Energy bills rise could see customers trapped in ‘vicious circle of debt’ February 5, 2021 April’s price cap increase could plunge consumers into debt that suppliers have been unable to recover during the pandemic, according to Uswitch.com. Industry observers have responded to Ofgem’s announcement today that energy bills will rise by £93 to pre-pandemic levels from 1 April. The price cap, which will affect 11 million default tariff customers, has [...]
GIP joins forces with Blackstone and Cascade in $4.7bn Signature Aviation bid February 5, 2021 The former owner of Gatwick Airport has teamed up with Blackstone and Cascade to bid for private jet firm Signature Aviation. The offer values the London-based aviation company at $4.7bn, the parties said on Friday. It emerged that Signature was up for sale in December, prompting a bidding war between several investors. Commenting on the [...]
Energy prices to rise for millions of households in April February 5, 2021 Ofgem has today announced that the energy price cap will return to pre-pandemic levels from April due to changes in wholesale prices. The price cap will increase by £96 to £1,138 for 11 million default tariff customers. There will be an £87 increase to £1,156 for those using payment meter. Ofgem has allowed the increases [...]
Permanent staff recruitment falls sharply in January February 5, 2021 The latest national lockdown led to permanent staff hires plummeting in January, according to a UK jobs report. Research conducted by KPMG and REC shows the reduction was driven by the return of tough coronavirus measures and greater economic uncertainty. The resurgence of Covid-19 also caused growth in short-term vacancies to weaken in most sectors. [...]
UK PMIs: Construction activity contracts for the first time since May February 4, 2021 Construction output declined for the first time in eight months in January as lockdown measures and near-term economic concerns led to hesitancy among clients. The IHS Markit/Cips purchasing managers (PMI) index for construction scored 49.2 in January, with any score below the 50-mark indicating contraction. The reading was a sharp drop from December, when a score of [...]
MPs back bereavement campaign to ensure grieving families do not ‘slip through the net’ February 4, 2021 Dozens of MPs have called on the government to improve treatment for grieving families by refining the process of registering a loved one’s death. The plea came during a debate in the House of Commons on the campaign for a cross-industry bereavement standard, where ministers promised to consider the demands of supporters. More than 91,000 [...]
Unilever restores confidence as sales jump 3.5 per cent February 4, 2021 Consumer goods giant Unilever today reported underlying sales growth for the fourth quarter, buoyed by strong demand in emerging markets. Sales rose 3.5 per cent for the owner of Persil, Dove and Marmite, meeting analyst predictions. For the full year, sales grew by 1.9 per cent but turnover and underlying profit dropped 2.4 per cent [...]
UK urges EU to extend grace period to 2023 in bid to soften Brexit impact February 3, 2021 Britain has asked the EU for a grace period extension until 2023 on checks made on trade moving between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove has written to the European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic to ask for urgent political solutions on a number of issues at the [...]
Surge in pandemic data demand pushes up Vodafone revenues February 3, 2021 Vodafone’s revenue rose for the first time since March as demand for high-speed broadband soared across Europe. The British-based mobile carrier saw revenue rise 0.4 per cent in the third quarter, outperforming the 0.2 per cent decline predicted by analysts. Shares leaped by 3.2 per cent as several analysts backed Vodafone as a stock to [...]
Film financier Great Point set for London IPO February 3, 2021 Great Point Entertainment Income Trust (GPEIT) today announced its intention to float on the main market of the London Stock Exchange. The London-based group will offer a target issue of 200m shares at 1 penny each at an initial issue price of £1 per ordinary share. GPEIT is a newly established investment company which will [...]