‘Super’ Mario Draghi’s ECB odyssey comes to an end October 24, 2019 European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi will today chair the final rate-setting meeting of his eight-year tenure. If not quite a poisoned chalice, his successor Christine Lagarde is certainly being left with an unappetising cocktail. Read more: Mario Draghi’s ECB reign ends with Eurozone ‘close to stagnation’ Growth in the bloc is slowing towards [...]
Fate of Brexit 50p coins in doubt as extension becomes more likely October 24, 2019 The future of a batch of commemorative Brexit 50p coins emblazoned with 31 October has been thrown into doubt as it becomes increasingly unlikely that Britain will leave the European Union before that date. Chancellor Sajid Javid had asked for three million of the coins to be in circulation and ready for 31 October, with [...]
Shoe Zone shares jump after revenue rise October 24, 2019 Shoe Zone, the UK’s largest value footwear retailer, hit the ground running this morning as a rise revenue boosted its share price. The group, which suffered a sharp drop in its share price this summer after issuing a profit warning, said today that revenue for the full-year had risen despite “challenging” trading conditions. Read more: [...]
Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia: Three ways UK firms can prosper post-Brexit October 24, 2019 This is an important moment for business across the UK. Whatever the final outcome of the Brexit negotiations, as business leaders we have to keep our eyes on the big picture – which means thinking years and not days ahead. I believe the fundamentals of the UK are strong. The onus now is on business [...]
More details emerge in Essex lorry death case October 24, 2019 New details have emerged about the movements of a lorry that was found in Essex yesterday containing the bodies of 39 people. The Belgian Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office today said it had opened a case into the deaths of the 39 people who were found yesterday at Grays in Essex. According to the prosecutor, the [...]
Let’s use Tube tunnels to boost London’s broadband connections October 24, 2019 One of London’s biggest infrastructure challenges is how to spread gigabit connectivity far and wide. Today, because of the way connectivity has been managed nationally, the vast majority of Londoners still get their broadband services through a ‘last mile’ of copper connections, with full fibre only reaching around 10 per cent of households. Read more: [...]
Schroders to take charge of Woodford Patient Capital Trust October 24, 2019 Schroders will take charge of the embattled Woodford Patient Capital Trust (WPCT) after former star stockpicker Neil Woodford’s abrupt departure last week. Shares in WPCT surged over 28 per cent in morning trading following the news. Read more: DEBATE: Can Neil Woodford’s reputation ever recover? Woodford’s fall from grace was cemented last week when he [...]
Metro Bank to be loss-making ‘in 2020 and beyond’, Barclays warns October 24, 2019 City experts have warned of further pain to come at Metro Bank after the troubled lender revealed widening losses last night. Metro Bank reported underlying losses before tax of £3.6m for the first nine months of the year after the bell closed yesterday, falling from £25.1m last year as a result of a major accountancy [...]
Astrazeneca beats estimates in strong third quarter October 24, 2019 Astrazeneca raised its full-year product sales forecast for the second time today, as it was boosted by strong demand for new cancer treatments and 40 per cent growth in China. The drugmaker beat market expectations for both profit and sales in the third quarter, with sales hitting $6.13bn (£4.75bn), outstripping a consensus estimate of $5.86bn. [...]
RBS swings to loss in wake of £900m PPI charges October 24, 2019 The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) swung to a loss during the last quarter as a rush of payment protection insurance (PPI) claims caused a £900m hit to the lender’s balance sheet. RBS reports an operating loss of £8m for the nine months to the end of September 2019, falling from £961m in the same period last [...]