies on US exports of bourbon, peanut butter and motorbikes if he pushes forward with plans to impose steel and aluminium tariffs. Meanwhile 18 WTO members, including China and Russia, have expressed grave concerns about the impact of a potential trade war. The EU's [...]
Big fish: The seven largest types of institutional investors March 7, 2018 | City Talk Say whatever you want about the world, but there’s never been a better time to be an end investor. Many things investment professionals fear — fee compression, automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain — benefit clients through higher account balances and lower fees. Asset owners are the largest of those clients. Though they are frequently [...]
Trump-fuelled trade war fears grow as Gary Cohn exits the White House March 7, 2018 One of Donald Trump's key economic advisers has resigned from his position in the administration, prompting fears of a growing rift over trade barriers. Gary Cohn, an advocate of free trade, is reportedly leaving over a dispute with the President regarding steel and aluminium tarrifs. He will depart in the coming weeks. Trump said of [...]
BrewDog mocks sexist advertising with sexist advertising March 6, 2018 The ever-so-edgy brewers at pugnacious craft beer company BrewDog have come up with yet another attention-grabbing campaign. Repackaging its flagship Punk IPA with a pink label, BrewDog has said its "Pink IPA" is a "send-up of the lazy marketing efforts targeting the female market". But the campaign has already attracted criticism from BrewDog fans, with [...]
Two rules to rule them all: Watch out for companies with dual class shares March 6, 2018 Despite the relentless push towards corporate governance, one trend is going against the tide, threatening the old rule: “one share, one vote”. Regulators are rethinking their rules by letting firms issue controversial dual class shares. Companies that adopt this structure will issue two types of shares to give preferential rights to one set of [...]
This firm has come up with an ‘M25 for high-speed trains’ spanning both Heathrow and Gatwick March 6, 2018 A new proposal for a new high-speed railway passing both Gatwick and Heathrow has been developed to enhance other major infrastructure projects for the south east. Engineering consultancy Expedition today revealed its £10bn plan for HS4Air, which would connect the existing HS1 rail line with the planned HS2 along a route that passes via London's [...]