UK trade deficit narrows in fourth quarter as non-EU countries buy more February 10, 2017 The trade deficit narrowed in the fourth quarter as exports to countries outside the European Union (EU) rose sharply. The deficit shrank to £8.6bn between October and December, a £5.6bn drop from the third quarter, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Exports to the EU rose steadily, but they were outshone by a £43.8bn increase in [...]
An influential German central banker says UK will lose “gateway to Europe” status for the City’s financial services February 10, 2017 An influential German central banker has said Brexit will “end” the UK’s position as the dominant financial services centre in Europe, after “numerous” financial services firms explore moving operations to the EU. The UK will lose its position as a “gateway to Europe” for the world’s financial services industry, according to a speech by Dr [...]
Best Twitter responses to court ruling to uphold suspension of Donald Trump’s travel ban February 10, 2017 Donald Trump's travel ban is still suspended, after a US federal appeals court ruled against the US President last night. Trump is famously a massive fan of Twitter, so we've picked out the best reaction tweets to last night's news. The President himself didn't disappoint He almost immediately published a shouty message telling the court [...]
Durex owner Reckitt Benckiser will buy a US baby formula maker for $16.6bn February 10, 2017 Reckitt Benckiser (RB) is set to buy US baby formula maker Mead Johnson for $16.6bn (£13.3) in cash. The British company behind such names as Lysol cleaners and Durex condoms said it will pay $90 a share for the American firm. The acquisition will open up a new market area for RB, who called the move a "significant step [...]
Psychology in marketing: It’s time to get emotional February 10, 2017 To succeed at marketing you need to understand people. And to understand people, you need to know what makes them tick. In an age when ad blocking is on the rise and trust at a premium, understanding psychology has never been more important in marketing. Whenever I talk about the art of persuasion in [...]
Nationwide blames low interest rates as profits drop – but building society’s results were still ahead of expectations February 10, 2017 Nationwide profits dropped during the nine months to 31 December, with the building society blaming continued low interest rates. The figures Underlying profit before tax dropped by 23 per cent to £866m from £1.13bn in the same period of last year. Statutory profit before tax was down 16 per cent to £946m from £1.12bn – [...]
New Builds: New homes on sale this weekend in Barking, The City, Hampstead, Canning Town and Blackheath February 10, 2017 360 Barking, Barking From £295,000 This collection of one and two bedroom flats on Cambridge Road is in the heart of a soon-to-be “reinvigorated” town centre in east London. Plans are underfoot to turn its riverside into “Barcelona-on-Thames” and these new homes come with underfloor heating, in-built appliances and access to a garden roof terrace. [...]
Just Eat chief executive David Buttress steps down over urgent family matter February 10, 2017 The chief executive of takeaway food delivery app Just Eat has resigned over “urgent family matters”. David Buttress will work full time until the end of the first quarter, before handing over to current chairman John Hughes. The company said it will start an immediate search for a successor. Buttress will continue to be a [...]
Editor’s notes: Follow the data: Our world is getting safer, richer and healthier February 10, 2017 Towards the end of last year, my colleagues and I made a point of trying to buck the notion (most deep-rooted on social media, it must be said) that 2016 was a particularly dreadful year. Brexit, Trump and a host of celebrity deaths were held up as evidence of a wider disintegration of our fortunes. [...]
ArcelorMittal rides surging steel prices to post earnings 20 per cent up February 10, 2017 ArcelorMittal rode the surging steel and iron ore prices in 2016, to record a 20 per cent rise in profits in full year results. The company's shares rose by more than four per cent in morning trading in Amsterdam. The figures Earnings for 2016 grew to $6.3bn, a fifth more than the $5.2bn recorded in [...]