FTSE 100 index opens up as miners and ITV make gains while Associated British Foods, Rolls-Royce and Smith and Nephew fall December 21, 2015 The FTSE 100 index opened up this morning, as losses from Primark owner Associated British Foods (ABF) and Rolls-Royce were compensated for by gains at miners, BG Group and ITV. The UK's top blue-chip index was 0.64 per cent up at 6,052 points in early morning trading. BG Group was 0.97 per cent higher at 916.85p per share [...]
Beyond boom and bust: Interview with Herbert Smith Freehills’ UK head of corporate Ben Ward December 21, 2015 Ben Ward is not cautiously optimistic about the markets in 2016. He says that’s not positive enough – he’s really very optimistic, but insists that “sustainable growth” are his watchwords for 2016. Spoken like a true lawyer. Ward has just taken over as Herbert Smith Freehills’ (HSF) head of corporate in the UK, overseeing everything [...]
UK footfall slumps on Panic Saturday as online retailing wins over high street December 21, 2015 Footfall slumped across high streets and shopping centres this weekend as consumers took advantage of retailers offering even later deadlines for Christmas deliveries to shop online rather than venturing out in stores. The traditional stampede of customers on so-called Panic Saturday failed to materialise to the same extent as last year, with footfall down by [...]
Row breaks out over closure of Redcar steel plant December 21, 2015 The government's handling of the closure of the Redcar SSI steel plant earlier this year has become the source of a row in the halls of Westminster. A report out today from the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) select committee found the government did not do enough to save the plant from closure at the [...]
Miner BHP Billiton considering dividend cut in face of continuing commodities rout December 20, 2015 Mining giant BHP Billiton is considering slashing its dividend in the new year, as the commodities rout shows no sign of abating. The Anglo-Australian group was placed on review facing a possible downgrade by ratings agency Moody’s, prompted by “the precipitous decline and persistent weakness in commodity prices”. Moody’s said it will specifically review BHP’s [...]
Shareholder dissatisfaction with bosses at Imagination Technologies December 20, 2015 Troubled mobile chip maker Imagination Technologies, which counts Apple among its top shareholders, is facing mounting criticism from investors following the firm's share price tumbling 50 per cent in two months. At the close on Friday the share price was trading around 135p, down from 247p in October. The share price hit highs of 712p [...]
Netflix corporation tax bill was zero last year despite millons of customers, report claims December 20, 2015 Netflix is the latest company to face scrutiny over its tax arrangements as it was revealed that it paid no corporation tax in the UK last year, reports claim. It's estimated the TV and film subscription service known for Emmy award winning shows House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, made £200m in revenues from its [...]
Shire Pharmaceuticals offers more cash in a bid to woo rival Baxalta December 20, 2015 Pharmaceutical giant Shire has not given up hope in its proposed takeover of US drug firm Baxalta. The Irish company could increase the cash element of its bid in order to move things along with its rival, which has resisted Shire’s overtures since the summer. The £8bn cash booster, which was first reported in the Sunday [...]
Report: Post Office getting close to a deal with British lender to offer small business banking services at 11,500 branches December 20, 2015 British banks are reportedly nearing a deal with the Post Office that could lead to the closure of thousands of local bank branches. Under the agreement, the Post Office will be able to serve small business customers from leading UK banks. The Post Office, which operates over 11,500 branches across the country, currently provides deposit [...]
Morrisons prepares for first day of trading on FTSE 250 along with G4S, while Worldpay gets ready for the blue chip index December 20, 2015 Tomorrow will be Morrisons’ first day trading on the FTSE 250, after being demoted from the blue-chip index in the last quarterly review. Security firm G4S and engineering firm Meggitt, will also have their first day of trading on the FTSE 250. It will be a happier day for Worldpay, which will join the FTSE [...]