Amazon hits back at Hammond’s digital tax with high street venture June 2, 2019 Amazon is launching a programme to help digital businesses find success on the high street, with a series of pop-up stores across the UK. The move follows comments from chancellor Philip Hammond that the tech giant and other online behemoths hold a “near-monopoly” over physical stores, contributing to retail's economic downturn. The e-commerce giant will open [...]
RBS GRG scandal: The baggage that could drag down Andrew Bailey’s quest to lead the Bank of England June 2, 2019 This summer, the Bank of England is expected to announce a successor to Mark Carney as governor. Among the runners in the contested race is Andrew Bailey, the financial watchdog chief who stands a solid chance of taking Carney's crown. While the boss of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) certainly has the credentials for the [...]
Aberdeen Standard opposes Non-Standard Finance’s hostile Provident Financial takeover June 2, 2019 A major shareholder in Provident Financial has come out to publicly oppose rival doorstep lender Non-Standard Finance’s (NSF) hostile takeover bid. Aberdeen Standard Investments, which owns 3.1 per cent of the sub-prime lender, said it would not accept NSF’s offer. Read more: Watchdog probes Non-Standard Finance's hostile takeover of Provident Head of UK equities Andrew [...]
Tory leadership hopeful Sajid Javid vows to renegotiate the backstop with ‘grand offer’ to Ireland June 2, 2019 Home secretary Sajid Javid has set out a "grand offer" to avoid the need for the backstop by paying all the costs necessary to create a digitised border on the island of Ireland. The Tory leadership hopeful said it was still possible to renegotiate the Irish backstop – the insurance policy designed to prevent a hard border [...]
Chinese state hackers accused of ‘rigging’ 5G tests to protect Huawei June 2, 2019 China has reportedly been accused of rigging 5G security tests in a bid to discredit western companies and protect Chinese telecoms giant Huawei. Beijing has been leaking details of security vulnerabilities in equipment made by Huawei’s rivals to a 5G testing team as it looks to bolster the reputation of the controversial Chinese firm, the [...]
Donald Trump tells UK: Include Nigel Farage in Brexit talks and prepare for no deal June 2, 2019 The UK should be prepared to pursue a no-deal Brexit and Nigel Farage should be made part of the negotiating team with Brussels, Donald Trump has said. Speaking before his state visit to the UK tomorrow, the US president waded into the Brexit crisis by saying the UK should be prepared to "walk away" if Brussels does [...]
US President Donald Trump endorses ‘excellent’ Boris Johnson to become Prime Minister June 1, 2019 US President Donald Trump has labelled Tory leadership hopeful Boris Johnson as an “excellent” candidate to become the next Prime Minister. Trump said he had been asked for endorsements from a number of candidates ahead of his visit to the UK, in an interview with The Sun, claiming: “I could help anybody”. Read more: Sajid [...]
David Cameron takes up role with US artificial intelligence firm June 1, 2019 Former Prime Minister David Cameron has been appointed by US artificial intelligence company Afiniti to chair its advisory board. Cameron has kept a low profile since resigning as Prime Minister following the 2016 EU referendum in which the UK voted to leave, and is one of his most prominent appointments since. Read more: Donald Trump's [...]
Sajid Javid rules out second referendum, general election or revoking Article 50 if he becomes Tory leader June 1, 2019 Sajid Javid has ruled out the possibility of a second referendum if he wins the Tory leadership contest. The current home secretary said it would be “disastrous for trust in politics” in an article penned in Saturday’s Daily Mail. Read more: Poll: Tories face worst election result ever in Brexit slump He also declared that [...]
Oil prices slump three per cent to post biggest monthly loss of 2019 June 1, 2019 Oil prices fell by more than three per cent on Friday, posting its biggest monthly drop of the year. It came in the wake of Donald Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on Mexico, a major supplier of crude oil. Read more: Oil prices fall on fears of escalating US-China trade war Brent crude prices fell $2.38 [...]