Finnish foreign minister vows to fight for “a good deal” between the UK and Europe after Davis talks February 13, 2017 Finland's foreign minister has vowed to push for “a good deal” between the UK and the EU after talks with Brexit secretary David Davis. Davis met Timo Soini in Helsinki at the start of a two-day trip to the Nordic region, and Soini called for "constructive" talks with the UK. “We are hoping, of course all of us, [...]
Struggling Co-op Bank is up for sale, but analysts warn nobody may want to, or be able to, buy February 13, 2017 The Co-operative Bank announced this morning it was putting itself up for sale, but analysts have warned it might be tricky to find somebody to snap up the struggling bank. The bank, which is currently 20 per cent owned by the wider Co-operative Group, had been undertaking an ambitious turnaround plan, after a £1.5bn black hole [...]
Lloyds Banking Group eyes Berlin for new EU base post-Brexit February 13, 2017 Lloyds Banking Group is closing in on Berlin as its new EU hub post-Brexit. It was reported last December that the bank, which is the only major UK retail lender without a subsidiary in another EU country, was looking into establishing a base in either the Netherlands or Germany to make sure it still had access [...]
Greek bailout delay could result in re-rerun of 2015, says governor February 13, 2017 Bank of Greece governor Yannis Stournaras has warned that the country must secure an immediate release of further bailout funds from its creditors or risk recession. “Any further delay in completion beyond this month will feed a new circle of uncertainty,” he told Greece’s parliament. “Such a vicious cycle could return the economy to recession [...]
UK firms warned trade with more than 40 non-EU locations will be disrupted post-Brexit, as current trade deals depend on EU membership February 13, 2017 UK firms are today being warned they might want to look further afield than the EU for areas where trade could be interrupted. The UK's current trade arrangements with over 40 locations, including South Korea, Switzerland and Mexico, are in place because of the country's EU membership, warns a report by law firm Clifford Chance and the Confederation of [...]
This is how far house prices have shot up in the Trafalgar Square conservation area February 13, 2017 Trafalgar Square house prices have jumped in recent years as the tourist hot spot has become a hub of luxury residential development. Sale prices for houses in the Trafalgar Square conservation area have shot up by 33 per cent over the last three years, according to research by Beauchamp Estates. This means the area's house [...]
The Bundesbank conspiracy: Why Germany is really repatriating its gold February 13, 2017 An official announcement last week that the Bundesbank had pretty much repatriated half its gold reserves ahead of schedule has once again sent the rumour mill into overdrive. Fans of the precious metal – not shy of a good conspiracy theory – have been deliberating over the move ever since Germany detailed it back in 2013. Initially, [...]
Triple the average number of roses will be imported this month from the likes of Kenya and Colombia as the UK gets romantic February 13, 2017 Romance isn't dead, at least according to new cargo statistics from Heathrow Airport. Around 8m stems of fresh cut roses are due to be imported this month; about 570 tonnes and triple what is seen for an average month. The Valentine's Day staple is due to be flown in in bulk and Heathrow notes most flowers purchased [...]