Oil rout forces Kuwait to hike petrol prices 80 per cent August 2, 2016 Kuwait will hike its petrol prices by more than 80 per cent from 1 September, as part of the Opec member's adjustment to lower for longer oil prices. Its cabinet said yesterday that the price for the highest grade petrol would rise to 165 fils a litre, from 90 currently, according to a report by state news agency KUNA. Read [...]
The unbearable overload of inboxes: A new way after-work emailing is killing your productivity August 2, 2016 Ever feel like the incessant attention your inbox needs is driving you to distraction? Phone buzzing late into the night, disrupting dinner plans and generally more needy than a small toddler, the good news is that you're not the only one – the bad news is, it's bad for you. Scientists have found that checking your email outside [...]
Why it pays for TV networks to have their own flagship shows August 2, 2016 Fans are often frustrated by the fact TV network HBO's smash hit series Game of Throne isn't available on rival platforms such as Netflix. But new research suggests that holding onto exclusivity rights isn't just good for TV operators, it also benefit consumers. Read more: Play your own Game of Thrones in Northern Ireland Other [...]
Bad news for estate agents: LSL property services says housing transactions likely to “remain suppressed” in coming months August 2, 2016 Residential property services group LSL Property Services said this morning that it expects housing sales volumes to "remain suppressed" in the coming months. The outlook from the company – which reported it interim results this morning – comes as new research was released showing that home ownership has fallen to a 30-year low. Read more: Everything [...]
Construction output tumbles at fastest pace since 2009 but sterling gains ground August 2, 2016 Activity in the construction sector is shrinking at its fastest pace in seven years, but has still managed to beat some exceptionally gloomy forecasts, helping the pound climb against the dollar. The Markit/Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) survey came in at 45.9 on an index where scores below 50 signify contraction. This was only slightly down [...]
TfL are cracking down on illegal taxis and minicabs, but unions says it’s failing to look at “e-hailing” services like Uber August 2, 2016 Sadiq Khan has unveiled plans to crack down on illegal taxis and minicabs – but transport union RMT has complained the drive will fail to look at smartphone services like Uber. Transport for London (TfL) will hire an additional 250 hi-vis wearing compliance officers by September 2017, quadrupling the number available to tackle illegal cabs at sites across London including Kings Cross, [...]
Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse booted from top stock market index August 2, 2016 The bad news just keeps on coming for the naughty children of the European banking sector. To top off what has been one of the finest examples of a corporate annus horribilis, both Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse are to be kicked out of the Eurostoxx 50 after their market cap has shrunk to record lows. [...]
City heavyweight Lady Barbara Judge has joined a startup August 2, 2016 One of the most well-known women in British business and the outgoing head of the pensions lifeboat is joining a technology startup that wants to disrupt how businesses manage workers. Lady Barbara Judge, who also chairs the Institute of Directors (IOD), has been named chairman of Hibob, the London-based startup which boasts backing from Saul and Robin Klein's [...]
Construction supplier Travis Perkins says demand weakened after the Brexit vote – and says housing transactions are “unlikely to be positive” after the Brexit vote August 2, 2016 Builder's merchant Travis Perkins share price was hit this morning after the company said sales growth in July was knocked by the Brexit vote. The construction materials supplier's share price fell by 2.72 per cent in morning trading, despite announcing in its interims that like-for-like sales were up by 3.1 per cent in the six months to the end [...]
Oscar-winning actor Mark Rylance heads a list of 200 names protesting BP’s renewed sponsorship of London’s arts scene August 2, 2016 Oscar-winning actor Mark Rylance is among the stars to have signed a letter slamming BP's sponsorship of London's leading cultural institutions. Rylance, who was previously the artistic director of Shakespeare's Globe theatre, heads a list of 200 artists, scientists and campaigners condemning the oil giant's association with the arts scene. BP renewed its sponsorship of [...]