Npower chief facing bonus cut after customer service gaffes December 3, 2013 RWE NPOWER’S chief executive Paul Massara will have the size of his bonus slashed after research showed the energy supplier’s customer complaint levels had spiked in the last year. “Customer service is one of the elements of Paul’s bonus and it is clear that this element will be reduced for this year,” said a company [...]
Shop prices fall again to ease Christmas costs December 3, 2013 SHOP prices fell again in November, industry figures showed yesterday, recording the seventh consecutive month of deflation on the high street. Overall prices fell 0.3 per cent compared with the same month of 2012, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said. Food prices increased by 2.3 per cent on the year, but other products saw an overall dip [...]
Britons in top three for leaving big inheritances to their children December 3, 2013 BRITAIN’S pensioners plan to leave more to their children than any others in the western world, an HSBC study showed yesterday. Two-thirds expect to leave something to their families, with an average value of £182,144 – well above next ranked country France where the figure stands at £143,379. Only two countries in the world expect [...]
Foreign firms rush to buy up UK businesses December 3, 2013 THE ECONOMIC recovery is making the UK an increasingly attractive investment destination for overseas firms, analysts said yesterday, as official data showed a sharp rise in foreign firms buying UK businesses. In the third quarter 46 UK firms were acquired by overseas buyers, a rise of 39 per cent on the previous three-month period. The figure is also [...]
Festive retail jobs are on the rise December 3, 2013 RETAIL and construction employment are benefiting particularly from the boost to economic growth in recent quarters, with shops ramping up their hiring ahead of Christmas. Reed’s latest job index climbed by 28 per cent in the year to November, but the retail section has risen at almost twice the pace, with 49 per cent more [...]
Eurozone factory prices slump to near four-year low in October December 3, 2013 PRICES at factory gates in the 17 countries using the euro declined 0.5 per cent in October against September, the EU’s statistics office said yesterday, the first monthly decline in five months. Changes in producer prices, unless absorbed by retailers, eventually translate into changes in the consumer price index, which the European Central Bank wants [...]
Damac steers London listing over the line December 3, 2013 The Dubai-based property group became the first major company from the region to float in London since 2007, yesterday. David Hellier went to meet its founder. FOR a man who had just spearheaded a main market share listing in London and had been to the London Stock Exchange for its market opening ceremony, Damac founder [...]
Westfield to separate UK arm from Australian operations December 3, 2013 THE PARENT company of west London shopping centre Westfields yesterday said it would carve out its international operations into a standalone business. Westfield Group, which is listed in its Australian homeland, said it will form a company called Westfield Corporation to house its UK and overseas operations. Its native operations in Australia and New Zealand [...]
Aggreko steps into the ring with Cirque du Soleil December 3, 2013 AGGREKO has signed a deal to supply power and temperature control systems to the world famous Cirque du Soleil for the next four years. The FTSE 100-listed temporary power provider, which supplied electricity for the 2012 London Olympics, said yesterday it will power the Montreal-based circus’ big-top touring shows across the US, Canada, Latin America, [...]
Commerzbank offices searched as part of tax evasion investigation December 3, 2013 GERMAN prosecutors searched Commerzbank offices yesterday, looking for evidence that a foreign life insurance company may have helped German investors evade taxes. State prosecutors in Bochum said around 270 tax officials searched the bank’s headquarters and branches across Germany, looking into the sale of wealth management products “disguised” as tax-efficient life insurance policies. “The aim [...]