Diploma raises dividend on the back of strong 2019 performance November 18, 2019 London-listed Diploma today announced that it would list its final dividend by 15 per cent, after posting strong double-digit growth in both earnings and revenue. Shares in the company rose nearly three and a half per cent during the morning’s trading. Read more: Industrial parts supplier Diploma eyes further acquisitions The figures The company, which [...]
Number of manufacturing companies going bust at highest level in five years November 18, 2019 The number of manufacturing businesses entering insolvency has reached its highest level in five years in the last 12 months, rising 7 per cent to 1,466 from 1,373 in the previous year. Research from global accountancy firm Moore found that a combination of uncertainty over Brexit and a slowdown across Europe was responsible for the [...]
Jim Ratcliffe wins Jaguar Land Rover challenge over Defender shape November 17, 2019 Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) efforts to thwart billionaire businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s plans to model the shape of his new 4×4 on JLR’s Defender have failed. The Sunday Times today reported that Ratcliffe, the founder of Ineos, had won his challenge to JLR’s attempt to trademark the Defender’s shape. Read more: Ineos’ Teeside chemicals factory [...]
Octopus launches new renewables investment trust November 17, 2019 The renewables investment arm of Octopus Group will list a new trust next month, which will buy and operate renewable energy infrastructure assets such as wind farms and solar panels. The Sunday Times reported that the Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust is seeking to raise about £250m in December’s float, and has forecast a three per [...]
Saudi Aramco set for $1.7 trillion valuation November 17, 2019 Saudi Aramco has released the official price range for its long-awaited initial public offering (IPO) in December, giving the company a preliminary value between $1.6 trillion (£1.24 trillion) to $1.7 trillion. Although this is considerably below the company’s desire for a $2 trillion valuation, it would still make the IPO the world’s biggest. Read more: [...]
Sir Ed Davey pledges £100bn to tackle the climate crisis November 15, 2019 Liberal Democrat deputy leader Ed Davey this afternoon laid out his party’s economic plans, announcing that his party would spend an additional £100bn of public finance on tackling the climate crisis. Speaking at an event in Leeds, the party’s shadow chancellor said: “This includes a new £10bn renewable power fund to leverage in over £100bn [...]
Boris Johnson and buses: A brief but chequered history November 15, 2019 Boris Johnson unveiled his new election battle bus today, which comes emblazoned with slogans urging voters to back the Prime Minister to “get Brexit done.” The Prime Minister’s penchant for the trusty London bus is well known. In an interview with Talk Radio in June, he admitted that he liked to relax by making models [...]
Boris Johnson unveils ‘Get Brexit done’ election battle bus November 15, 2019 Boris Johnson unveiled his new election bus today during a campaign launch in Greater Manchester. The bus is emblazoned with the words: “Back Boris and vote Conservative to… Get Brexit Done.” Read more: Boris Johnson promised pent up tidal wave of investment Speaking to attendees, the Prime Minister said: “Some of you might ask why [...]
Shell picks Citi bank for $1bn sale of Egyptian oil assets November 15, 2019 Oil supermajor Royal Dutch Shell has appointed investment bank Citi to run the $1bn (£781.5m) sale of its oil and gas assets in Egypt’s Western Desert. Sources told Reuters that the sale should be officially launched at the end of the month. Read more: Royal Dutch Shell shares slide as profits fall 15 per cent [...]
Four reasons to fear Labour’s plan to part-nationalise BT November 15, 2019 British businesses today poured scorn on Labour’s plans to provide Brits with free broadband and part-nationalise BT, slamming the policy as a major setback for the UK’s digital economy. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has set out plans to nationalise BT’s full-fibre arm, Openreach, along with other divisions, funding it by taxing multinational tech giants. Read [...]
