Manufacturers did better than expected in November, despite Brexit fears November 22, 2016 Manufacturers have posted their best month for orders since before the UK's vote to quit the European Union, beating economist expectations, and confounding Brexit slowdown fears. Optimism for coming months also increased with expectations for production over the next quarter reaching their highest level since February 2015. For November, manufacturing order books improved but export order books and output [...]
Final bids due today for web hosting company Host Europe as global rivals close in November 21, 2016 Final bids for Host Europe, a London-based website hosting company, are due today. It’s understood that rivals from around the world are battling for control of the group, with US internet provider GoDaddy and Germany’s United Internet – teamed up with teamed up with private equity firm Warburg Pincus – leading the running. Bankers have [...]
Top industry groups hit out at proposed changes to business rates November 21, 2016 A group of industry lobby groups has hit out at Treasury proposals to prevent small firms from appealing against business rates up to a certain level. Research by Daniel Watney LLP and Blackstock Consulting, using official government data, found the changes could cost small firms in England more than £700m over the next five years. [...]
Telecom firm Daisy takes aim at rival Alternative Networks November 20, 2016 Daisy – one of the UK’s telecoms challenger firms – is expected to make a play for its listed rival Alternative Networks this week. The bid, which could come as soon as tomorrow morning, is thought to be pitched at about 335p a share, just under 20 per cent up from Alternative Network’s Friday closing share [...]
BT boss warns Ofcom’s indecision is costing UK November 20, 2016 Gavin Patterson, the chief executive of BT, has warned that indecision over its control of Openreach is costing the UK economy. The communications regulator Ofcom is currently weighing to what extent BT will have to separate Openreach after its consultation closed in October. BT has promised £6bn of investment over the next three years in [...]
Channel Tunnel worth £91.4bn in UK/EU trade, as analysts allay Brexit fears November 13, 2016 The Channel Tunnel is responsible for £91.4bn in imports and exports each year, as analysts predict that this trade link will continue to benefit the UK economy, regardless of Brexit. In a report entitled Economic Footprint of the Channel Tunnel, Ernst and Young researched the total economic value of the 22-year-old Tunnel, and found that it [...]
Chemical and pharmaceutical firms swing to positive near term outlook November 11, 2016 The UK’s biggest exporting sector – chemical and pharmaceutical – has seen a swing to confidence for the first time in over a year. Over the third quarter of 2016 more chem and pharma firms reported increases in sales volumes, exports, margins, and jobs than the number of companies reporting decreases, according to the Chemical Industries [...]
Deutsche Telekom posts mixed results and remains unsure over Trump and Brexit November 10, 2016 Europe’s largest telcoms group Deutsche Telekom has posted a six per cent uptick in revenues for its third quarter, beating expectations. Deutsche Telekom – which now controls a 12 per cent stake in BT following the sale of its EE joint venture – saw shares track lower on the results however. The numbers Group revenues grew by [...]
Hikma Pharmaceuticals has cut its full year sales guidance from its US generics business November 10, 2016 FTSE 100 pharma firm Hikma has cut its full-year sales guidance for its US generics business to roughly $600m, against earlier analyst forecasts of $655m. Shares in the company have dipped in London, falling by some four per cent so far today. The numbers Hikma now expect generics revenue to be around $600m for the full year, though [...]
Rubik’s Cube legal puzzle leaves toy maker frustrated November 10, 2016 The makers of the world-famous Rubik's Cube have been frustrated by the top European court. Seven Towers, which manages Rubik's Cube intellectual property rights, have been told the cube's distinctive shape is not sufficient to grant it protection against copycats. German toy maker Simba Toys brought a challenge against a 1999 European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) trademark [...]
