UK set to face ‘sluggish’ growth in the face of sticky inflation and Bank of England interest rate hikes
Biggest wage increase in nearly eight years expected June 15, 2015 Employment figures due out later this week are likely to show Britons enjoyed bumper pay cheques in April, according to the Resolution Foundation think tank, with wages rising at the fastest pace since October 2007. The think tank predicts that average weekly wages swelled between 2.5 per cent to 2.6 per cent year-on-year. When combined [...]
Majestic Wine profits fall after group makes big investments for the future with Naked Wines aquisition June 15, 2015 Majestic Wine’s profits fell 12.2 per cent during 2015, after the company spent big in acquiring rival Naked Wines. Chief executive Rowan Gormley admitted the company will suffer a short-term hit to its profit as it looked to invest in the short term. The figures Adjusted profit before tax fell to £20.9m in the 52 weeks [...]
“Gatwick Gusher” firm UK Oil & Gas share price rises as it extends Isle of Wight exploration license June 15, 2015 Shares in UK Oil & Gas (UKOG), the oil exploration company whose shares rocketed earlier this month after it suggested the amount of oil at its Horse Hill well near Gatwick was almost twice as much as previously thought, jumped 4.2 per cent to 2.37p as the market opened, after it was granted a year-long [...]
Thomas Cook targets China with Fosun joint venture June 15, 2015 Thomas Cook, one of the UK's largest holiday companies, today announced plans to take on the Chinese travel market with Fosun International, the Chinese group which took a five per cent stake in Thomas Cook in March. The pair said the venture, which will be launched under the Thomas Cook brand, will be 51 per [...]
No end in sight for London house price boom: Average asking price soars to more than £600,000 June 15, 2015 House prices in the capital are set to outpace earnings for the foreseeable future, despite government efforts to boost house building and affordability. Average London asking prices have jumped to £613,922 – above £600,000 for the first time ever – according to Rightmove data published today. It marks a rise of 5.8 per cent compared [...]
One in three Tory MPs said to back eurosceptic group Conservatives for Britain June 15, 2015 More than one-third of Conservative MPs have put their weight behind a new eurosceptic group, just one week after it was set up. Conservatives for Britain founder Steve Baker, the MP for Wycombe, told City A.M. yesterday that over 110 MPs have expressed interest in the group. Baker added that while the group is preparing [...]
House of Fraser owner Sanpower eyes takeover of toy shop Hamleys June 15, 2015 The Chinese owner of House of Fraser is rumoured to be planning another buying spree in the UK with the country’s most famous toy shop Hamleys next on its shopping list. Yuan Yafei, the chairman of Nanjing-based conglomerate Sanpower, is understood to be in talks to buy the famous chain from its French owner, [...]
RBS hiring drive to aid challenger bank Williams & Glyn disposal June 14, 2015 One-fifth of the hires RBS is looking to make fall within the Williams & Glyn challenger bank being carved out of the state-backed lender, illustrating the scale of the task at hand as RBS readies itself to launch the revived brand as its deadline draws nearer. Of the 1,235 open positions being advertised on the [...]
Saudi Arabian stock exchange to open up to foreign investments June 14, 2015 The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is today opening its $500bn-plus Tadawul stock exchange to direct foreign investments, with the move to be closely watched by investors seeking opportunities in the Middle East. Under the new rules, qualified foreign investors with a minimum $5bn in assets under management and at least five years’ experience in the [...]
Insurance giant Aviva to slim down with sale of property debt June 14, 2015 Aviva, the FTSE 100 insurance firm, is said to be selling off property loans to the value of billions of pounds. One source familiar with the matter told City A.M. that big four audit firm Deloitte is currently working with Aviva. The property debt reportedly includes loans secured against House of Fraser’s department store in [...]