Lane Clark and Peacock plots takeover of KPMG pensions arm August 26, 2019 Lane Clark and Peacock (LCP), one of the UK’s largest independent financial consultancy firms, is preparing a £200m takeover of KPMG’s pensions advisory arm. The company, which is backed by buyout firm Inflexion, is among a small group of bidders that have made it through to the second round of the auction, Sky News reported. [...]
Record quake reignites calls for fracking ban August 26, 2019 Ministers faced renewed calls to ban fracking today as a record-breaking earthquake shook homes in Blackpool just weeks after the government said it may review limits which the industry says are stifling business. A 2.9 magnitude quake by Cuadrilla’s Blackpool site woke up locals enjoying a bank-holiday lie-in. Read more: Record-breaking 2.9 earthquake measured at [...]
UBS turns bearish on stocks due to US-China trade war August 26, 2019 UBS Global Wealth Management has recommended that clients sell stocks due to concerns that the latest escalation in the ongoing trade war between the US and China could threaten global markets. The world’s largest wealth manager cut its core equity recommendation to “underweight” after US President Donald Trump increased tensions between the two countries as [...]
Johnson and EU leaders disagree over £39bn Brexit divorce bill August 26, 2019 Britain and the EU fired warning shots to one another today as disagreements over a £39bn Brexit divorce bill threatened to jeopardise hopes of a trade deal between the two sides. Read more: Boris Johnson: Brexit deal is now ‘touch and go’ Talks between Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU leaders ended today with a [...]
German CDU leader pledges to keep balanced budget as recession looms August 26, 2019 The leader of Germany’s ruling party has resisted calls to increase government spending to stimulate the economy, saying the “black zero” balanced budget policy is “indispensable”. Read more: German business confidence slumps to lowest point since 2012 Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the leader of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU), said at a news conference: “The [...]
Daily Mail-owner DMGT sells energy data business for $364m August 26, 2019 Daily-Mail owner DMGT said today it has agreed to sell its energy information business in a $364m (£297m) deal. DMGT said it had agreed to sell Genscape to Nasdaq-listed data analytics provider Verisk. Genscape will become part of Verisk’s Wood Mackenzie business which focuses on short-term energy data and analytics. DMGT said it expected the [...]
Margaret Thatcher’s spin doctor Lord Bell dies aged 77 August 26, 2019 Lord Tim Bell, Margaret Thatcher’s public relations adviser and founder of the PR firm Bell Pottinger, has died aged 77. He died on Sunday at home following an illness. The PR man played a role in the Conservatives’ successful election campaigns in 1979, 1983 and 1987. He was responsible for the Conservatives’ “Labour isn’t working” [...]
Netherlands in talks with 325 companies about relocating because of Brexit August 26, 2019 The Dutch government is in talks with 325 companies that are thinking about relocating because of Brexit, the Dutch investment agency said. The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) said almost 100 companies had already moved some business to for the Netherlands, with 325 more expressing an interest in relocating to the country to lessen the [...]
Links of London owner Folli Follie hires advisers to weigh up possible sale August 26, 2019 The owner of Links of London has confirmed that it has drafted in advisers to weigh up a sale of the troubled jewellery group. Read more: Laura Ashley drops into the red amid tough retail conditions Folli Follie, the Greek owner of the retail chain, said today that it has told Deloitte and Savigny Partners [...]
Police fire water canon and tear gas at Hong Kong protesters August 25, 2019 Police have fired water canon and tear gas at pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong as tensions continue to escalate. Reuters reported that protesters were using bricks and petrol bombs against the authorities. Read more: Hong Kong protests: Police use tear gas to disperse crowds are petrol bombs thrown The city’s MTR metro service has been [...]