How might the UK replace China in its new nuclear plants? July 29, 2021 Back in 2015 the UK and China put nuclear power at the centre of what was hailed as a new “golden age” for relations between the two countries. As part of £30bn worth of deals, China’s state-owned nuclear firm China General Nuclear (CGN) agreed to partner with the UK to help it build three new [...]
BAE Systems kicks off £500m in share buybacks as earnings top £1bn July 29, 2021 Defence giant BAE Systems today announced that it would kick off a £500m share buyback programme after its first half earnings topped £1bn. The FTSE blue chip said that earnings totalled £1.03bn for the first half, up from £849m in the same period in 2020. It also said that it would boost its interim dividend [...]
Shell boosts dividend and launches $2bn share buyback as earnings pop July 29, 2021 Shell said that it would increase its dividend and kick off a $2bn share buyback programme as its second quarter earnings hit their highest levels in two years. The oil giant said that earnings came in at $5.5bn, up 71 per cent on the $3.3bn it took in the same period last year. Increased oil [...]
Some car firms losing 30 per cent of staff due to ‘pingdemic’ July 29, 2021 Some UK car makers are seeing up to 30 per cent of their staff having to isolate due to the ‘pingdemic’, trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has warned. Speaking at the association’s half-year production briefing, SMMT boss Mike Hawes said that the problem, which has affected many industries, was threatening [...]
Weir Group reinstates dividend after ‘strong’ first half performance July 29, 2021 Weir Group has this morning reinstated its dividend after what the engineering group hailed as a “strong performance” over the first half of the year. The FTSE 100 firm said that it would pay out a dividend of 11.5p per share for the period, having cancelled such returns due to the pandemic. The announcement came [...]
Anglo-American to return extra $2bn to shareholders after doubling revenue July 29, 2021 Anglo-American said that it would return an extra $2bn to shareholders after doubling its revenue in the first half of the year. The FTSE 100 firm said that revenue had jumped from $10.2bn to $21.8bn in the period, thanks mainly to surging demands for raw materials amid the recovery from the pandemic. The mining giant [...]
National Express back in black as savings take effect July 29, 2021 Transport operator National Express said that cost reductions had helped it return to the black in the first half of 2021 despite continuing Covid-19 restrictions. Although revenue was slightly down on last year, the FTSE 250 firm said that underlying operating profit came in at £22.9m for the period, up from a £30.6m loss in [...]
Travel industry welcomes end of quarantine for double-jabbed EU & US citizens but concerns remain July 28, 2021 Airlines and travel firms today hailed the news that the UK will drop quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated travellers from the EU and US next week but warned more changes were needed. Industry body Airlines UK said: “Exemptions for all fully vaccinated travellers is undoubtedly a positive move, offering a lifeline for thousands of businesses [...]
High Court to hear legal challenge to UK’s North Sea oil plan July 28, 2021 The High Court has today agreed to hear a case brought by environmental campaigners claiming that the government’s plans for the North Sea oil basin are unlawful. Three activists are arguing that the Oil and Gas Authority’s (OGA) new strategy for the continental shelf, which was released earlier this year, conflicts with its legal duty [...]
Congestion charge to be rolled back to 18:00 on weekdays July 28, 2021 The London congestion charge will stop at 18:00 on weekdays under new proposals from Transport for London (TfL) to encourage punters to return to the capital’s hospitality hotspots in the evenings. However, on weekends it will become operational between 12:00 and 18:00, in order to reduce congestion in central London and get people back on [...]
