Where can you earn most? Wages grow fastest in Northern Ireland, Wales and North East – but London still has the highest salaries July 15, 2015 Yes, wages are still highest in London – but the capital isn’t where salaries are growing fastest. Wage growth is higher than it’s been for five years, showed fresh labour market statistics released by the Office for National Statistics today. This is far from evenly split, however. Those working in Northern Ireland, the North East [...]
Wage growth hits five-year high but unemployment rises July 15, 2015 While UK wage growth soared to a five-year high in the three months to May, unemployment unexpectedly rose for the first time in more than two years. Average weekly earnings, including bonuses, rose 3.2 per cent during this period, slightly below economists' expectations for a 3.3 per cent rise according to figures released today by the Office [...]
Entertainment One share price falls as Marwyn Value Investors sells Peppa Pig slice July 15, 2015 The investment firm behind the maker of hit kids TV show Peppa Pig has sold off part of its stake in the company. Marwyn Value Investors has sold a nine per cent holding in production company Entertainment One, which is also the distributor of films such as the Hunger Games and 12 Years a Slave, [...]
Aga Rangemaster share price leaps as it confirms £129m takeover July 15, 2015 Shares in posh oven maker Aga Rangemaster shot up almost 20 per cent in early trading, after it confirmed a takeover by US cooking equipment manufacturer Middleby. Under the deal, Aga shareholders will receive 185p per share, 77 per cent higher than the closing price on 16 June, the day before Middleby made its offer. [...]
British Gas to cut household prices by five per cent July 15, 2015 British Gas has promised to cut household gas bills by five per cent – the second such reduction in six months. The price cut will come into effect for British Gas' 6.9 million customers from 27 August. The utilities giant said this latest drop would save the average home £35. In total this year's [...]
Afren shares have been suspended July 15, 2015 Shares in embattled oil producer Afren were suspended this morning as uncertainty regarding its financial position left it unable to accurately update the market. The Nigeria-focused company's shares were suspended at 7.30am by the Financial Conduct Authority at the request of the oil producer pending an announcement. Afren later said that an ongoing business review [...]
Britain facing winter of blackouts as National Grid warns of tightest power supply in a decade July 15, 2015 Britain could be facing a winter of blackouts, with National Grid warning of the tightest winter power supplies in a decade. The country now has just 1.2 per cent of spare capacity in the system, down from 4.1 per cent last year, according to the winter review and consultation showed. It is mostly because [...]
Britain’s night-time economy is valuable and needs protecting July 15, 2015 Summer in the UK is renowned for its festival calendar with Glastonbury, Wireless, Reading, V Festival and Bestival attracting revelers – young and old – from across the UK, Europe and further afield. But beyond the headline live music festivals, pop-ups such as Notting Hill Carnival, Lovebox, the Somerset House Summer Series and Opera in [...]
First quarter sales lift at Burberry despite drag from Asian markets as chief executive Christopher Bailey braces for more shareholder dissent July 15, 2015 Having lowered full-year guidance in May, Burberry posted underlying retail sales for eight per cent in the three months to the end of June, up eight per cent from the first quarter of last year. The figures Burberry pointed out that the first quarter is "historically the smallest for retail", so that eight per cent uplift [...]
International Monetary Fund slams Greece deal, encouraging lenders to write down debt July 15, 2015 The International Monetary Fund (IMF), one of Greece's three key lenders, has heavily criticised a deal it reached with its creditors at a summit over the weekend, saying the country's debts have become "highly unsustainable". On Monday the Fund had said it "stands ready to work with the Greek authorities and the European partners" on [...]