Bank of England governor Mark Carney warns Brussels against curbing the central bank’s powers October 22, 2015 Bank of England chief Mark Carney last night warned Brussels against stepping on its toes, in a highly-anticipated speech on Britain’s EU membership. Carney warned that inflexible financial regulations are making it harder for the Bank to watch over the UK’s financial centre. He took aim at the EU’s bankers’ bonus cap, arguing that it [...]
UK government finances back on track as George Osborne tries to balance the books October 21, 2015 The government borrowed £1.6bn less in September than it did in the same month in 2014, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics yesterday. Government borrowing since April, which tends to be a better indicator of state finances than single monthly figures that can be volatile, is down £7.5bn to £46.3bn. Chancellor George [...]
Valeant Pharmaceuticals slams scathing note on drug sales in bid to reverse share price spiral October 21, 2015 Under fire drug company Valeant Pharmaceuticals tried to halt its plummeting share price yesterday by hitting back at a damning note that questioned the medical firm’s relationship with specialty mail-order pharmacies . Valeant shares plunged as much as 30 per cent to $88.58 yesterday after Citron Research accused the company of fraud, saying it used [...]
Merlin and China Media Capital strike joint venture deal to open Legoland in Shanghai October 21, 2015 Madame Tussauds owner Merlin Entertainments announced that it has struck a joint venture agreement with China Media Capital to develop new attractions in China including a Legoland in Shanghai. Under the agreement, which was announced as part of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit, the pair also plan to develop various other Merlin brands across China [...]
British Bankers’ Association warns banking jobs are shifting from London to regional cities October 21, 2015 Banking jobs are shifting from London to smaller, regional cities, according to a new report from the British Bankers’ Association (BBA). According to the banking industry group, while the industry has shrunk in the capital in the past two years, banking jobs are booming in such places as Tunbridge Wells, South Gloucestershire, Chelmsford and North [...]
Lonmin share price dips as it reveals plans for cash call in the face of debt crunch October 21, 2015 Embattled Lonmin has become the latest miner to ask for cash from its shareholders, as it struggles with an unwieldy debt load taken on at the height of the commodities boom. The South African platinum producer outlined plans for a $400m (£259m) rights issue, which it needs for banks to agree to $370m in debt facilities that will [...]
NewRiver Retail eyes a move from Aim to the main market after £54m Punch Taverns deal October 21, 2015 Retail and pub landlord NewRiver Retail said a recent acquisition spree helped assets under management to top £1bn in the second quarter, paving the way for a move from Aim to the main market next year. NewRiver, which owns shopping centres including Regents Court in Leamington Spa and The Martlets in Burgess Hill, said assets [...]
London-listed Russian hypermarket chain Lenta raises $150m for expansion October 21, 2015 Russia's second biggest hypermarket chain Lenta has raised $150m (£97m) through the sale of new shares to fund its expansion, despite a tough economic backdrop at home. The London-listed company, which has 122 hypermarkets in 63 cities across Russia and 27 supermarkets around Moscow, said it sold 21.1m new global depositary receipts (GDRs) through an accelerated [...]
Reckitt Benckiser share price climbs 2.5 per cent as Nurofen owner posts hike in sales October 21, 2015 Shares in Reckitt Benckiser climbed higher today after the Nurofen and Strepsil owner posted better-than-expected third-quarter sales and boosted its full-year guidance. The FTSE 100 company, which owns everything from Finish dishwasher tablets to Durex condoms, said like-for-like sales rose by seven per cent in the third quarter, beating analyst expectations of around 5.2 per [...]
IMF fires growth warning to Middle East Gulf states amid oil price falls October 21, 2015 The IMF expects economic growth to slow down across the Gulf States over 2015 and 2016, blaming falling oil prices and geopolitical instability for the downturn. It estimates a growth of 3.3 per cent across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economies this year, followed by a 2.8 per cent growth next year. This reflects a [...]