Mumsnet: the final frontier for Scottish independence debate, as Alistair Darling and Alex Salmond go head to head today September 10, 2014 Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling are poised for their final public debate before voters decide the fate of Scotland on September 18 – this time on web forum Mumsnet. The First Minister of Scotland and the leader of the Better Together campaign will draw swords on a live stream from 1:45pm today. A [...]
It’s official: Having children makes you happier (but not for the reason you’d think) September 10, 2014 The good news is that having children does bring happiness to most people – but this isn't just because of the children themselves. It's largely the result of avoiding disappointment about not having children… According to a report published today in the journal Human Reproduction, women who want children but cannot have them are [...]
Is this the UK housing market’s new “normal”? Barratt share price up as revenues rise 21pc September 10, 2014 The UK housing market has returned to "normal seasonal trends" in 2014 after the frenzy created by the launch of Help to Buy last year, Barratt Developments said this morning while posting a 21.1 per cent rise in annual revenues. Revenues at the housebuilder rose to £3.1bn for the year to the end of June, up [...]
BSkyB share price falls as it prices £3bn bond issue for Sky Europe deal September 10, 2014 Shares in British Sky Broadcasting Group (BSkyB) fell slightly in early trading as it priced £3.25bn of euro and US dollar denominated bonds to help it buy Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland. The deal will create "Sky Europe", a pan-European TV service, described by BSkyB as a "world-class, multinational pay TV business with enhanced headroom [...]
Santander share price falls as it announces chairman Emilio Botín has died September 10, 2014 Emilio Botín, executive chairman of Banco Santander, has died of a heart attack the company has announced. Shares in Spain's largest lender fell more than 2 per cent in early trading as the bank said its remuneration would meet later today to start the hunt for a new chairman. Botín, known to employees as 'El Presidente', [...]
B&Q owner Kingfisher’s share price rises as it names Veronique Laury as Sir Ian Cheshire’s replacement September 10, 2014 Shares in B&Q owner Kingfisher opened 2.8 per cent higher this morning after it revealed its new chief executive as Sir Ian Cheshire prepares to step down. He will be replaced by the chief executive of Castorama France, Veronique Laury, before the end of the financial year. Cheshire, who has been with the company for [...]
Sports Direct scores profit rise but Mike Ashley’s company hurt by England’s poor World Cup September 10, 2014 Sports Direct enjoyed an 11.8 per cent rise in profit for the period ending 27 July 2014 , yet the sportswear retailer was hurt by England's early World Cup exit. The company founded by Newcastle United chairman Mike Ashley reported a 12.2 per cent increase in sales from £631m to £711.2m, while gross profit also [...]
David Cameron and Ed Miliband head to Scotland for last minute campaigning as union hangs in the balance September 9, 2014 Leaders of the UK’s three main political parties all fly to Scotland today in a last-ditch attempt to persuade Scots north of the border to vote against independence in just eight days’ time. David Cameron, along with Labour’s Ed Miliband and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, made the unprecedented move of cancelling Prime Minister’s question [...]
Carney: Low wages have brought surge in new jobs September 9, 2014 UNEMPLOYMENT has dived thanks to low wages, Bank of England governor Mark Carney said yesterday, arguing that poor pay growth had had some positive effects in the UK. But as joblessness has fallen rapidly, pay is likely to start rising at last as firms have to compete for staff once more. “Although the adjustment has [...]
US finalises new Russia sanctions plan as EU hesitates September 9, 2014 The US is putting the finishing touches to a new tranche of sanctions aimed at Russia, including powers to curb the nation’s defence, energy and financial sectors, it announced yesterday. The US government is seeking both to “deepen and broaden” existing sanctions against President Vladimir Putin’s government, following continued unrest in eastern Ukraine. State department [...]