French consumer confidence shows no early signs of being dented by the Paris Attacks November 25, 2015 One of the earliest indicators of French consumer confidence in the wake of the Paris attacks held steady in November. The household confidence index was unchanged at a score of 96, according to figures released this morning by Insee, the French statistical office. However, only seven per cent of the data was collected after the [...]
Aldi issues recall alert over halogen oven – and why the supermarket won’t be taking part in Black Friday 2015 November 25, 2015 Aldi has issued a recall notice for a halogen oven sold in the UK over safety fears. Customers who bought the oven, which carries the product code 92746, on 22 October are being asked to return it to their nearest store “immediately”. It was sold as part of a Specialbuy event, the supermarket said. People have [...]
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 [...]
New home registrations remain stable over last quarter, as 37,582 recorded between August and October November 25, 2015 New home registrations have remained steady over the last quarter, according to figures released today from the National House-Building Council (NHBC). A total of 37,582 new homes were registered, split between 30,046 in the private sector and 7,536 in the public sector, between August and October. By comparison, 37,707 were recorded in the same period in 2014. The number of [...]
Two-thirds of London SMEs have their sights set on new markets, compared to just over half across the UK as a whole November 25, 2015 Two-thirds (66 per cent) of London small and medium enterprises (SMEs) plan to venture into new markets in the next two years. In a survey of over 1,000 British SMEs released today by Albion Ventures, more than half (58 per cent) of SMEs across the UK as a whole also said they planned to step [...]
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 [...]
Autumn Statement 2015 UK: Here’s how much each London borough makes from business rates November 25, 2015 The much-maligned business rates system could be in for a shakeup during today's Autumn Statement, after retailers held talks with the Treasury to demand urgent reforms to the regime. While some have suggested a major shakeup, including a revaluation of properties to ease pressure on retailers paying rates on properties last valued at the height [...]
UK house prices: Mortgage lending up 26 per cent in October as lending recovery gains momentum – the British Bankers’ Association November 25, 2015 Mortgage borrowing was a giant 26 per cent higher in October than in the same month last year, according to figures released by the British Bankers Association. The amount loaned out reached £12.9bn, with the number of mortgages approved by lenders up 27 per cent on last year. Approvals for house purchase were up 21 per [...]
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 [...]