Iron producer Ferrexpo’s shares surge despite fall in production January 13, 2020 Iron ore producer Ferrexpo said that pellet production slowed in 2019, but that the business continued to generate strong margins. In a trading update the FTSE 250 firm said that it had produced 10.5m tonnes of pellets in 2019, down from 10.6m in 2018. Read more: Ferrexpo chief executivee Kostyantin Zhevago temporarily steps down However, [...]
China says Taiwan secession will ‘leave a stink for 10,000 years’ January 13, 2020 China’s top diplomat has said that Taiwanese separatists would “leave a stink for 10,000 years” as Beijing reacted to the re-election of President Tsai Ing-wen on Saturday. Tsai was re-elected by a landslide majority over the weekend on a platform of standing up to the mainland government. Read more: Taiwan ready and able to be [...]
In pictures: When John Laing built the Barbican and other London landmarks January 13, 2020 Historic England has released a never-seen-before look at the building of modern Britain, in partnership with construction giant John Laing. John Laing, which built iconic UK buildings such as Coventry Cathedral, the Severn Bridge crossing, and the Berkeley Nuclear power station, is releasing 10,000 photos from its collection over 2020. Read more: John Laing’s diverse [...]
Car manufacturers on track for emissions fines of €14.5bn in 2021 January 13, 2020 Europe’s top 13 car makers will face fines of up to €14.5bn (£12.4bn) for missing their 2021 emissions targets, according to a new forecast from PA Consulting. After four years of decreasing emissions, a rise in the number of customers buying SUVs, stronger demand for high-powered cars, and a shift in preference to petrol cars [...]
Inside the firms taking on the Big Six – and winning January 13, 2020 There’s a palpable buzz to Octopus Energy’s Soho headquarters, which hits you as you walk through the door. It’s a world away from what one imagines when one thinks of an energy firm, chief executive Greg Jackson agrees. But Octopus is one of several companies showing the UK’s Big Six that there is another way [...]
Value of takeovers of AIM companies rises a third in 2019 January 13, 2020 Takeovers of AIM-listed companies rose 32 per cent in value last year, thanks to a growth in the number of buyers acquiring fast-growing fintech firms listed on the index. According to accountants UHY Hacker Young, the value of such takeovers rose from £2.2bn in 2018 to £2.9bn in 2019, aided by a resurgence in the [...]
KKR makes surprise bid for Pennon’s recycling arm January 12, 2020 Pennon’s bin collection and incineration firm Viridor has been the subject of a shock bid from US private equity fund KKR, in an attempt to knock out the competition before an expected auction process. Viridor is set to be one of 2020’s most keenly fought acquisitions, with a number of companies said to be interested [...]
Siemens offers climate activist role on board as firm makes Adani mine decision January 12, 2020 The chief executive of engineering giant Siemens has offered a 23-year-old climate protestor a seat on one of its boards, as it prepares to make a decision on its involvement with a controversial Australian coal mine on Monday. Joe Kaeser met with Lisa Neubauer, a prominent figure in Greta Thunberg’s “Fridays for Future” movement, last [...]
Sir Jim Ratcliffe hit with legal claims over North Sea pipeline January 12, 2020 Britain’s third richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe is facing claims that he is looking to raise costs for a rival to use the main North Sea oil pipeline. American oil firm Apache has said that Ineos, which Ratcliffe owns, wants to double the price of using the Forties pipeline which it bought from BP in [...]
UK accuses Iran of violating international law for arresting ambassador January 12, 2020 The UK has accused Iran of a “flagrant violation of international law” after its ambassador was arrested returning from a vigil for those who died when the Islamic Republic shot down a passenger plane on Wednesday. Rob Macaire was arrested after the vigil turned into a protest against the Iranian regime, which he was accused [...]
