Pub sector raises glass to economic recovery as more properties change hands January 5, 2016 The pubs property sector enjoyed a resurgence in deal activity last year thanks to the economic recovery and improved consumer confidence, new research shows. The number of significant corporate deals that took place last year was similar to the number in the previous year, according to Fleurets, a commercial estate agent specialising in selling pubs. However [...]
Chief financial officers less concerned about Brexit uncertainty this year January 5, 2016 UK finance chiefs are more concerned about the domestic economy than they are about the uncertainty generated by a referendum on Britain's EU membership, new survey figures reveal today. The uncertainty surrounding a Brexit was cited as a risk by 41 per cent of chief financial officers (CFO), down from 50 per cent last year, according to the [...]
Strong US car sales heading for a record year in 2015 as General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Fiat and Nissan post booming sales January 5, 2016 US car makers posted strong December sales, fuelling expectations that 2015 sales will hit a record high, as analysts suggest a stronger economy and plunging petrol prices could send 2016 sales soaring higher still. December sales hit 17.8m vehicles, according to General Motors, besting the previous record from 2000 of 17.35m. The country’s car sales, [...]
At the close: FTSE 100 index closes up on miners despite losses in Next and Sainsbury’s January 5, 2016 The FTSE 100 index closed up today, outperforming other European markets, as miners made gains. The index closed 0.72 per cent up at 6,137 points, despite losses in Next, Sainsbury's and stocks in companies with exposure to China. Miners ended the day higher, with Glencore leading the pack and Anglo American and Rio Tinto not far behind, after [...]
Andrew Tyrie MP: HSBC chief executive Stuart Gulliver has questions to answer over latest IT failure with online and mobile banking services down January 5, 2016 HSBC chief executive Stuart Gulliver has serious questions to answer after the bank's latest IT glitch left customers locked out of their online and mobile banking accounts, a leading MP has claimed. Andrew Tyrie, a Conservative MP who chairs the influential Treasury select committee, said today that he will be asking Gulliver and the regulators for [...]
Retail therapy: British supermarket giant Sainsbury’s considers second bid for Argos owner Home Retail Group January 5, 2016 Sainsbury's is mulling over a second bid for Home Retail Group after it came clean yesterday about a £1bn unsolicited offer for the Argos and Homebase owner. The supermarket chain said it is “considering its position” after its initial cash and share bid in November was rejected by Home Retail’s board. Home Retail was also reportedly [...]
Orange and Bouygues Telecom share price soars on confirmed merger talks but French telco deal faces competition probes January 5, 2016 France’s largest mobile operator Orange has confirmed merger talks with rival Bouygues, marking the latest step in European telco firms’ race towards consolidation. A deal between the two, merging France’s largest and third-largest operators, has been estimated to be worth €10bn (£7.3bn). Rumours of the talks were first reported by French newspaper Journal de Dimanche [...]
AA drives into connected car tech with joint venture Intelematics Europe January 5, 2016 The AA has sealed a joint venture to develop connected car services which could improve roadside assistance services and even lower motorists' car insurance. The London-listed company today announced the launch of Intelematics Europe, a joint venture co-owned by the AA, two other European roadside assistant clubs and Intelematics. The move marks another step into the [...]
Hipsters and Mindfulness: Ladybird books prove a hit for bookseller Foyles January 5, 2016 Publisher Ladybird's series of spoof guides helping adults to make sense of modern day themes from hipsters to hangovers have proved a hit for bookseller Foyles this Christmas. The family-owned retailer said like-for-like sales jumped by 4.7 per cent for the month of December with seven of Ladybird's for grown up series making it into the [...]
Commodities swing into 2016: China sends shockwaves through commodity markets as copper falls and oil prices wobble on Middle East tension January 5, 2016 The new year started with a bang, as China worries wiped value off stock markets around the world, copper prices were squeezed and oil oscillated following an escalation of tensions in the Middle East. The glum start to the year means more uncertainty for commodity markets, already badly battered from last year, when a basket of [...]