Bad news expected from UK bank results this week, with profits forecast to slump at HSBC and a loss predicted for RBS July 31, 2016 Another bumper week of UK banking earnings is expected to bring a fresh dose of bad news, with profits expected to slide at HSBC and a loss forecast at RBS. Analysts have estimated banking giant HSBC, which will reveal earnings in the early hours of Wednesday morning, will report a fall in pre-tax earnings of 40 [...]
North Sea oil workers ready for fresh strike as low prices bite July 31, 2016 North Sea oil workers are preparing to walk out for the second time in just over a week, as the embattled sector continues to struggle amid stubbornly low oil prices. Workers will go on strike for 48 hours on 4 August, as part of an ongoing dispute over changes to wages and shift patterns which has pitted trade [...]
Interest rates could be about to get more interesting, with cut to 0.25 per cent widely expected next week July 31, 2016 Banks and savers alike will be bracing themselves for Thursday's Bank of England announcement, when it is largely expected interest rates will be chopped. The bank surprised many a few weeks ago when it opted to hold interest rates at its historically low 0.5 per cent level, where it has stuck since March 2009. Many [...]
China’s Ant Financial is testing out blockchain technology July 31, 2016 Ant Financial, the Chinese fintech giant spun off from Alibaba, is testing out blockchain technology for the first time to build a more transparent process for donating money. The group's charity platform, Ant Love, will use blockchain technology to track donations to one project being funded via the site. “We are trying to bring small and [...]
Legendary Mayfair nightspot Annabel’s saw its profits boosted by cost-cutting in 2015 July 31, 2016 Legendary Mayfair nightclub Annabel's has been boosted by improved profits after a year of cost-cutting. The club, named after English socialite Annabel Goldsmith, recorded profits of £2.7m for the year to 27 December, up from £2.1m in 2014, despite revenue dipping from £8.4m to £8.1m. Read More: Caring toasts rise in sales at restaurant empire According [...]
Retail industry attention turns to high street bellwether Next July 31, 2016 The retail industry's attention will turn to Next, with the UK high street bellwether expected to report a fall in sales in the coming week. The FTSE-100 listed firm's widely-watched results are regarded as a good indicator for how its peers, such as Marks & Spencer, are faring. Read more: Retailers rocked by sales shocker Next's trading is likely to have [...]
Winter is coming for Game of Thrones as HBO reveals final season July 31, 2016 It's time to say goodbye to John Snow for real this time… on the small screen, at least. The show of the century, Game of Thrones, is officially coming to an end, its maker HBO has said. There will be just two more seasons of the hit show which has been a cash cow (or should that [...]
Now the pensions watchdog is taking a closer look at the rest of Green’s empire July 31, 2016 Sir Philip Green may have a fresh set of questions to answer, as the pensions watchdog has launched a probe into the Arcadia Group. The Pensions Regulator (TPR) is already looking at whether it can demand Green foots the bill for the blackhole in the BHS pension scheme. Now, The Sunday Times has reported TPR is investigating [...]
This top ad boss has been suspended after sharing his dodgy views on gender July 31, 2016 One of the UK's top advertising bosses has been told to take a "leave of absence" after making some dodgy claims about gender diversity in advertising that incurred the derision of some of the most powerful women in the industry. The chairman of Saatchi and Saatchi Worldwide Kevin Roberts, who also has the title "head coach" for its [...]
You’re probably not earning that “graduate premium” you were told about July 31, 2016 Young people entering higher education to boost their future earnings are in for a shock, according to new research, which claims the idea of an earnings premium for graduates has become a myth. “Any politician or policy-maker who dangles the carrot of an average lifetime earnings premium should be challenged for gross mis-selling," said co-founder [...]