HSBC AGM: Remuneration report easily passed by shareholders April 22, 2016 If you were expecting some revolutionary zeal from HSBC's shareholders at today's AGM, you might be surprised at how easily the bank's executive pay has been approved. The directors' remuneration report was passed with 90.49 per cent of the vote today, while the directors' remuneration policy was approved with 96.05 per cent of the vote. That [...]
Accountants warn that UK households are suffering from “massive over-indebtedness” April 22, 2016 Britain’s accountants have sounded the alarm bells over what they see as dangerously high levels of debt across Britain. In a new report, launched today, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), said a “growing amount of evidence indicated [there was] a massive over-indebtedness by vulnerable groups in UK society”. Unsurprisingly, students, the self-employed and [...]
EU referendum: Vote Leave’s claim £350m a week is given to Brussels slammed by the UK Statistics Authority April 22, 2016 Vote Leave, the designated Out campaigning machine, frequently says that the UK gives £350m to Brussels. Michael Gove and Boris Johnson are among those who use the statistic to make a point about how the UK loses out from membership of the EU. But that statistic has now been slammed by the UK's statistic watchdog [...]
Why 2017 will be the year you run the London Marathon – and how technology can help you run faster, longer and fitter April 22, 2016 New technologies announced with each marathon are redefining the sport, opening it up to people that wouldn’t have dreamed of running 26 miles a few years ago. The London Marathon proves that runners just can’t get enough of data: wearables, smart devices and smart clothing are likely to be out in force. On paper, running is probably the [...]
EU referendum: Irish PM Edna Kenny wants citizens to make pro-EU case to UK relatives April 22, 2016 Irish citizens should be making a positive case about the EU to their British relatives to help shore up support ahead of the UK's referendum, the Irish Prime Minister said. Taoiseach Edna Kenny acknowledged that the decision is for British people to make, but that the Irish should reach out to family and friends to help [...]
HSBC AGM: Douglas Flint talks pay, Panama, Brexit and his exit own (Flexit?) as he confirms the hunt for his successor is on April 22, 2016 HSBC's chairman Douglas Flint has admitted he is "not content" with the 23 per cent drop in the bank's share price this year – but has passed the blame onto the wider market. The banking boss, who this morning confirmed the hunt for his successor is on but confirmed he would remain as long as necessary, claimed jitters [...]
Grexit: Europe tells Greece there will be no discussion about writing off any of its bailout debt April 22, 2016 The European Commission has told Greece it is not considering writing off any of the €86bn (£67.5bn) handed over during the Greek bailout crisis, as it aims to have a new package of reforms wrapped up within the next week. Finance chiefs from Eurozone countries gathered in Amsterdam this morning to discuss the latest progress on the Greek bailout, [...]
Why the exciting world of Shakespeare-branded products could be about to take the continent by storm April 22, 2016 A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse! — or a bar of soap, anyway… Yes, to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, the UK's export authority has pointed out that toiletries and home furnishings branded with the Bard’s name have a "huge opportunity for global promotion". The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is getting [...]
Housebuilder share prices jump as analyst turns totally positive on UK housebuilders April 22, 2016 Shares in housebuilders have suffered in recent months, partly thanks to analyst Liberum, which in November published a note suggesting shares in UK housebuilders were "overvalued". But this morning, the analyst turned (slightly) bullish, saying it was "less cautious" about housebuilders' share prices. Back in November, Liberum's Charlie Campbell downgraded Barratt, Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey to "sell", saying [...]