First Group launches searing attack on ‘opportunistic’ activist investor June 4, 2019 Transport giant First Group has hit back at an activist investor trying to oust six of its board members, describing it as an “opportunistic, self-interested player that is only focused on short-term gains”. In a searing attack First Group has slammed US hedge fund Coast Capital for its “scatter-gun, inconsistent and unusual proposals” and warned [...]
‘In a dark place’: Kier shares plummet 40 per cent after embattled outsourcer gives £25m profit warning June 3, 2019 Kier Group shares have suffered a fresh blow this morning, dropping more than a third as the troubled outsourcer reels from its latest profit warning. The construction and services company, which is listed as one of the government’s top external suppliers of public services, shocked investors this morning with the news operating profit will be [...]
Boeing planes may have ‘improperly manufactured’ parts, US authorities reveal June 2, 2019 Boeing's grounded 737 Max plane may have flaws in its construction, US regulators said this evening. The Federal Aviation Administration said that the plane maker had discovered potential problems with the leading edge slat tracks on the plane and the 737 Next Generation. The leading edge slats are flaps on the front of a wing which allow [...]
Air body Iata slashes global outlook by a fifth as trade wars and fuel prices bite June 2, 2019 The head of a body which represents nearly 300 global airlines has heralded the end of boom and bust while slashing his outlook for the industry by more than a fifth. The International Air Transport Association (Iata) said it expects airlines’ combined profit to fall to $28bn (£22bn), over 21 per cent below a December [...]
Eurostar warns of ticket price hike as High Speed 1 threatens to raise fees June 2, 2019 Eurostar has warned that passengers could be hit with rising ticket prices after High Speed 1 (HS1) unveiled plans to hike its charges by more than 40 per cent. HS1, which connects London with the Channel Tunnel, has put forward plans to increase access fees to fund maintenance and upgrades to the line. Read more: [...]
Extinction Rebellion threatens to use drones in 10-day Heathrow airport shutdown in third runway protest May 31, 2019 Climate protest group Extinction Rebellion has threatened to shut down London’s Heathrow airport for as long as 10 days this summer in protest at plans to build a third runway. Read more: Police charge 71 in relation to Extinction Rebellion protests The climate change activists will protest at the airport on 18 June before a [...]
Wizz Air profits rise as it expects higher fuel costs to push up 2020 earnings May 31, 2019 Wizz Air’s profit margin was squeezed in its latest financial year despite posting record profit today as revenues soared, and predicting more good times to come as rivals fall by the wayside. The figures Wizz Air saw profit grow six per cent year on year to hit €292m (£257.9m) in the 12 months to the [...]
DEBATE: Should we really be that excited about the launch of 5G? May 31, 2019 Should we really be that excited about the launch of 5G? Leon Emirali, an entrepreneur and investor, says YES. 5G is well worth the wait. While there is no doubt that extra-fast internet speeds will be welcomed by consumers, we must look beyond our own mobile devices to see the real benefits of the 5G revolution. [...]
Uber loses $1bn in first quarterly results since stock market float May 30, 2019 Uber has reported a $1bn (£790m) loss in its first quarterly financial report as a public company, despite revenue rising by one-fifth. Read more: Uber partners with insurtech start-up to offer digital insurance The loss will not come as a surprise to investors in the ride-hailing giant, after it already predicted the figure in a [...]
Government target ‘infeasible’ as smart meter rollout slows May 30, 2019 The government’s target of installing a smart meter in every home by 2020 is “implausible,” experts have warned as new figures show the rollout slowed last quarter. Just over 1m smart meters were installed in the first three months of the year, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy confirmed today, a 6.7 per [...]