Boris Johnson casts doubt on Huawei involvement in UK’s 5G network December 4, 2019 The government will not allow Huawei to build the UK’s 5G network if it risks national security or jeopardise co-operation with other Five Eyes countries, according to Boris Johnson. Other countries, including fellow Five Eyes nations Australia and the US, have banned the Chinese firm from taking part in building their respective 5G networks. Read [...]
South African Airways: State-owned carrier in limbo as bailout doubts persist December 4, 2019 Time is running out for South African Airways (SAA), as the embattled carrier hopes for a bailout from South Africa’s government. The state-owned airline paid only half of staff salaries last month, and may have to file for liquidation in the near future if it cannot secure R2bn (£100m). Read more: Virgin Atlantic in fresh [...]
‘Clearance to take off’: Tory majority to propel UK economy, report says December 4, 2019 A convincing Tory majority at the upcoming election will send the pound surging to a three-year high and put rocket boosters under the UK economy, according to asset manager Toscafund. In a new poll shared exclusively with City A.M., Toscafund predicted Boris Johnson’s Conservatives will win a majority of about 30 in the 12 December [...]
General Election 2019: Conservatives on course for 1992-style victory, new poll finds December 4, 2019 The Conservatives are on course for a “small but workable” majority, as the party wins back middle class and middle-aged voters, according to a new poll seen exclusively by City A.M. Boris Johnson is most likely to return to parliament with a majority of between five and 30, giving him the chance of pressing ahead [...]
CBI launches search for Carolyn Fairbairn’s successor December 4, 2019 The CBI has reportedly begun a search for its next boss, as its current director’s term draws to a close. The business lobbying giant has drafted in Russell Reynolds Associates to identify potential executives who could fill the role, according to Sky News. The broadcaster said that CBI staff were briefed that the search was [...]
Duolingo bags unicorn status after Google cash injection secures $1.5bn valuation December 4, 2019 Language-learning platform Duolingo has joined the ever-growing ranks of tech unicorns, reaching a valuation of $1.5bn (£1.1bn) thanks to funding from Google’s venture capital arm. The US firm today announced it has bagged $30m in a Series F round led by existing investor Capital G – a private equity fund owned by Google parent company [...]
Rail strike: Union writes to South Western to restart talks as commuters complain of ‘hell’ December 4, 2019 Rail union bosses have written to South Western Railway in an attempt to halt what is planned to be Britain’s longest ever rail strike. As commuters complained of “hell” on their way to work with the strike entering its third day out of 27, the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) Union asked South Western [...]
Stock Spirits shares up as Polish vodka demand drives revenue growth December 4, 2019 Shares in Stock Spirits rose more than five per cent this morning after the drinks company served up a strong rise in revenue and profit for the full year. The London-listed firm posted a nine per cent rise in revenue to €312.4m (£264.7m) in the year to the end of September, while pre-tax profit jumped [...]
Woodford Income Focus fund stays suspended as administrators mull options December 4, 2019 The administrators of Woodford Income Focus have delayed a decision over the fate of the suspended fund. Link Fund Solutions has said it is in the “final stages” of deciding the fund’s future, aiming to choose a direction before the end of this year. In a letter today, the group said that it is still [...]
Jo Swinson confronts Extinction Rebellion protesters glued to Lib Dems’ electric bus December 4, 2019 A group of Extinction Rebellion protesters dressed as bees have glued themselves to Jo Swinson’s campaign bus, despite the fact it’s an electric vehicle. The protesters disrupted the Liberal Democrat leader’s battle bus as it was on its way to visit a youth centre in South London. Read more: Is Extinction Rebellion’s target economically viable? [...]