IG Group says future remains bright despite fall in profit January 21, 2020 Online trading firm IG Group reiterated its medium-term targets today, despite announcing a drop in operating profit. Operating profit fell to £100.1m in the six months to 30 November, from £112.5m in the same period the previous year. IG has been hit hard by a Europe-wide crackdown on risky contracts for difference trades. However, the [...]
Lekoil receives stay of execution as operator delays payment deadline January 21, 2020 Investors in embattled Lekoil, which was last week embroiled in an extraordinary saga involving a fake investment fund, could breathe a sigh of relief today the operator of the Nigerian oil field the fake loan was meant to support said it would delay the deadline of Lekoil’s payment of $9.6m for costs. Optimum, which operates [...]
BP withdraws from Iraqi oil field as expansion falls through January 21, 2020 BP has withdrawn from Iraq’s Kirkuk oilfield after it failed to come to a new agreement on the giant field’s expansion. The oil major’s contract, which expired at the end of last year, was worth $100m (£76.6m), and the British firm informed Iraqi officials it would pull staff out of the site in December, sources [...]
BHP’s coal production slips due to Australian bushfires but guidance remains unchanged January 21, 2020 The ongoing bushfires in Australia knocked BHP’s production of thermal coal, the world’s largest miner announced today, but its 2020 guidance remains in line with forecasts. Mike Henry described his first set of results since taking over as chief executive from Andrew Mackenzie as “solid”, despite concerns about the situation in the company’s home country, [...]
FTSE 100 sinks into red as China virus scare hits shares January 21, 2020 The FTSE 100 was on track for its biggest fall since early December this morning as investors were rattled by an outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus in China. The London blue-chip index slipped more than one per cent in early trading, with luxury and travel stocks leading the slide. Burberry fell more than [...]
Coronavirus: Asian shares slide as China warns of human-to-human contact risk January 21, 2020 Asia-listed shares fell overnight as concerns grew about China’s Coronavirus after officials confirmed it can be spread through human contact. China reported a fourth death from the Coronavirus today as authorities confirmed that 15 medical staff had also been infected. The editor-in-chief of the Chinese and English editions of the Global Times has tweeted that [...]
BP’s finance chief steps down after 34 years at oil giant January 21, 2020 After 34 years at the company, BP’s chief financial officer Brian Gilvary today announced his retirement from the oil major. Gilvary, who has been in his post for eight years, will be succeeded by Murray Auchincloss, who currently holds the same job in BP’s upstream division. Auchinloss will join the board on 1 July and [...]
Rabobank invests in online mortgage broker Trussle January 20, 2020 Rabobank’s strategic investment arm, Rabo Frontier Ventures, has contributed to a £7.5m funding round in online mortgage broker Trussle. Rabo Frontier Ventures joined the latest round of funding alongside existing investors Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division, Finch Capital and Propel Venture partners. The fresh round of funding brings Trussle’s total to £26.7m after the tech [...]
Queen join Her Majesty on commemorative coin January 20, 2020 Queen have become the first band to appear alongside Queen Elizabeth II on a commemorative coin available from today. The Royal Mint announced that the coin is the first in its “Music Legends” collection. The coin commemorates all four members of the band and includes their instruments. The group’s logo is placed in the centre, [...]
Nuclear startup Tokamak raises £67m in funding round January 20, 2020 Tokamak Energy, the nuclear startup who are aiming to produce grid connected fusion power by 2030, have raised £67m in a funding round. The raise, which was the Oxfordshire-based company’s largest to date, involved both long-time backers such as Legal & General and new ones like Dr Hans-Peter Wild. Wild is best known as the [...]