Cuadrilla submits new application for Balcombe September 3, 2013 ENERGY firm Cuadrilla yesterday admitted that its plans to drill in Balcombe, West Sussex may be legally ambiguous, so it has decided to withdraw its application and submit a new one with revised boundaries. A spokesperson told City A.M. it had nothing to do with the protests.
No rise in Spain jobless figures for sixth month September 3, 2013 A TINY dip in the number of Spanish unemployed people in August means that the struggling Mediterranean country has not seen unemployment rise for six months. The number of people without jobs seeking work in Spain fell by 61 from July, with the rate of unemployment holding at 26.3 per cent, second only to Greece [...]
Warning skilled Brits are moving abroad due to stifling UK costs September 3, 2013 HARD pressed skilled workers are deserting the UK in droves to work overseas due to declining job prospects and high prices, a survey showed yesterday. The poll of 5,600 Brit emigrants working overseas shows a large proportion – almost 40 per cent – are working as skilled technicians with a further 23 per cent classed [...]
Shop prices still falling at fastest pace since 2007 September 3, 2013 PRICES of goods at the UK’s retailers are still shrinking, down by 0.5 per cent in the year to August – the joint-fastest rate since early 2007, six and a half years ago. According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Nielsen, deflation is still in swing, the 0.5 per cent drop being the same rate [...]
Euro uncertainty sends merger and acquisition deals tumbling September 3, 2013 MERGER and acquisition (M&A) volumes plunged in the second quarter of the year, official figures showed yesterday, as uncertainty over the strength of the economic recovery put off buyers. Just 111 deals were done in the three-month period, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said yesterday, down 42 per cent on the same period of [...]
Barclays to sell retail banking arm in the UAE September 3, 2013 BARCLAYS’ review of retail operations in Dubai has found they do not generate sufficient returns to remain part of the group and so will be sold. The lender reviewed all of its business units earlier this year to see how they fit into its group, and repeated the process after the Bank of England said [...]
McBride hit as competition knocks profits September 3, 2013 MCBRIDE, the household products manufacturer, yesterday reported a sharp fall in sales and profits, blaming weak European consumer demand and fierce competition among branded product makers. The company, which issued a profits warning earlier this year, said pre-tax profits tumbled 21 per cent to £9.5m, down from £12.1m the previous year. Sales fell 6.5 per [...]
Analyst Views: What was your reaction to McBride’s full-year results? September 3, 2013 DAMIAN MCNEELA PANMURE GORDON Although the operating environment is unlikely to improve materially in the near term, this announcement of a re-focused senior management team should allow the business to accelerate the revenue momentum generated in the second half and improve operating margins. NICOLA MALLARD INVESTEC McBride has delivered full year 2013 results in line [...]
Kodak returns after 18 months of bankruptcy September 3, 2013 FORMER photography giant Kodak is back in business, emerging from 18 months of bankruptcy with a leaner business plan. The new Kodak will focus on commercial products such as high-speed digital printing technology and printing on flexible packaging for consumer goods. “You can’t imagine how much I have been waiting for this moment,” chief executive [...]
Punch Taverns and Greene King toast bumper summer takings September 3, 2013 PUB GROUPS Greene King and Punch Taverns have enjoyed a summer of rising sales, helped by the hot summer and growing consumer confidence. Greene King, which operates the Hungry Horse and Old English chains, said yesterday that like-for-like retail sales rose 4.6 per cent in the 18 weeks to 1 September. “This performance has been [...]