RSA share price rises more than three per cent as premiums and profits climb February 22, 2018 Insurer RSA reported an increase in premiums, profit and earnings for 2017, despite what boss Stephen Hester described as a tough period for the sector. The figures Premium income rose four per cent to £6.7bn, compared with £6.4bn in 2916. Underwriting profit increased to £394m from £380m and overall profit after tax grew to £322m [...]
KPMG says Carillion bosses were wrong to pin blame for collapse on Qataris February 22, 2018 The pensions watchdog today told MPs that it must be “tougher” as it considers action against individuals involved in the collapse of Carillion. Giving evidence to the parliamentary inquiry into Carillion, Lesley Titcomb, chief executive of the Pensions Regulator said that with hindsight the regulator would have used its powers more quickly to ensure the [...]
Six Nations: Nathan Hughes replaces Sam Simmonds in England’s only change for Scotland trip February 22, 2018 Nathan Hughes will start at No8 over Sam Simmonds in England’s only change ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations Calcutta Cup match against Scotland at Murrayfield. The Wasps back rower replaces Simmonds for his first match of the year after recovering from a knee injury, but elsewhere head coach Eddie Jones has kept his team unchanged [...]
ONS UK immigration figures: Net migration declines as number of EU migrants coming to UK drops February 22, 2018 Net migration in the year ending September 2017 hit a similar level to early 2014 with 244,000 more people coming to the UK than leaving. This is down 29,000 on the net migration figure for the year to September 2016. EU net migration has fallen over the last year, as fewer EU citizens are coming [...]
Corbyn to set out Labour’s Brexit position next week February 22, 2018 Labour is finally going to come clean about its position on Brexit, with Jeremy Corbyn expected to give a speech outlining his policy next week. The leader of the opposition will use his speech to put meat on the bones of his desire for a “jobs first Brexit”, The Times reports. It comes amid growing [...]
The PR lessons businesses can learn from the Oxfam crisis February 22, 2018 Oxfam, an organisation more familiar with helping in a crisis, has found itself embroiled in a crisis of its own making. At every turn, the decisions made by the charity to quell the storm have done anything but. Oxfam has misread the public mood. It has put the reputation of the company before doing what [...]
Brexit latest: Brussels rejects UK government’s approach to future relationship as Theresa May convenes Chequers away day February 22, 2018 Brussels has published an update on its negotiating position for the EU’s relationship with the UK after Brexit ahead of Theresa May’s away-day at Chequers – and it puts forward a new set of red lines that the government will have to battle. Chief amongst the new positions appears to reject the Prime Minister’s so-called [...]
Bank on a new jockey being in the Lloyds saddle next year, look again at ‘last look’ and water torture February 22, 2018 If Bill Murray had played a banker rather than a TV weatherman in Groundhog Day, he may well have been cast as George Culmer, the finance director of Lloyds Banking Group. The American actor would surely have revelled in declaring the lender’s “final” provision for PPI mis-selling. Again, and again, and again. It’s a record [...]
AA share price crashes: Can new boss Simon Breakwell get road recovery giant the AA back on track after a series of setbacks? February 22, 2018 Shortly after the AA’s float back in 2014, boss Chris Jansen handed the reins over to Bob Mackenzie, a man he had referred to only weeks earlier as an “elder statesman”. Mackenzie was credited at the time with driving through the AA’s innovative management-buyout-cum-stock-market listing, a manoeuvre backed by big-name investors including Neil Woodford and [...]
Cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology to face probe by UK’s Treasury Select Committee February 22, 2018 The Treasury Select Committee will today launch an inquiry into cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and distributed ledger technology as it aims to walk the line between regulating digital currencies and supporting innovation. MPs will examine the role of digital currencies in the UK, including the risks they pose to consumers, business and the government. They will [...]