Venezuela orders two-day working week as energy crisis bites April 29, 2016 Venezuela has given public sector workers a two-day working week as its government fights to weather a worsening power crisis. Britain was forced to introduce a three-day week to combat energy shortages during the 1970s. A coal miners' strike followed the first oil crisis when an Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) embargo sent prices soaring. Venezuela's president, Nicolás Maduro, said on [...]
At the open: FTSE 100 slips back after strong start to the week April 29, 2016 The FTSE 100 is finishing the week on the back foot as a series of disappointing trading updates weighed on the markets this morning. The benchmark index sank by one per cent on the open and stood at 6,262 in the first hour of trading – wiping off gains made earlier in the week and putting the [...]
Premier Oil share price rises after it completes acquisition of E.On North Sea assets April 29, 2016 Shares in Premier Oil skipped higher this morning after it completed the acquisition of E.On's North Sea oil and gas fields for $120m (£83m). The London-listed firm's shares rose as much as four per cent to 76.17p per share in early morning trading, giving it a market capitalisation of around £365m. Tom Durrant, chief executive of Premier, [...]
Boris Johnson (nearly) empties mayoral inbox after approving Alpha Square and former Westferry Printworks schemes April 28, 2016 With just a week left until his term as London mayor comes to an end, Boris Johnson will leave two major planning schemes in his inbox for his successor to review after giving the go-ahead two controversial developments this week. Plans for Alpha Square, a 63-storey residential tower being proposed by Asian property firm Far East [...]
When two don’t become one: Kensington & Chelsea clamps down on applications to combine homes April 28, 2016 First it was mega-basements, now joined homes are coming under scrutiny. The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (RBKC) has said it is keeping a stern eye on homeowners who want to knock properties together in attempt to meet its supply targets and prevent the loss of any more homes. Research from high-end property search firm [...]
Heron Tower owners secure £400m refinancing deal April 28, 2016 The owners of the Heron Tower in the City have agreed a £400m refinancing deal with ING and German bank Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW). The two banks have jointly underwritten the five-year senior term loan in a deal believed to value the tower at around £720m. Law firm Baker & McKenzie advised the banks on the deal while Olswang acted for the [...]
At the close: Miners send the FTSE higher as the banking roller coaster rolls on April 28, 2016 The FTSE 100 has somewhat recovered after a dreadful afternoon and has managed to pick up from earlier lows thanks to a rally in oil prices. The FTSE ended the day flat at 6,322.4 points, up just two points from 6,319.91 on Wednesday. Investors were initially caught off-guard by the news that the Bank of Japan would not extend its stimulus plan. [...]
Hunters Property hails strong maiden results as public company April 28, 2016 Hunters Property has posted a jump in revenues and profits in its first set of annual results since floating on London's junior AIM market last summer. The national sales and lettings estate agency said sales increased by 31 per cent to £12m last year after expanding its footprint with 32 new branches, of which 23 were conversions [...]
BHS administrators reassure staff over pay but say search for buyer still ongoing April 28, 2016 BHS administrators have sought to reassure staff that they will continued to be paid as they seek a buyer for the ailing chain. Duff & Phelps joint administrator Philip Duffy has issued a statement confirming that it has received "a number" of expressions of interest, understood to be more than 50, and that it continues to seek [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open April 28, 2016 The futures market is pointing to a weaker open on Wall Street after the Bank of Japan decided not to issue further stimulus measures, taking the market by surprise. Earlier the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 futures were down 0.8 per cent, while Nasdaq futures were 0.6 per cent lower. The Bank of Japan left its [...]