Lloyds shares worth 70p say analysts March 4, 2025 Peel Hunt analysts have raised their price target on Lloyds shares by 17 per cent to 70p and slapped a ‘Hold’ rating on the FTSE 100 lender. The analysts cited strengthening income trends and reduced sensitivity to interest rates as the top factors driving the bank’s “top-line performance.” The banking giant‘s full-year profits fell 20 per [...]
Verizon and Accenture partner to help businesses tackle cyber threats March 4, 2025 Verizon business has announced a strategic partnership with global professional services firm Accenture to address escalating cyber security risks. Together, they aim to strengthen cyber resilience across industries, with a particular focus on mid market and large businesses across the UK. As cyber attacks become more sophisticated and frequent, the collaboration will launch cyber risk [...]
Foreign takeovers of UK companies plummet amid M&A decline March 4, 2025 The number of foreign investors launching M&A deals for UK companies plummeted in the fourth quarter of last year, with only £4.5bn spent by buyers from abroad. According to data from the Office for National Statistics, the number of foreign companies acquiring UK companies (known as ‘inward M&A) fell to its to its lowest level [...]
Former BP boss Looney joins climate focussed AI start-up March 4, 2025 Former BP chief executive Bernard Looney has been appointed chairman of a sustainability-focussed AI start-up nearly a year and a half after his scandalous departure from the oil major. London-headquartered ExpertAI aims to reduce small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) emissions by improving access to local green suppliers and subsidies. Looney joins a year and a [...]
Enduring Success March 4, 2025 Mike Champion, Tahaluf CEO and co-founder of LEAP, tells Inside Saudi how LEAP is supporting the creation of a thriving and long-lasting tech sector in Saudi Arabia and how AI is all that matters at the moment. Mike Champion is Chief Executive of Tahaluf, co-creator and co-founder of LEAP, the world’s most attended tech event, [...]
Supermarket sales rise, but Asda continues to struggle March 4, 2025 Sales at UK supermarkets rose above inflation in February as Brits looked for cost-effective ways to treat themselves. Take-home sales at the grocers rose by 3.6 per cent over the four weeks to 23 February, while prices rose 3.3 per cent, according to Kantar. However, the headline figure masked a gulf between the performance of [...]
Motor finance complaints hit record levels March 4, 2025 The UK financial ombudsman has received a record number of complaints about motor finance loans in the most recent quarter, according to new data. On Tuesday, the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) said that complaints about car loan cases had surpassed credit cards as the subject with the most unresolved complaints in the financial sector. Some [...]
‘Sell’ Greggs shares analysts say after poor results March 4, 2025 High street bakery Greggs has reported a double-digit increase in sales for 2024, taking it past the £2bn sales milestone for the first time. However, its share price fell more than eight per cent in early trades, which analysts attributed to a slowdown in sales growth. “Profits are up but it’s not the stellar performance [...]
FTSE Russell to allow Euro and Dollar share prices March 4, 2025 FTSE Russell have announced that companies with a Euro or a Dollar share price will be allowed to list on the FTSE UK index from September. Currently, only securities trading in Sterling are eligible for inclusion – but there will still be requirements around UK nationality when listing. No companies currently have the ability to [...]
Abrdn changes name back to Aberdeen and swings back to profit March 4, 2025 Abrdn has rounded out a bumper year with a return to profit and a total revamp of its brand. The company announced it will change its name back to Aberdeen as it begins the search for its next chairman, who will succeed Sir Douglas Flint. Group chief executive Jason Windsor said: “We are changing our [...]