Jack Dee’s star-studded Open Mike Productions’ profit slides November 27, 2016 Open Mike Productions, set up by comedian Jack Dee over 20 years ago, is set to pay out £3m in dividends to him, despite earnings struggling. The TV and radio production company recorded £22.3m in revenue for 2016, down from £23.9m last year. Profit before tax also took a hit, dropping to £4m from £4.4m [...]
Maersk and Dong plot oil merger as price woes drag on future earnings November 27, 2016 Dannish shipping giant Maersk and state-owned Dong Energy could create an £8bn oil giant to shore up their defences against low oil prices. It’s understood the two companies have hired advisers to start work on a possible merger of their oil businesses, which have a large presence in the UK’s North Sea. Maersk, the world’s [...]
Bletchley Park to house the UK’s next generation of cyber talent November 24, 2016 Renowned World War II codebreaking site Bletchley Park is going to play host to the next generation of the UK’s cyber experts. Under plans announced today the site is to be refurbished as country’s first National College of Cyber Security, with the first cohort of 16-19-year-olds expected from September 2018. The free-to-attend school will take on [...]
Autumn Statement 2016: For all Hammond’s plans the OBR fears UK economic productivity could be weaker after Brexit November 23, 2016 In the Autumn Statement today chancellor Philip Hammond said no other major economy has such a gap between the productivity of its capital and its other cities. He also said the UK lags the US and Germany by a whopping 30 points in productivity. According to Hammond raising productivity is essential for the "high wage, high [...]
Autumn Statement 2016: As expected Philip Hammond has pledged more than £1bn for broadband and 5G November 23, 2016 The chancellor Philip Hammond has – as expected – pledged more than £1bn for broadband and 5G in his Autumn Statement. He said: My ambition is for the UK to be a world leader in 5G. That means a full-fibre network; a step-change in speed, security and reliability. He also revealed the government will offer business rates relief on new [...]
Autumn Statement 2016: There will be an extra £1.1bn invested in English transport networks says chancellor Philip Hammond in his Autumn Statement November 23, 2016 As part of his £23bn to be spent on innovation and infrastructure over five years the chancellor Philip Hammond has announced there will be an extra £1.1bn invested in English transport networks, "where small investments can often achieve big wins". Some of this will go on rail. Hammond said the transport secretary will set out more details [...]
MPs urge the Pensions Regulator to look into whether they can seize Sir Philip Green’s superyacht November 22, 2016 Sir Philip Green’s £100m superyacht – Lionheart – could be used to pay the pensions of thousands of BHS workers. The chair of cross-party Work and Pensions Commons Committee MP Frank Field has written to the Pensions Regulator to ask if it can acquire "assets other than cash from a person from which payment is being [...]
US bookshop chain Barnes & Noble blames election for sluggish sales November 22, 2016 US bookshop chain Barnes & Noble is hoping it can sell more books now the distraction of the US election is over. The company has had another losing quarter, this time it says because of the race for the White House sucking up too much of everyone’s time. “We did experience sluggish sales, which we [...]
The Trump effect pushes the Dow above 19,000 in New York November 22, 2016 The Dow Jones Industrial Average has broken 19,000 points for the first time ever in New York. A US equity market surge since the presidential election – bolstered by the rising oil price as Opec member countries meet in Vienna – is showing no signs of slowing just yet. The rally has pushed the three major equity benchmarks [...]
Campbell Soup slurps up a spoonful of profit as costs fall November 22, 2016 Shares in US soup maker Campbell have climbed in premarket trading in New York after the company announced a better-than-expected quarterly profit due to falling costs. The world's largest soup maker is in the midst of a cost cutting programme as it battles against falling consumer demand for non-fresh and seemingly unhealthy foods. The numbers [...]
