Npower names and shames UK’s poshest postcodes as biggest energy wasters January 22, 2014 Npower’s chief executive Paul Massara has been given a hard time today after saying that the UK’s inefficient "old and draughty" houses mean "bills are high because [they] waste so much energy". The comments are part and parcel of a 14-page document on how to reduce bills by the Big Six company, which rival Ofgem [...]
Wetherspoons slams pub taxes as sales improve January 22, 2014 Pub chain JD Wetherspoon has used its pre-close statement to strongly criticise what it regards as an unfair tax regime: The pub industry continues to pay far higher taxes than supermarkets do, mainly as a result of an unequal and unfair VAT and business rates burden. This tax inequality has greatly widened the pricing differential [...]
AstraZeneca’s new diabetes drug gets green light in Europe January 22, 2014 Drugmaker AstraZeneca has been given the stamp of approval from European regulators for a drug to treat type 2 diabetes. Xigduo is the first fixed-dose combination to receive regulatory approval. It combines in twice daily tablet Forxiga, a SGLT2 inhibitor that lessens the reabsorption of excess glucose, and metformin, the standard drug for treating the disease. [...]
Walkie Scorchie owner rides development boom January 22, 2014 The owner of the Walkie Talkie tower (aka Walkie Scorchie), Land Securities, has reported strong activity in developments and occupancy, according to its third quarter interim management statement. The UK's largest commercial property owner also said it expects to submit a planning application next month for its solution to "the solar glare issue" afflicting the [...]
Whitbread to say goodbye to chairman Habgood January 22, 2014 Costa and Premier Inn owner Whitbread has announced this morning that its chairman Anthony Habgood is to step down. Back in November, Sky News reported that the FTSE 100 group was already on the hunt for a successor to Habgood, who’s held his position since mid 2005. He'll leave later in the year. The search [...]
WH Smith misses out on Christmas cheer January 22, 2014 Stationery and book store WH Smith suffered a sad Christmas, with both overall and like-for-like sales sliding four per cent in the 20 weeks to 18 January. In line with what the company expected, its high street shops were the biggest drag on its performance, with total sales down seven per cent and like-for-likes down [...]
What you need to know before the open – 22/01 January 22, 2014 European equities are expected stronger today, as US stock futures increase and improving Asian shares see investors relaxing a bit. Davos continues today, with world leaders debating the crucial economic questions of the day. With something of a dearth of economic data this week, investors continue to watch the various earnings reports out. SUGGESTED [...]
Brits told: Save six times more for your pension or face poverty January 21, 2014 BRITISH workers must be forced by government to save six times more of their salary or face dying in poverty, a damning new report warns today. Average savers have just £36,800 to pay for old age – well below the £240,000 barrier required to get a decent pension in retirement, the study by Policy Exchange [...]
Bond supremo El-Erian to step down at Pimco January 21, 2014 PIMCO, the $2 trillion dollar fund management behemoth, last night announced the surprise resignation of high profile chief executive Mohamed El-Erian, one of the world’s most famous financiers. El-Erian, who also acts as co-chief investment officer (CIO) alongside fund veteran Bill Gross, will leave the group in mid-March after 15 years at the business. Gross, [...]
Sun, sand and snow: Dubai’s open-air winter wonderland January 21, 2014 DUBAI, the desert state where luxury comes as standard and temperatures can easily soar over 40 degrees centigrade, is set to get its first snow-lined streets in an ambitious building project. Developers have broken ground on the Heart of Europe, part of a string of islands made from reclaimed land off the Dubai coast that [...]