We built it, they didn’t come: TSB to shut branches as more people bank online February 8, 2017 TSB is closing the doors on 29 of its branches, as people increasingly favour banking online. The challenger bank, which was spun out from Lloyds before being snapped up by Spanish Sabadell in 2015, said today some of its least popular locations are now serving fewer than 200 customers per week, pushing it to make the decision to [...]
It’s time for big oil to embrace the digital age February 8, 2017 The 2014 oil price bust very quickly changed the agenda of the oil industry, prioritising efficiency as a tool of keeping costs down. This emphasis on efficiency was the best outcome of the crisis that pushed the larger part of the industry into survival mode. Now the crisis is over, or at least sector players [...]
Tullow Oil shares tumble after it reports a third year of losses February 8, 2017 Tullow shares plunged after it announced its third straight annual loss caused by big exploration write-offs in its Africa arm. The figures The oil giant's shares fell more than five per cent in morning trading after taking gross exploration write-offs of $723m (£579m). Revenue fell 21 per cent to $1.3bn from $1.6bn in 2015 due to weak oil prices. Tullow posted [...]
Redrow boss calls for government to release green belt land February 8, 2017 Redrow chief executive John Tutte has said the government should have unlocked more greenbelt land for development in the housing white paper. Speaking to City A.M., Tutte said: "Controversially, we would have liked to have seen something more forceful on releasing the green belt. "It isn't all rolling countryside." His comments come after communities secretary Sajid [...]
Sadiq Khan is going on a European tour next month February 8, 2017 London mayor Sadiq Khan is to embark on a European tour to promote the capital as the government approaches the formal launch of Brexit talks. Khan will visit five major capitals over six days to push the “London is Open” campaign, and boost ties with European politicians and business leaders. As well as visiting Paris, Berlin, Madrid [...]
Has the PR industry missed the search marketing boat? February 8, 2017 Do you know how the Google search engine ranks websites? When you enter a search term, its “bots” scan billions of web pages and, in milliseconds, follow 200 or so “signals” to decide what to present to you in a SERP (Search Engine Results Page), that list of sites that you see. Google’s chief concern [...]
Dipped into your overdraft recently? You might have been better off with a payday loan February 8, 2017 Bad news for anybody who has gone into their overdraft recently – you might have been better off with a payday loan. Research published today by consumer group Which? found charges from the big high street lenders could cost as much as 180 per cent of the amount borrowed. Customers needing as little as £100 could find [...]
The euro dips against the dollar and the pound as investors refocus on Marine Le Pen and Greece February 8, 2017 The euro fell against the pound and the dollar in morning trading as political fears come increasingly into focus. The euro fell as low as $1.0641 against the US dollar, its lowest point since the end of January. Meanwhile the pound rose against the euro to highs of €1.1751. Recent turmoil in the right wing [...]
Asda is turning friend against friend with this saucy ketchup poll February 8, 2017 Remember that time #thedress caused rifts in families, turned friends against each other and generally broke the internet? Now Asda has done it again, causing a condiment conundrum by asking one simple question: do you keep your ketchup in the fridge? Yesterday the supermarket said one of its stores had begun experimenting with storing ketchup in both [...]
British Gas is planning to hit millions of customers with increased energy prices February 8, 2017 British Gas is to roll out an increase to energy prices that could add nearly £100 a year to millions of its customers' annual bills, according to reports. The energy giant will raise bills for 11m customers by as much as nine per cent, the London Evening Standard originally reported. The hike could come as soon [...]