Beyonce to launch new brand Parkwood Topshop Athletic with Sir Philip Green’s retail empire as profits edge higher November 25, 2015 Sir Philip Green said profits for his retail empire that included Topshop and Dorothy Perkins edged higher last year against a background of a “fast changing” retail industry. The tycoon also revealed a new joint clothing venture with singer Beyonce to produce a new “athletic streetwear brand” called Parkwood Topshop Athletic. The global venture is [...]
FTSE 100 index opens higher as housebuilders rally on chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement national housing budget plans November 25, 2015 The FTSE 100 index was up in mid-morning trading, led by housebuilders which cheered chancellor George Osborne's plans to double the national housing budget when he presents his five-year spending plan later today. The UK's top blue-chip index rose 0.82 per cent to 6,329 points. Persimmon led the index higher, its share price rising 6.06 per cent to 1,890p [...]
The grass is always greener… Three Goldman Sachs investment bankers leave for Uber November 25, 2015 It's supposed to be one of the dream jobs for any banker, but three Goldman Sachs employees think the grass is greener… at Uber. Three mid-level bankers from Goldman Sachs' technology investment banking group, based in San Francisco, have left to join Uber recently, which was first reported by Reuters. The bank has always had a close [...]
Worldpay: Mobile payments will “leave growing pains” in 2016 November 25, 2015 Get ready for the “third age of digital payments” coming next year, according to payments processor Worldpay. In its Global Payments Report released today, the company predicts that the technology will really hit mass appeal in 2016, as major banks and brands begin rolling out their own mobile payments apps. The company also forecasts that [...]
Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil and Glencore: Energy companies risk wasting trillions on uneconomic projects November 25, 2015 Energy companies risk wasting $2.2 trillion (£1.46 trillion) on uneconomic projects over the next 10 years, according to a new report. Think tank the Carbon Tracker Initiative's (CTI) report how fossil fuel firms risk destroying investor returns says energy companies' focus on fossil fuels at the expense of emerging clean technologies could put them out of kilter [...]
HSBC says women will hold 50 per cent of senior jobs at new headquarters November 25, 2015 HSBC UK is upping the ante on its gender equality initiatives by announcing a new "50/50 recruitment target" to have half of senior management roles occupied by women. Britain's biggest lender revealed the new policy this morning, saying that while female employees account for 54 per cent of HSBC UK’s overall workforce, women are "significantly underrepresented at a senior [...]
Thomas Cook share price rises after it posts first annual profit in five years November 25, 2015 The figures Thomas Cook Group revenue increased 1.1 per cent to £7.83bn in the year ended 30 September, reflecting continued customer demand for differentiated holiday offering. The FTSE 250 listed group's profit after tax crept to a positive £19m, up from a £115m loss in 2014, marking its first positive annual profit after tax since 2010. And while Thomas Cook temporarily [...]
Black Friday 2015 UK: John Lewis will have to beat sales on iPads, Nutribullets, Samsung TVs and De’Longhi coffee machines to improve on last year’s bargain bonanza November 25, 2015 Black Friday 2015 is around the corner and many retailers – including Amazon, EBay and Currys PC World are already offering huge discounts on a wide array of TVs, computers and other must-have electrical devices. John Lewis has so far kept its powder dry and will only be unveiling its offers on the day itself [...]
Tesco threatened with Christmas strike action after Unite denounces frozen pay for delivery staff in Belfast and Doncaster as “pitiful” November 24, 2015 Tesco faces a new headache as over 700 of its drivers and delivery staff are threatening to strike right over the busy Christmas period. Belfast and Doncaster staff are gearing up to vote on strike action over a pay dispute, as the supermarket giant has frozen pay for its delivery staff in both regions. Unite [...]
Genel Energy and New Age in early stages of merger talks November 24, 2015 Genel Energy, which is chaired by former BP boss Tony Hayward, today entered merger talks with exploration group New African Global Energy (New Age). According to Sky News, the two companies are in the early stages of discussing a merger that could be worth £2bn, although sources added the talk was just one of many [...]