Foxtons warns of sales slowdown as home buyers await General Election outcome April 30, 2015 London estate agency Foxtons warned that the General Election had put the brake on sales as prospective homebuyers await the outcome of next week’s polls before making plans. The company, famous for its fleet of Green Mini Coopers, reported revenues of £33.1m in the three months to 31 March, down 3.1 per cent on [...]
Saga investors rewarded with 4.1p dividend as insurer posts 9.6pc jump in pre-tax profit April 30, 2015 Specialist insurer Saga posted a 9.6 per cent jump in pre-tax profit for the year ended 31 January 2015, up to £195.5m from £178.3m the year before. The company, which targets the over-50 market, failed to live up to expectations when it listed on the London Stock Exchange in May last year. It floated [...]
LinkedIn share price plummets as second quarter outlook fails to impress April 30, 2015 LinkedIn once again beat expectations, but a bleak outlook for the second quarter didn't go down well with investors. The figures During the first three months of 2015, the social networking site's revenue went up to $638m (£415m), 35 per cent higher than last year's first quarter figure. This was ahead of the $636.5m [...]
Yorkshire currency trader arrested in global Ponzi probe April 30, 2015 A Yorkshire-based trader has been arrested as part of an investigation into a global Ponzi scheme that cost investors tens of millions of pounds. City of London Police said yesterday that a 59 year-old was arrested in East Yorkshire by detectives on suspicion of fraud by false representation and money laundering. So far they've received complaints from [...]
Woolworths redundancy case: European Court of Justice decision good for business, lawyers say April 30, 2015 British businesses breathed a sigh of relief this morning after the European Court of Justice ruled in favour of the UK government in the controversial Woolworths redundancy case. The case dates back to Woolworth's demise in 2008 (and subsequently 2010, when it also affected former Ethel Austin staff), when more than 4,000 employees did [...]
RBS is failing to win over its customers around the UK April 30, 2015 RBS's share price fell this morning after revealing it had earmarked a further £446m for anticipated forex costs. But that's not the only problem facing the bank. It's really struggling to shake off its image and is failing to win customers around pretty much across the board. The bank has set itself the [...]
TSB boss Paul Pester eyes up acquiring other challenger banks April 30, 2015 TSB, the self-styled challenger bank spun-off from Lloyds last year, could gobble up its competition if the bank's boss has his way. Paul Pester wants to "take on the big guys" and would consider buying up other challenger banks to make that happen. "We are Britain's biggest challenger bank, but we want to really take [...]
Gotham City admits “we may get some things wrong about Endurance” – but sticks to its $0 valuation April 30, 2015 Gotham City Research has admitted it could have got “some things wrong” about the stock it identified for a zero-dollar price target – but is standing by its estimate. The shadowy short-seller firm, which has previously targeted the likes of Quindell and Gowex, issued a note on Tuesday claiming that Endurance International Group was [...]
Zoopla share price soars as it buys uSwitch in £160m deal April 30, 2015 Property website Zoopla has snapped up price comparison website uSwitch in a £160m deal sending shares surging. The group, which also owns Prime Location, is aiming to become a one-stop shop for property buyers and those moving house. "The acquisition of uSwitch is a significant step in Zoopla's mission to be the most useful resource for [...]
RBS makes quarterly loss of £446m after more cash earmarked for forex scandal costs April 30, 2015 RBS has slumped to a quarterly loss after it joined Barclays in earmarking more cash to stave off potential payments over the forex scandal. The Figures For the three months to the end of March, RBS posted a loss of £446m, a big swing from the £1.2bn profit it made in the same quarter last [...]