Russia claims it shot down a drone from Ukraine as war enters 18th month July 28, 2023 A Ukrainian drone has been shot down near Moscow, Russia’s defence ministry has said. It is the third drone strike or attempt on the capital region this month. There were no injuries or damage, the ministry added. It did not give details about where the drone was shot down on Friday morning, but said it [...]
Bentley warns of ‘challenging conditions’ ahead as marque levels out following 2022 bonanza July 28, 2023 Bentley posted operating profits of €390m (£335.16m) today, down slightly on the same period in 2022, as the marque levelled out following last year’s earnings bonanza. The luxury carmaker also saw revenues decrease slightly, posting €1.68bn (£1.44bn) against a 2022 figure of €1.71bn (£1.46bn) amid a downturn in global sales of four per cent year-on-year. [...]
How changing a single risk measure could give banks the freedom the economy needs July 28, 2023 In this guest essay, three of the City’s sharpest minds lay out a route for our biggest lenders to get their risk appetite back Since the global financial crisis of 2007/8, banks have been less able to lend to the real economy. Much of their traditional financing activity has been displaced into the more lightly [...]
Cineworld suspends trading on London Stock Exchange as restructuring plans limp on July 28, 2023 Beleaguered Cinema chain Cineworld will suspend its listing on the London Stock Exchange today as it limps on with a restructuring plan to reduce its massive mountain of debt.
AstraZeneca: Revenue boost despite welcome end of Covid-19 jab sales July 28, 2023 Britain’s biggest FTSE firm AstraZeneca reported an uptick in sales as oncology treatments helped pick up the slack from falling sales of Covid-19 medicines. The pharmaceutical company made over $22.2bn (£17.3bn) – a four per cent increase – during the first half of 2023, causing shares to spring over three per cent on market open [...]
Liontrust stretches GAM deadline as spat with Xavier Niel-backed group rages on July 28, 2023 Lonon-listed fund manager Liontrust has stretched the deadline for its potential £96m takeover of Swiss rival GAM today amid a spat with a group of rebel shareholders.
Natwest: Alison Rose signs off with bumper profit even as bad loan provisions double July 28, 2023 Natwest announced a new share buyback scheme after beating expectations in the second quarter, but cut its guidance as customers increasingly seek out higher rates on their deposits.
UK lost 6,000 store fronts due to covid and ‘crippling’ business rates July 28, 2023 Britain has lost 6,000 storefronts in five years amid Covid and cost-of-living pressures and “crippling” business rates, according to figures. The overall vacancy rate increased to 13.9 per cent across Britain in the second quarter of this year, a 0.1 percentage point drop on the first quarter but 0.1 points up on the same period [...]
British Airways’ owner IAG commits to investing record profit of £1.1bn July 28, 2023 The parent company of British Airways made a record operating profit between January and June, it has announced. International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) said its operating profit in the first half of 2023 reached 1.3 billion euros (£1.1 billion), up from a loss of 446 million euros (£383 million) in the same period last year. [...]
Standard Chartered announces $1bn buyback scheme after profits soar on rising rates July 28, 2023 Standard Chartered announced a further $1bn (£780m) share buyback after recording better than expected results in the second quarter on the back of rising interest rates. Pretax profit at the bank climbed 18 per cent to $1.5bn, higher than the $1.4bn predicted by analysts. This came thanks to a 29 per cent increase in net [...]
