UK steel industry to save millions of pounds after being given extra time to meet EU emissions regulations October 27, 2015 The UK's steel industry is set to save huge sums of money, thanks to flexibility in new EU regulations on emissions. Certain plants across the country will have as many as four and a half extra years to come within the stringent requirements, which are being introduced across Europe in January 2016. The extra time will [...]
Tesco shares and bonds snapped up by chairman John Allan October 27, 2015 Tesco chairman John Allan has snapped up more shares in the supermarket less than a month after he and four other board members, including chief executive Dave Lewis, purchased nearly half a million pounds worth collectively. Allan forked out another £100,000 in total, picking up 51,978 shares at 192.39 pence per share, the company said in a regulatory update, [...]
Littlewoods owner Shop Direct posts record profits thanks to mobile sales boom October 27, 2015 Shop Direct has posted a 78 per cent leap in full-year profits thanks to booming mobile sales and a surge in customers flocking to its main website Very.co.uk. The online retailer, which pulled the shutters down on its catalogue business this year, said pre-tax profits reached a record £71.7m in the year to 30 June [...]
Circassia Pharmaceuticals optimistic following strong sales growth in the third quarter October 27, 2015 Biopharmaceutical company Circassia reported strong sales in the third quarter, thanks largely to its NIOX asthma management products. During the three months to 27 October, NIOX sales amounted to £4.5m, which marks a 35 per cent increase from the same period the year before. This, combined with “good progress” made with clinical studies for its [...]
Pfizer share price rises on strong third quarter results and improved full-year outlook October 27, 2015 Following its acquisition of Hospira last month, things are looking up for Pfizer. The figures During the three months to 27 September, Pfizer experienced a rise in operational revenue compared to last year. The total figure for the third quarter was $12.2bn (£7.9bn), a two per cent total decline from the $12.4bn achieved in 2014. [...]
Metro Bank doubles its lending as it prepares for an IPO October 27, 2015 Leading challenger Metro Bank said today that its lending had more than doubled in the last 12 months, with similarly strong growth in deposits and customer accounts, as it announced its third-quarter results ahead of an expected initial public offering (IPO). Metro Bank, which has been in business since 2010, said today that it "continues to target" a listing [...]
UK GDP: Weapons manufacturing, ship repair and steel manufacturing are among the UK’s fastest-shrinking industries October 27, 2015 UK growth fell to 0.5 per cent in the third quarter, analysis by the Office for National Statistics suggested this morning. But while economists pointed to the construction sector for holding back growth, a closer look at the figures reveals it was far from the worst-faring industry during the quarter. That dubious accolade belongs to the coal [...]
Black Friday 2015 UK: Last year’s chaos at Tesco, Asda, John Lewis, Currys and Argos has put bargain hunters off October 27, 2015 Is last year’s mayhem putting a dampener on Black Friday this year? New figures would suggest yes. Black Friday sales drew shoppers in their millions last year as the American shopping extravaganza came to the UK. But the unprecedented throngs left many with a bad taste in their mouth – and this could be a [...]
West End retailers poised for £2.3bn Christmas and Black Friday 2015 shopping bonanza October 27, 2015 West End retailers are bracing themselves for a £2.3bn shopping bonanza this Christmas, with spending set to reach its highest level since 2007, as higher disposable incomes and lower prices help boost consumer confidence. London’s main shopping streets – Oxford Street, Bond Street and Regent Street – are expecting a 1.2 per cent uplift in sales [...]
Northern Powerhouse child development gap: Educational impact of North/South divide visible from age of five October 27, 2015 Children as young as five are suffering from the impact of the north-south divide on their development and education, a think tank has warned. Less than half of children born into the poorest families in the north of England reach a "good standard" of development by school age – but they are behind even their [...]