Which world tourist attraction has the longest queue? October 12, 2015 Across the world wonders including Eiffel Tower, Sistine Chapel and the Metropolitan Art Museum are open to curious travellers. But with holidays never seeming long enough, there's an additional cost to viewing these attractions: the waiting time. Just which global attraction would you have to wait the longest for, though? Get Your Guide, a travel guide, has collated [...]
Bring me sunshine: Retailers believe weather is the main driver of consumer demand, says Met Office October 12, 2015 There is nothing that retailers like – or hate – more than to blame the weather for wreaking havoc on sales. Sausage roll-maker Greggs’ sales go soggy if conditions are too wet or too hot. Last autumn’s Indian Summer made it hard for retailers to shift jumpers and coats off the shelves. And the washout [...]
Government sells off its final stake in Royal Mail – but only institutional investors need apply October 12, 2015 The government has announced plans to sell off its final stake in Royal Mail, two years after it began privatising the company – but true to form, only institutional investors will get a chance to buy the shares. In a statement today, it said had begun the process of selling off its remaining shareholding, which [...]
Diageo looking better after a few shots (of cash) as Moody’s gives the seal of approval for its asset swap with Heineken October 12, 2015 Diageo's fortunes are looking up, after Moody's predicted the company's finances will recover over the next 12-18 months, boosted by its asset swap with Heineken last week. Diageo received £515m from selling its holdings in Jamaican brewer Desnoes & Geddes and Malaysian-listed GAPL to Heineken, in return for Heineken's 20 per cent stake in Guinness Ghana Breweries, which will increase Diageo's shareholding [...]
Starbucks, Costa, Caffe Nero, Wild Bean Cafe and Pret A Manger compared: Where does your morning coffee cost the most? October 12, 2015 The United Kingdom adores coffee: a cup of java can now be sought out on almost every street in London, and there is no shortage of punters. That's why coffee enthusiasts can choose from (wait for it): Starbucks, Costa, Caffe Nero, Wild Bean Cafe, Pret A Manger, and a range of smaller independent coffee shops. Read more: Starbucks lets [...]
EU referendum: Business and markets need to start thinking through Brexit risks October 12, 2015 The formation of the 'leave' and 'remain' groups to fight their respective corners in the Brexit debate should be a further reminder to both business and markets that the referendum on the United Kingdom's place in the European Union is coming. We do not yet know the date for the referendum, nor are details of [...]
Facebook will be scrutinised by MPs over corporation tax October 12, 2015 Members of an influential parliamentary committee will be looking into Facebook, after it was revealed that the social media giant paid just £4,327 in corporation tax last year. Meg Hillier, the MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch who recently took the reins of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), has confirmed that backbenchers on the committee will talk [...]
SSI coke ovens and blast furnace to be closed after no viable offer was made for Redcar plant October 12, 2015 SSI's Redcar steel plant will be closed after no viable offers were received from potential buyers, the government confirmed this afternoon. SSI was wound up by the high court in Manchester last week at the company's request, but the Official Receiver had kept the site running while talks took place with interested parties, in the hope [...]
Standard & Poor’s slashes Volkswagen’s credit rating on emissions scandal October 12, 2015 More bad news for beleaguered car maker Volkswagen, after Standard & Poor's lowered its credit rating, as well as its bank and financial services arms. In a statement today, S&P said it was lowering VW's long- and short-term ratings to A/A-2, from A/A-1, and left its outlook at "negative", taking the same action with VW Financial Services [...]
Camden Tube refurbishment: Transport for London proposes “substantial” upgrade of north London station October 12, 2015 Transport for London has set out its plan for a major overhaul of Camden Town Tube station to make it fit for the volume of traffic the north London stop receives each day. TfL said the station, which is used by more than 80,000 people a day, would "completely transformed" under the plans, which have been [...]