Sterling stops the Brexit slide by hitting three-week high August 23, 2016 The pound has climbed higher again today as the trickle of strong post-referendum data boosts the outlook for the beleaguered currency. Sterling briefly touched above $1.32 this morning, a three-week high, before falling back to stand at $1.3187, up 0.4 per cent on the day and nearly four cents clear of last week's low. The pound also [...]
It seems as if Jeremy Corbyn wanted to sit on the floor of apparently “ram-packed” Virgin Trains service August 23, 2016 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn sat on the floor for his journey from London to Newcastle last week to meet Owen Smith for their hustings. He said: “This is a problem that many passengers face every day, commuters and long-distance travellers. Today this train is completely ram-packed. The staff are absolutely brilliant, working really hard to help [...]
This challenger bank is moving to a larger London HQ August 23, 2016 Hampshire Trust Bank has revealed today it will be moving to larger London headquarters to house its expanded team. The bank, which launched in its current format two years ago, is planning to make the move from its 7,500 square foot headquarters near the Barbican to a newly refurbished 21,000 square foot office on Bishopsgate. In its most [...]
Best Buy’s share price has jumped ahead of the opening bell August 23, 2016 Shares in the largest US consumer electronics retailer Best Buy have leapt ahead of the opening bell in New York after posting a rare rise in sales. An hour ahead of the open the company's shares were 16 per cent higher at $38.18 in pre-market trading. The boost to shares came from an up-tick in forecasts for the third [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open August 23, 2016 The sun is shining in London, the FTSE 100 is higher, and across the pond markets look set for a rise on the opening bell. Here's what you need to know before the US market open at 2:30pm London time. US futures are pointing higher ahead of the open. The S&P is up by 0.24 per cent, [...]
Watch out Carney: Here’s what Japan’s central bank just said about fintech August 23, 2016 The Bank of England made history this summer with the launch of the first ever fintech accelerator by a central bank. But, forward-thinking Mark Carney is not the only governor eyeing the potential of the fintech sector and its future role in monetary policy making and central banking. Haruhiko Kuroda, the governor of the Bank of Japan, has indicated [...]
Supermarket sales creep upwards as grocers benefit from the summer sun August 23, 2016 Grocery sales edged up this summer as sunny weather encouraged shoppers to spend. According to data from Kantar Worldpanel, supermarket sales increased by 0.3 per cent in the 12 weeks to 14 August – the fastest growth in the grocery market since March this year. There is no evidence yet to suggest the Brexit vote [...]
Weak pound prompts overseas spending spree in UK August 23, 2016 Tourists are hitting the UK's shops like never before as they cash in on a weak pound to snap up British goods at knock-down prices, new payment data has revealed. Card payment giant WorldPay said today spending from foreign cards at UK stores has jumped by 12.4 per cent since the referendum. The climb mirrors the 14 per cent [...]
Come fly with me? City Airport will start playing songs during security screenings to entertain passengers August 23, 2016 London City Airport has decided to play music for passengers as they go through the airport's security search area because it will apparently provide a positive distraction. The airport says that music psychologist from the University of Sheffield has argued the background music may provide a positive distraction whilst proceeding through security, enhance the experience and [...]
The Ofsted boss at the heart of a row about the Isle of Wight has resigned August 23, 2016 The chairman of education watchdog Ofsted has resigned after calling the Isle of Wight a “ghetto” and claiming the island was home to “inbreeding”. David Hoare has stepped down with immediate effect, writing in a statement that it had been “a great privilege” to chair the watchdog's board since 2014. Education secretary Justine Greening said: [...]