From retail mania and the Tube strike to oil prices and the Chinese economy: Here’s what got us talking this week January 15, 2016 We all got invited to a very special birthday party, while someone else got an early birthday present. Meanwhile, the details of Boris Johnson's Iraq antics were leaked. Oh no, BoJo. Here's what got us talking this week 1) Ground control to major Tim The world mourned as we digested the news that David Bowie had died [...]
Tube strike 2016 could be called off as talks to continue next week as TfL, Aslef and RMT negotiate over pay, Night Tube January 15, 2016 Talks between transport bosses and unions will continue throughout the next week, as both sides attempt to reach an agreement ahead of scheduled strikes. Members of Aslef and RMT are currently planning to strike on three 24-hour strikes, with the first starting at 9.15pm on Tuesday 26 January and running until the same time on Wednesday 27 [...]
Let’s get ready to referendum: Jean-Claude Juncker says there’ll be a deal for UK’s European Union reform demands by next month January 15, 2016 Jean-Claude Juncker has said he expects "a deal" that could resolve the UK's demands for reform of its European Union membership next month, opening the door to an in-out referendum in June. Juncker said on Friday that he was confident a solution would be reached at the European Council summit in Brussels, which is being held in [...]
How major Tim Peake’s historic spacewalk can help the UK defeat our STEM skills gap January 15, 2016 What did you want to be when you were growing up? For many, the answer has its roots in science: a doctor, an astronaut, maybe even a palaeontologist. But something happens to our budding science enthusiasts as they get older. Numerous surveys have found that the vast majority of young people turn away from science and maths [...]
The count is in: These are the retail winners and losers for Christmas 2015 (according to Hargreaves Lansdown) January 15, 2016 After a busy few days chock-full of Christmas retail results, we're finally beginning to get a sense of who the winners and losers of 2015's festive period might be. Yesterday, Tesco surprised investors with better-than-expected results, rounding off a solid performance among the UK's traditional supermarket sector – although Asda is still yet to report. Marks & [...]
Legal & General sells Sipp provider Suffolk Life to Curtis Banks for £45m, creating second-largest provider in Britain January 15, 2016 Legal & General has agreed to sell its Sipp provider Suffolk Life to Aim-listed pensions group Curtis Banks Group for £45m, which will create the second-largest Sipp-provider in the country. Curtis Banks is planning to raise the cash for the deal through placing nearly 8.5m shares, at 320p each, which will raise £27m, and a new debt and [...]
BT’s share price climbs as it names the date for EE deal completion after CMA gives £12.5bn deal green light January 15, 2016 BT has named the date for the completion of its £12.5bn takeover of mobile phone firm EE after being given the green light by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) this morning. The CMA said although the deal would create the largest telecoms business in the country, it was not expected to result in "substantial [...]
BHP Billiton share price falls as firm writes down $4.9bn amid fears it could dent company dividend January 15, 2016 BHP Billiton has warned that it expects to take the hit on a $4.9bn post-tax (or $7.2bn pre-tax) impairment charge for the last financial period, as a direct impact of the falling price of oil and gas. The write-down will be registered as an exceptional item in the financial results for the half year ended 31 December [...]
Renault’s share price recovers slightly after car giant explains emissions probe; Fiat Chrysler suspends trading after claims it is faking sales figures January 14, 2016 Renault shares recovered slightly after the French energy minister said tests conducted on Renault cars had not found any emissions cheating software. Segolene Royal said tests had been carried out to establish whether vehicles on its roads were equipped with software similar to that used by scandal-engulfed Volkswagen in the United States to trick emissions tests. "There is no fraud at [...]
Sainsbury’s bid for Argos might solve some of Mike Coupe’s problems – but the deal poses significant challenges for landlords January 14, 2016 In a presentation to investors this week, Sainsbury’s outlined its strategy behind acquiring Home Retail Group. Sainsbury’s did caution that the deal would be a “strategically compelling opportunity, and if done at the right price financially compelling”. The 22-page presentation was used to set out the case and try and ease investors concerns. Home Retail Group reported that [...]
