Trump pledges commitment to defend South Korea from the North November 10, 2016 Donald Trump has vowed to protect South Korea against the "instability in North Korea". The US President-elect had a call with South Korean President Park Geun-hye last night, her office said. She congratulated him on his election victory and said she hoped the ties between the two countries would grow further over his presidency. Trump allegedly said: [...]
ITV shares jump despite ad revenue diving amid Brexit uncertainty November 10, 2016 ITV’s share price jumped three per cent this morning as the broadcaster reported falling advertising revenues but talked up its “balanced and resilient business”. The figures The company’s advertising revenue dropped four per cent in the last quarter amid political and economic uncertainty. And the broadcaster is forecasting an even larger dip – seven per [...]
FTSE 100 utility National Grid fails to light up as reported profit before tax falls 64 per cent November 10, 2016 First half earnings at FTSE 100 utility giant National Grid have failed to spark after profits fell by almost two-thirds, though the group is on track to sell its UK gas distribution arm and is making progress with its US activities. The figures The utility's profit before tax fell 64 per cent to £485m in [...]
Thameslink and East Midlands Trains services are still severely disrupted after wire damage caused signalling problems November 10, 2016 Commuters who use Thameslink or East Midlands Trains (EMT) services are facing a third day of delays and cancellations – and it could continue into tomorrow as well. A limited train service is running across the Thameslink network, with services being cancelled, revised or delayed by up to 90 minutes. No Thameslink trains are running between [...]
Watch this year’s full John Lewis Christmas advert, featuring Vaults and Buster the Boxer November 10, 2016 Advent calendars may have been out since Easter and shops may have been putting baubles on display since September – but you know it's really Christmas when the John Lewis Christmas advert arrives. This year's offering takes a funny, rather than schmaltzy, approach (cf. last year's sugary sweet Man on the Moon ad) – featuring a [...]
Bovis Homes on track to deliver record revenues despite Brexit blip November 10, 2016 Housebuilder Bovis Homes said today that it's on track to meet expectations of revenue and profit growth for the year, despite uncertainty in the market following the EU referendum. The group said that aside from the weeks immediately after the UK's vote to leave the EU, sales during the year to date have followed a normal [...]
Do you have an analogue business in a digital age? November 10, 2016 UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are weathering the tempest that 2016 has blown their way, remaining ambitious, while providing a sturdy backbone for our economy during this period of uncertainty. It will surprise few that websites, social media and online marketplaces are a conduit to success, and a driving force behind increasing revenues in [...]
Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices lift despite another rise in US crude inventories November 10, 2016 Oil prices lifted this morning despite another build in US crude inventories. Stockpiles in the US rose by 2.4m barrels to 485m barrels last week, despite refineries hiking output and imports falling, according to data released yesterday by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Earlier estimates suggested the rise would be a much smaller 400,000 [...]
Heartwarming and full of plot holes: Our review of John Lewis’ 2016 Christmas advert, Buster the Boxer November 10, 2016 This year’s John Lewis Christmas advert, Buster the Boxer, has everything we have come to expect of the now hotly-anticipated generator of the festive feeling. It’s heartwarming, it’s full of plot holes and it makes you want to visit to retailer’s flagship store on Oxford Street. On the heartwarming front, it begins with a little girl, Bridget, who [...]
Trumpism will clash with economic reality November 10, 2016 Yesterday marked the 27th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. It also heralded the ascendancy to the world’s most powerful office of a man whose most famous campaign pledge is to construct a massive wall along the length of America’s southern border. “We’re going to build it,” declared Trump, “and Mexico’s going to [...]