NatWest says government’s new Help to Buy ISAs will help young customers November 27, 2015 NatWest has revealed that it will be one of the country’s first lenders to participate in the government’s new Help to Buy: ISA scheme. Starting next week, NatWest will offer customers accounts on the scheme, which will see the government topping up individuals’ savings when they purchase their first home. For every £200 an individual [...]
Taiwanese insurer Fubon Life Insurance is frontrunner to buy Cannon Place for £500m November 26, 2015 One of Taiwan’s biggest insurers Fubon Life Insurance is poised to make a second splurge in the UK this year after emerging as the frontrunner to buy the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) headquarters in the City. Cannon Place, which sits above Cannon Street station in the City, was put up for sale by its [...]
Irwin Mitchell just shy of top ten following Thomas Eggar merger November 26, 2015 Law firms Irwin Mitchell and Thomas Eggar revealed they are merging today, creating a business worth £250m. The merged firm is set to place as the 11th biggest in the UK, just short of a top ten position, in a league table compiled by trade magazine The Lawyer. It will also rank within top five [...]
Final cost to banks uncertain as PPI deadline set for 2018 November 26, 2015 The costliest financial scandal in UK history, mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI) is to come to an end in 2018, after the regulator said people will have to make claims by then. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is looking to draw a line under the issue which has cost banks £28bn since it was first [...]
At the close: FTSE 100 enjoys best two back-to-back days since October as it closes higher as miners make gains November 26, 2015 The FTSE 100 closed higher today as miners made gains, despite BHP Billiton sliding. The UK's top blue-chip index closed 0.88 per cent up, at 6,393 points, following the 0.96 per cent gain yesterday on the back of the chancellor's budget plans that sent housebuilders' stocks higher. Glencore led the pack, closing 5.85 per cent up at 95.88p per [...]
Class action suit brought against Barclays, BNP Paribas and eight more November 26, 2015 Big-name banks including Goldman Sachs, Barclays, UBS and the Royal Bank of Scotland have been accused of conspiring to limit competition by a pension fund in the US. The class action lawsuit filed yesterday says that the banks, which also include Bank of America Merrill Lynch, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Credit Suisse Group, BNP Paribas and [...]
Shares rise at travel caterer SSP as summer holiday-makers boost profits November 26, 2015 Travel catering giant SSP posted a surge in full-year profits thanks to a rise in customers dining at their airport restaurants and cafes this summer before jetting off on holiday. The FTSE 250 company also paid its first full year dividend to 4.3 pence per share since its £1bn debut on the London stock market last [...]
Quindell share price rises slightly as it says trading to be suspended as court hearing looms November 26, 2015 Shares in embattled Quindell will be suspended from trading next month, to avoid wild price swings ahead of a hefty payout to its shareholders as well as a court hearing. Quindell said shares will be suspended from 7.30am on December 16 to the market opening on Monday 21. "Due to the gap between the record [...]
Property grandee Mike Slade to step down as chief executive of Helical Bar November 26, 2015 Property grandee Mike Slade has announced he will step down as chief executive of FTSE 250 developer Helical Bar next year after more than three decades at the helm. Slade is one of the industry’s jolliest characters, who is as likely to be found racing his yacht the Leopard as he is in his company’s [...]
More cost cutting to come at Charles Stanley November 26, 2015 Costs will continue to be cut at broker Charles Stanley as it works to transform itself into a holistic wealth manager over the next three to five years. The news of further cuts comes as the company reports its half yearly results, with profit at its core business up 200 per cent to £3m. Chief executive [...]