‘Bond market tantrum risks’: Gilt traders brace for Labour leftward pivot as Starmer future uncertain
Clayhill solar farm: UK’s first subsidy-free solar farm jolts life into the sector September 26, 2017 The UK’s first solar farm to be built and operated without a government subsidy will open in eastern England today thanks to a rapid drop in renewable energy costs, paving the way for further funding activity in the sector. The 45-acre Clayhill solar farm and energy storage facility, located in Bedfordshire, was built by energy [...]
It’s official: Dyson is planning an electric car which will be launched by 2020 September 26, 2017 Forget vacuums and hairdryers: British engineering giant Dyson is planning its own electric car which will be launched in the next three years, it revealed today. The company, which has invested millions in a new Apple-style campus at a former RAF base in the Westcountry, has already built up a 400-strong team, and committed to [...]
UK Labour party: Business chief warns John McDonnell’s nationalisation strategy will add to Brexit delays in investment September 26, 2017 A top lobby group has warned that John McDonnell’s plans for the UK economy will exaggerate the problems businesses already face due to Brexit. At the Labour party conference yesterday the shadow chancellor outlined his intention to nationalise sectors such as the railways, utilities and construction, and his policies have drawn sharp criticism from representatives [...]
McVitie’s meltdown as boxes of Jaffa Cakes get smaller… but the company says it’s not “shrinkflation” September 26, 2017 It may be Pudding Week on tonight’s Great British Bake Off, but the public is today up in arms over cake… or is it a biscuit? McVitie’s has reduced the number of Jaffa Cakes in a packet from 12 to 10, leading to fears that the beloved snack is the latest victim of so-called Shrinkflation, [...]
Irn Bru and Rubicon maker A.G. Barr bubbles up on back of sugar-free options September 26, 2017 A.G. Barr, the maker of Irn Bru and Rubicon, grew revenues during the first half of the year through the popularity of no-sugar alternatives to its most popular drinks. The figures Revenue climbed 8.8 per cent to £136.6m. Profit before tax grew slower, increasing 2.9 per cent to £17.5m. This was partly due to higher [...]
Happy days: Brits report record levels of life satisfaction – so says ONS life satisfaction survey data September 26, 2017 Forget worries of Brexit cliff edges and the world going to war on a Trump tweet – we’re actually a pretty happy bunch. Turn that frown upside down because happiness levels have ticked up slightly across the UK, according to official figures on the nation’s wellbeing. And anxiety levels remain the same, based on the [...]
Competition regulator launches probe into Comparethemarket home insurance pricing September 26, 2017 Britain’s competition watchdog has launched an investigation into price comparison website Comparethemarket over allegedly unfairly priced home insurance deals. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) revealed details of the probe as part of its findings following a year-long in-depth investigation into online comparison websites. Watchdog concerns centre on “most favoured nation clauses”, exclusive deals agreed [...]
World’s largest uncut diamond sale: Lucara’s Lesedi La Rona sold to Graff Diamonds for $53m September 26, 2017 The biggest gem-quality rough diamond found in more than a century has been sold to jeweller Laurence Graff for $53m (£39m). The Lesedi La Rona, the world’s most valuable rough diamond, weighs a record-breaking 1,109 carats and is about the size of a tennis ball. It was unearthed by Canadian miner Lucara Diamond Corp nearly [...]
UK mortgage lending is (almost) at its highest level since April 2008 September 26, 2017 Mortgage lending rose to its second highest level since April 2008 in August, new figures have shown. The figures, by UK Finance, showed total gross lending rose to £24.2bn in August, up 6.4 per cent from last month. The figure is the highest since March 2016, when an impending hike to stamp duty on buy [...]
Van hire firm Northgate sacks chief finance officer Paddy Gallagher after assault conviction September 26, 2017 Northgate announced today it had sacked its chief finance officer Paddy Gallagher after he was convicted for common assault. In a statement today, the van rental firm said Gallagher had been “summarily dismissed due to his conviction for the summary offence of common assault”. Read more: Northgate races forward with 22 per cent pre-tax profit [...]