UK digital advertising spend to grow to £15bn in 2019, report states March 4, 2019 Spending on digital advertising in the UK is set to grow to more than £15bn this year amid a boom in new digital marketing technology, a new report has revealed. Digital ad spend will enjoy double-digit growth in 2019 as the industry moves away from traditional media forms, according to the latest forecasts by Barclays [...]
FTSE boards do not understand the threat of cyber attacks, government warns March 4, 2019 Boards at some of the UK’s largest companies still do not fully understand the potential impact of a cyber attack, the government has warned. A report into FTSE 350 companies published today shows that while almost all firms have a cyber security strategy in place, just 16 per cent of boards have a comprehensive understand [...]
Telford Homes strikes investor alliance for London plan March 4, 2019 Housebuilder Telford Homes has struck a major deal with two global real estate giants, amid efforts to offset woes in the capital’s traditional housing market by doubling down on Britain’s growing rental sector. City A.M. can reveal that the residential developer is partnering up with M&G and Invesco in a bid to tap into the [...]
Prices of petrol and diesel inch up in February after months of reduced prices March 4, 2019 The price of petrol and diesel inched up in February, ending three months of price reductions. Data from RAC Fuel Watch shows that the average price of a litre of petrol in the UK increased by just under a penny to 120.42p at the end of the month, while diesel increased by 1.24p to 129.88p [...]
Consumer spending growth slows and retail sales fall on Brexit fears March 4, 2019 Consumer spending growth and retail sales fell last month as households cut back on non-essential items amid fears over Brexit and the UK’s economic prospects. Clothing, department store and hotel spending all contracted in February, according to the latest monthly spend data from Barclaycard. Read more: Retail investors are sitting tight amid Brexit uncertainty Spending [...]
Philip Morris cuts forecasts after CA$15bn court ruling March 4, 2019 Marlboro-maker Philip Morris International cut its full-year guidance yesterday after a Canadian court last week turned down an appeal against a CA$15.6bn (£8.9bn) award to smokers to compensate for health problems. The Canadian Court of Appeal last week ruled against Philip Morris subsidiary Rothmans, Benson & Hedges (RBH), alongside Imperial Tobacco Canada and JTI-Macdonald, confirming [...]
DEBATE: Will the European Research Group’s three legal tests help pass Theresa May’s Brexit deal? March 4, 2019 Will the European Research Group’s three legal tests help pass Theresa May’s Brexit deal? Olivia Utley, deputy editor at TheArticle, says YES. The three tests proposed by the European Research Group (ESG) have been rejected by the European Union. But, although they are now off the table, the very fact that they were mooted will help Theresa [...]
AT&T announces Warner Media restructuring to prepare for streaming battle March 4, 2019 AT&T detailed plans to restructure its Warner Media business in a memo to employees today. The American telecommunications giant is preparing to enter the world of streaming and do battle against Netflix and Disney. Last week, it defeated the US government’s efforts to undo its $85bn (£65bn) purchase of Warner Media, formerly called Time Warner, [...]
Flybe shareholders approve airline sale to Virgin-led Connect Airways March 4, 2019 Shareholders in ailing airline Flybe have today approved its acquisition by Virgin-led consortium Connect Airways. At a general meeting today, 63 per cent of shareholders voted with the board's recommendation that they approve the sale, while 37 per cent staged a revolt and voted against it. Flybe has been urging its shareholders to accept the Connect [...]
Asset management firm Invesco lobbies US Securities and Exchange Commission over Mifid II implementation March 4, 2019 Global asset management firm Invesco is lobbying for the US financial regulator to allow it to implement Mifid II rules on paying for investment research. The firm attended a meeting with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last year to push for changes to rules which ban brokers from receiving research payments unless they are [...]