Luxembourg grants Bitstamp the first European bitcoin exchange licence April 26, 2016 One of the world's largest bitcoin exchanges, Bitstamp, has been awarded a licence to operate as a fully regulated payment institution in Luxembourg. Bitstamp boasted it made it the first fully licensed bitcoin exchange in Europe, amid hopes it will increase the exchanges legitimacy and boost trading volumes. The licence comes into effect on 1 July [...]
EU referendum: Wetherspoon boss warns European Union is “doomed” because it lacks democracy April 26, 2016 The European Union is "doomed" because it doesn’t have the level of democracy required to make it a great economic region, the boss of one of the UK's biggest pub chains has warned. Tim Martin, the chairman of JD Wetherspoon and a staunch supporter of the Leave campaign, said that just as the euro could [...]
Citigroup shareholders rebel against executive pay scheme April 26, 2016 Citigroup shareholders have rebelled against the company's executive pay scheme, with more than a third of voters going against the bank's plan. Near 64 per cent of shareholders voted in favour of the company's executive pay packages, the bank said at its annual meeting, down from 84 per cent who voted in favour last year. [...]
Exxon Mobil has been stripped of its top-notch credit rating April 26, 2016 Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s has busted Exxon Mobil down from its perfect credit rating. Exxon, the world’s largest publicly-traded energy group, has lost its top rating due to the problems caused by the collapse of the oil price. Exxon's rating has been reduced to “AA+” from “AAA” due to “low commodity prices, high reinvestment requirements, and large dividend payments”. Earlier today BP [...]
Salaries are soaring among building firms as pressure mounts to find skilled bricklayers, says Federation of Master Builders April 26, 2016 More than two-thirds of small UK building firms forecast a jump in salaries and wages over the next six months as competition for skilled bricklayers intensifies. Brickies are already able to command wages of up to £60,000 per year in London and around £45,000 a year in the north of England. However these salaries could be even higher in the future [...]
These are the most sought-after cities for British stag and hen parties April 26, 2016 Wedding season is nearly upon us, and brides and grooms to be are likely to be snowed under with planning the most important event of their lives – the bachelor party. London is the most sought-after destination for British soon-to-be-weds, according to new research, but with bachelor and hen parties becoming ever more expensive, aspiring husbands [...]
EU referendum: Usdaw union backs Remain ahead of vote in June April 26, 2016 A second trade union in a week has come out in support of remaining in the EU, in a blow to Leave campaigners. Usdaw, one of the UK's largest trade unions, today announced it would be backing British membership of the EU at its conference, a day after the CWU union committed its support for the same [...]
Hinkley Point C: Senior representatives from EDF called by MPs to explain delay to investment decision April 26, 2016 Senior representatives from EDF have been called by MPs to explain why there has been a delay in making an investment decision on a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C. On Sunday it came to light that EDF had delayed its final investment decision on the building of a new £18bn power plant [...]
Former Barclays boss Bob Diamond confirms bid talks for bank’s Africa unit April 26, 2016 Bob Diamond, the former Barclays chief executive who resigned from the bank in the wake of the Libor-rigging scandal, has taken another step towards seizing Barclays' Africa arm. Atlas Mara, the London-listed investment company Diamond co-founded in 2013, today revealed it was in talks for Barclays Africa unit which was put up for sale last month due [...]
Megabrew: American Antitrust Institute flags “serious competitive concerns” with AB InBev’s takeover of SABMiller April 26, 2016 An American antitrust organisation has flagged "serious competitive concerns" with the AB InBev takeover of British drinks giant SABMiller. "An AB InBev-SABMiller combination raises serious competitive concerns in the US beer market," Diana Moss, president of the American Antitrust Institute (AAI) said in a letter to the US Department of Justice. The proposed merger, which was [...]