It’s looking more like health secretary Jeremy Hunt will have to leave his job, according to bookies April 26, 2016 Today is the first all-out doctors' strike in the NHS's history, and while health secretary Jeremy Hunt has called it a "bleak day" for the NHS, it may turn out to be bleaker still for him. Bookies now reckon that he's most likely to be the next cabinet minister to resign or lose his job. [...]
Prime Minister David Cameron makes first visit to Port Talbot after sale announcement in March April 26, 2016 David Cameron met with Tata Steel management and unions at the Port Talbot steelworks today during his first visit since the sale plans were announced in March. Tata Steel's sale of its loss-making UK businesses has put tens of thousands of jobs in steel manufacturing and the wider supply chain at risk. Read more: UK steel is globally [...]
Emails between staff about fixing Libor were “improper”, says former Barclays senior executive April 26, 2016 A former senior executive at Barclays has today called emails between staff at the bank about setting Libor to better suit their trading position "improper". Eric Bommensath was formerly global head of fixed income at the bank and today gave evidence in a trial against five former Barclays employees accused of offences relating to manipulating US-dollar linked [...]
US and Europe are driving profits at Fiat Chrysler sending the share price higher April 26, 2016 Fiat Chrysler has reported first-quarter profit almost doubled to €1.3bn (£1bn) on the first three months of last year, up 88 per cent. The company, owner of the Jeep and Ram brands, has been focusing on higher-priced sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) and pickup trucks in the US. Sales of Jeeps globally rose 15 per cent compared to the same quarter last year. Car [...]
Obama effect holding steady as sterling soars against the dollar April 26, 2016 The pound has soared against the dollar today, smashing through the $1.46 mark and extending a run of gains that has caused sterling to rise by six per cent in the past 10 weeks. This afternoon, the pound was trading at $1.4614, up 0.91 per cent on the day. Sterling's gains were mirrored against the euro, where it was [...]
Blasphemy: Now we can buy low-sugar, low-calorie “skinny” prosecco thanks to Thomson & Scott April 26, 2016 The Italians will be appalled. British drinks company Thomson & Scott has launched a new Skinny Prosecco – a low-calorie, low-sugar version of prosecco to cater to health-conscious drinkers. It should come as no surprise that drink makers are capitalising on remaking prosecco, as for over a year the fizz has been outselling champagne in the UK. [...]
EU referendum: Vote Leave are not doing themselves any favours as Tyrie calls non-appearance in front of MPs “unacceptable” April 26, 2016 Vote Leave is not doing itself any favours. The official group campaigning to leave the EU has incurred the ire of the Treasury Select Committee's chairman after cancelling a scheduled appearance in front of MPs. Matthew Elliott, the chief executive of Vote Leave has declined to give evidence in front of the committee tomorrow because of [...]
Standard Chartered’s share price leaps as troubled bank begins to show signs of turnaround April 26, 2016 Standard Chartered's share price leaped more than 10 per cent today, as the beleaguered bank revealed green shoots in its turnaround plan. The figures This time three months ago, StanChart was revealing an $876m (£601bn) underlying pre-tax loss, today it has reported a profit of $539m. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2015, operating pre-tax profit was up 264 per [...]
Renewables-focused E.On eyes profit of up to €1bn in 2016 April 26, 2016 E.On set its sights today on net income of up to €1bn (£775m) this year as Germany's largest utilities company pushed forward on plans to spin-off its power plant and trading businesses to focus on renewable energy and distribution grids. E.On will list 53.4 per cent of its power plant and trading business, Uniper, providing it secures enough shareholder support at [...]
AB InBev snaps up Italian craft brewer a week after it agreed sale of Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime April 26, 2016 AB InBev has gulped down an Italian craft beer brand, only a week after it agreed to sell the premium Italian lager brand Peroni as part of its takeover of SABMiller. The world's largest brewer snapped up Italy's Birra del Borgo for an undisclosed sum, a week after it agreed a $2.55bn bid from Japan's Asahi [...]