Npower tops list of energy firm complaints November 19, 2013 BIG SIX energy firm Npower received the highest number of customer complaints from April to June this year, with 202.5 from every 100,000 customers – around five times more than the best performing firm. SSE fared best in the latest analysis of energy complaints data compiled by Consumer Futures, with just 38.3 complaints per 100,000 customers. [...]
London leads rise in credit card fraud as banks turn taps back on November 19, 2013 LONDON and the commuter belt have led a sharp rise in fraudulent credit card applications as banks make the plastic more freely available, data firm Experian reported today. False applications dropped in the credit crunch as lenders became reluctant to issue new cards and cut credit limits. But now the credit taps are back on, [...]
IHG to recruit 110,000 new staff in China November 19, 2013 INTERCONTINENTAL Hotels Group is to step up its presence in China by recruiting over 110,000 employees in the country over the next two years and doubling the number of hotels. Speaking ahead of an investor meeting yesterday chief executive Richard Solomons said the group was focusing its efforts on 10 key markets led by China [...]
Shoppers flock to the Guildhall November 19, 2013 KEEN Christmas shoppers filled the Guildhall yesterday to get their gift-buying in early at the British Red Cross Christmas Market. After Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra got a preview of the market at an exclusive champagne reception on Monday night, doors opened to the general public yesterday, with City folk flocking through the doors on [...]
Woodford pair to follow him out of Invesco November 19, 2013 TWO MEMBERS of Neil Woodford’s investment management team have decided to follow the star fund manager out of the door at Invesco Perpetual, increasing concerns the firm will lose key clients, funds and personnel. Invesco Perpetual issued a short statement saying that William Deer and Mitchell Fraser-Jones, UK equities product directors, had both decided to [...]
IG Group says revenues slightly ahead so far in second quarter November 19, 2013 FINANCIAL spread betting firm IG Group said yesterday its revenue was slightly ahead of a year ago so far in the second quarter. The company, which allows investors to speculate on the future price of securities or baskets of securities, said in a trading update that the business had traded satisfactorily through the period, but [...]
ICE eyes market listing in 2014 for Euronext November 19, 2013 INTERCONTINENTALEXCHANGE Group said yesterday – less than a week after closing its $11bn takeover of NYSE Euronext – that it plans to spin off Euronext by next summer and to wind down the Big Board parent’s technology business. Expense savings from combining the companies are now expected to be $500m, versus earlier estimates of $450m, [...]
Pension giant lands air traffic control stake November 19, 2013 ONE OF Britain’s biggest pension schemes has bought a stake in the national air traffic controller Nats for £143m. Universities Superannuation Scheme, which handles the pensions of around 300,000 higher education workers, has bought the holding from transport companies Thomas Cook, Tui Travel, Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic. USS will own a 49.9 per cent stake [...]
Business bosses call for end to dithering on new runway plan November 19, 2013 DISGRUNTLED bosses have urged politicians to end their prolonged “dithering” on expanding Britain’s airports or face losing business to countries willing to allow more runways. More than a hundred corporate heads and business groups have signed the campaign to “Let Britain Fly”, which is backed by London First, the British Chambers of Commerce and the [...]
GlaxoSmithKline set to free up £459m with South African sale November 19, 2013 GLAXOSMITHKLINE said yesterday it planned to reduce its investment in South African drugmaker Aspen Pharmacare by one third, although it would retain a board seat and a significant shareholding. The sale of up to 28.2m shares could realise some 7.54bn rand (£459m), based on current market prices. Britain’s biggest drugmaker intends to offload around six [...]