WPP shares rise as it bags bumper Intel account March 3, 2020 Shares in WPP rose more than three per cent this morning after Intel selected one of the ad giant’s companies as its global creative agency of record. VMLY&R is set to take the lion’s share of Intel’s global creative account, which is estimated at $1.4bn (£1.1bn), according to industry sources. The deal, which is thought [...]
Bank of England expects to internal report on audio feed misuse in April March 3, 2020 The Bank of England expects an internal report into misuse of its audio feeds to go the bank’s directors in April, after it emerged that hedge funds were able to access a market-sensitive feed ahead of its official broadcast. Outgoing governor Mark Carney told the Treasury committee today that he expected the BoE’s court — [...]
DVLA says excuses for not paying car tax include too many chickens and looming jail time March 3, 2020 The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) said today that excuses it has received for not paying vehicle tax included their van being full of chickens. The agency said that inventive excuses it had received for nonpayment included: “I’m about to start a prison sentence, so is there any way you could hang on to [...]
EY strengthens tax controversy and risk management team with five key appointments March 3, 2020 | City Talk EY has announced the arrival of five key appointments to its tax controversy and risk management team, expanding its tax litigation and corporate crime service offerings to clients. The new arrivals are all practicing solicitors. James Wilson, EY Partner and head of the Tax Controversy and Risk Management team comments: “We’re delighted to welcome these [...]
“Diversity drives better investor outcomes” says Margaret Franklin, CFA March 3, 2020 | City Talk Investors are bracing for a bear market sometime in the future. And when it comes, it will be more critical than ever for firms to embrace diversity on their investment teams and in their senior ranks if they want to deliver better outcomes for clients. That’s the reality and the challenge that Margaret “Marg” Franklin, [...]
Sky confirms Disney Plus deal as it ramps up streaming war chest March 3, 2020 Sky today confirmed it has signed a multi-year deal with Disney Plus to make the nascent streaming service available to its pay-TV customers. The deal means Disney Plus will be fully-integrated on Sky Q, while Now TV subscribers will be able to access the service in the coming months. Disney Plus, which launches in the [...]
UK coronavirus battle plan: Businesses warned that a fifth of workforce could be absent March 3, 2020 Up to a fifth of the UK’s workforce could be made absent by coronavirus during its peak weeks, the government warned as part of its action plan published today. Downing Street is bracing itself for a reasonable worst-case scenario, warning that it is “more likely than not that the UK will be significantly affected”. Up [...]
British Steel future secure as Jingye set to complete £50m purchase March 3, 2020 British Steel’s survival has finally been confirmed this morning as Chinese conglomerate Jingye announced that it would complete the acquisition of the troubled steelmaker next week. The deal, which will be signed on 9 March, will preserve 3,200 of the firm’s jobs in Scunthorpe and Teeside, with 100 moving over to Barrett Steel after the [...]
UK PMI: Construction expands at fastest rate in over a year March 3, 2020 UK construction output rose at its fastest rate in over a year in February, a survey showed today, as new orders picked up at a fast clip. The IHS Markit/Cips construction purchasing managers’ index (PMI) jumped to 52.6 in February, up from 48.4 in January. A score of above 50 indicates expansion and it was [...]
Fresnillo shares slide on plunging profit March 3, 2020 Shares in miner Fresnillo fell this morning after it announced a plunge in pre-tax profit of 63 per cent. The company cut its production forecast four times last year, as it grappled with lower quality ore and construction delays at its Herradura mine in Mexico. Pre-tax profit fell 63 per cent to £178m and revenue [...]