InterContinental Hotels Group share price climbs on $1.5bn special dividend February 23, 2016 InterContinental Hotels' share price jumped 4.7 per cent this morning as the group revealed plans for a $1.5bn (£1.1bn) special dividend. The figures Group revenues for the year to 31 December dropped three per cent to $1.8bn, slightly lower than the $1.83bn that was expected, but fee revenue was up seven per cent to $1.35bn. Operating [...]
North Sea oil on the “edge of a chasm” as plunging oil prices mean half will operate at loss this year, Oil & Gas UK warns February 23, 2016 North Sea oil firms are operating on the brink of collapse, with nearly half of all oil fields on the continental shelf likely to operate at a loss this year, a new report has warned. Oil & Gas UK's annual survey of the sector found that while operating costs have been driven down, it is [...]
Financial Conduct Authority fines WH Ireland £1.2m after firm failed to address market abuse issues February 23, 2016 The City watchdog has fined WH Ireland £1.2m and banned it from taking on new clients in its corporate broking division over the next 72 days over market abuse failings. The FCA found that for six months in 2013, the business did not have proper controls in place to prevent market abuse being detected or occurring. Specific [...]
EU referendum: Asda, HSBC, Vodafone and nearly 200 sign letter saying Brexit would threaten jobs – but Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s are not on the list February 23, 2016 The bosses of HSBC, BT, Vodafone and Asda are among those to have put their name to an open letter backing the remain camp and Prime Minister David Cameron's reforms in Europe. More than a third of the UK's biggest companies were represented in the letter, which was published in The Times this morning, saying they represented [...]
UK house prices: Let down the ladder – how property crowdfunding could help fix the housing crisis February 22, 2016 There were positive headlines last week which suggested that the government may finally be making modest progress in its battle against the housing crisis. For the first time in a decade, home ownership rates remained stagnant, rather than falling. Yet younger generations still have huge issues with the housing market. Ownership rates continue to fall [...]
EU referendum and Brexit explained: Who is “in” and who is “out”, the main issues including immigration and trade, when the vote is scheduled and why it’s important February 22, 2016 To Brexit or not to Brexit? That is the question. But what is a Brexit and why should you care about it? Here's everything you need to know about the EU referendum. What is Brexit? Brexit refers to Britain's exit from the European Union. It's not the only portmanteau of this kind, with Grexit having preceded [...]
EU referendum: Lord Sugar backs Remain camp over Brexit February 22, 2016 Lord Sugar has come out as being in. He's known for being straight to the point, so it's no surprise that The Apprentice host summed up his stance on the EU referendum in one word. in https://t.co/rPmbXHyq0o — Lord Sugar (@Lord_Sugar) February 21, 2016 The Remain camp will be thanking its lucky stars to have a high [...]
“House blocking” and the property standstill: We need a housing market that addresses the whole population’s needs, not just first-time buyers February 22, 2016 There is a ‘house-blocking’ issue in the UK that must be addressed if we are to free up vital space, ease resources and stop the property market grinding to a complete standstill. The latest English housing survey revealed that, during the past 10 years, the number of owner-occupiers aged over 65 who own their home [...]
UK house prices: Buy to let investors are swarming the property market ahead of April’s surcharge, but supply is actually rising February 22, 2016 Buy to let investors are clearly getting their houses bought before the new surcharge rules come into place: new figures show a 35 per cent surge in buyer activity as supply fell eight per cent. According to estate agent Haart, there were 15 buyers for every new property that came on the market in January. But [...]
Home Retail Group’s share price soars after Christo Weise-backed Steinhoff International bests Sainsbury’s offer for Argos parent company February 22, 2016 Home Retail Group's share price was soaring this morning, after another suitor made a higher offer for Argos' parent company. On Friday, Christo Weise-backed Steinhoff International made a higher cash offer of 175p-per-share – valuing the British business at £1.4bn. Home Retail Group's share price was up more than 12 per cent in early trading – while Sainsbury, which has [...]
