Chris Grayling: All rail commuters will be able to use Oyster-style cards by 2018 December 6, 2016 Chris Grayling's announcement on splitting up Network Rail's dominance over track maintenance has caused a stir, but it's not the only change the transport secretary has unveiled. Rail commuters will be able to use an Oyster-style pay-as-you-go smart card to travel anywhere in the country by the end of 2018. Writing in the Telegraph, Grayling said: "We [...]
Say goodbye to Co-op Travel: Thomas Cook buys the group out of its joint venture for £55.8m December 6, 2016 Thomas Cook today said it is planning to buy The Co-operative Group out of its joint venture, taking full control of the UK retail store network, for £55.8m. The tourism company will purchase The Co-operative Group's 30 per cent stake and Central England Co-operative's 3.5 per cent stake for £50m and £5.8m respectively – both [...]
Southern rail strikes by drivers and conductors cause fresh travel disruption for long-suffering commuters December 6, 2016 London Underground passengers might have got some respite after today's Tube strikes were called off yesterday, but there was no such joy for Southern rail commuters. They're facing yet more delays today as the latest three-day strike got under way: with the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union walking out at midnight over the ongoing [...]
City watchdog wants to impose stricter rules on spreadbetters December 6, 2016 The financial watchdog has revealed plans for stricter rules for firms selling "contract for difference" (CFD) products such as spread bets to retail customers. The Financial Conduct Authority said CFDs like spread bets and rolling spot foreign exchange products are complex financial instruments offered by investment firms, often through online platforms, to customers who may not really know [...]
Jeremy Hunt tries to calm China’s fear of a bad Brexit deal December 6, 2016 Jeremy Hunt told worried Chinese investors today Britain's doors are still open to global business after Brexit. For Chinese investors looking to break into the larger European Union market, Britain is seen as an entry point. With uncertainty surrounding what kind of deal Britain will get with the EU, investors are worried about what this means for China, Reuters reported. [...]
Edinburgh: a city of lights offering a box of delights December 6, 2016 | City Talk The festive season is a magical time. Comforting childhood memories of twinkling city centre lights, carol singers and sipping hot chocolate mingle with familiar festive music and echoes of the butterflies once felt before meeting Santa in the local department store. Today, the hot chocolate might have been supplanted by a mug of warming mulled [...]
No-go zone: With Matteo Renzi set to resign following his defeat in the Italian referendum, should investors stay away from the Eurozone? December 6, 2016 Italy’s referendum will not weaken the European project as much as critics hope, and Trump could help equities, says Will Railton "The vote looks to me to be more about the euro than constitutional change”, tweeted Nigel Farage shortly after the Italian polls closed on Sunday night. Eurosceptics are heralding the resounding result (a 59.1 [...]
Consumer spending growth was at its second highest since 2011 last month December 6, 2016 Consumer spending received its second highest boost since 2011 last month, even though consumer confidence was flat. Spending growth was 5.1 per cent year-on-year, according to data from Barclaycard. The highest consumer spending growth that Barclaycard recorded (5.5 per cent) was in October. Read more: Black Friday: Customers of this lender are spending £32,000 a [...]
Black Friday wasn’t quite the sales boost retailers may have expected December 6, 2016 Black Friday wasn't quite the spending boom that retailers were expecting. Figures from KPMG and the British Retail Consortium (BRC) show that like-for-like UK retail sales increased 0.6 per cent in November. Read more: Piccadilly Line delays likely to continue until after Christmas, TfL admits And, although non-food sales increased around 40 per cent on [...]
Sports Direct has had an annus horribilis, raising questions about Mike Ashley’s game plan December 6, 2016 SPORTS Direct has had an annus horribilis, from being slammed by MPs for working conditions in Derbyshire that resemble a Victorian workhouse to a share price plunge of 47 per cent in the year to date. Corporate governance has been an issue. Mike Ashley, a dominant founder and shareholder, is now CEO. The retailer has [...]