‘Technical issues’ delay Iowa caucuses results in opening US primary February 4, 2020 The winner of yesterday’s Iowa caucuses, the traditional curtain raiser in the race to appoint a Democratic candidate for the US presidential election, is yet to be announced after “technical issues” held up the results. Iowa democratic party chairman Troy Price told the media to expect the results sometime today after the party reported “inconsistencies” [...]
Drax assessing coal plant options after legal challenge February 3, 2020 Drax will not bid for capacity market contracts for its proposed new gas power plant in North Yorkshire until the outcome of a legal challenge against the project is known. The National Grid uses capacity market contracts to ensure there will be sufficient energy on the grid to offset periods of stress caused by the [...]
Oil prices waver as Opec mulls further production cuts to offset coronavirus impact February 3, 2020 Oil prices were largely steady today despite growing economic disruption from the coronavirus outbreak amid rumours that producer cartel Opec is considering even deeper cuts to oil output. Brent crude fell 0.2 per cent to $56.49, whilst West Texas Intermediate showed a small gain of 0.4 per cent to reach $51.74. Last week prices fell [...]
Future shares boosted after short-seller launches attack February 3, 2020 Publishing group Future saw its shares rise seven per cent this morning, just days after the firm came under attack from a short-seller over the price of its stock. In a trading update, the media group, which publishes specialist trade magazines, said it had continued to grow audience numbers and had seen strong revenue growth. [...]
Ofgem publishes new plan for net zero Britain February 3, 2020 Ofgem has today published a new plan to decarbonise the UK’s energy system in order to meet emissions targets by 2050. The “Decarbonisation Action Plan” sets out nine actions that the energy industry must put into practice in order to ensure that the UK’s energy networks can deliver net zero. Central to the plan is [...]
Business groups react as Heathrow expansion in doubt again February 2, 2020 Business groups warned that the failure to expand Heathrow would see the UK “fall behind the rest of the world” as the new runway’s future was again plunged into doubt this weekend. It emerged that Spanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial was reportedly considering selling its 25 per cent stake in the airport if it could not [...]
Crossrail boss says he will do without a bonus February 2, 2020 Crossrail’s latest boss has promised that he will “do this job without a bonus” after his predecessors came under fire for receiving over £6.5m in extra payments over the last decade. The payments were made despite Europe’s biggest infrastructure project being £3bn over budget and set to open nearly three years behind schedule. According to [...]
Flybe’s planes at risk of being impounded as wait for rescue package goes on February 2, 2020 Embattled Flybe is facing a nervous wait over its potential £100m taxpayer loan amid reports that air traffic controllers could impound the regional airline’s planes. According to mortgage records, many of Flybe’s planes are owned by other firms such as NordLB and Nordic Aviation Capital, who lease them to Flybe to use. The Sunday Telegraph [...]
BP faces calls to link bonuses to climate change action February 2, 2020 Investors are calling on oil giant BP to make performance on tackling climate change a key element in its bonus structure amid increasing concerns about companies’ response to the climate crisis. The bonuses of around 36,000 staff are already linked to plans for reducing emissions, but investors are now calling for more rigorous targets, potentially [...]
Ferrovial adds to Heathrow uncertainty amid warnings over returns February 2, 2020 Heathrow owner Ferrovial has added to the uncertainty over the airport’s long-awaited third runway by saying it might consider selling the asset if it could not get an “adequate return” on its investment. The Spanish infrastructure firm, which owns UK outsourcer Amey, currently owns a 25 per cent stake in Europe’s busiest airport. However, chief [...]
