Dignity profit falls 30 per cent as fewer people die November 11, 2019 Dignity, the UK’s only listed funeral firm, saw its underlying operating profit slip 30 per cent for the year to date, driven by a significantly lower number of deaths. Profit fell from £68.6m in 2018 to £47.9m this year. Underlying revenue also fell eight per cent, from 244.2m in 2018 to 225.4m. Despite the fall [...]
UK lowers security risk for Straits of Hormuz shipping November 7, 2019 The UK today lowered the security risk for UK-flagged tankers travelling through the Straits of Hormuz, more than a month after the Stena Impero was released from detention by Iran. The Gulf state’s revolutionary guards seized the British tanker was seized in response to Britain’s capture of an Iranian vessel off Gibraltar. Read more: Saudi [...]
Brexit inspires Collins’ first-ever ‘Brexicon’ November 7, 2019 The Collins Dictionary put a spin on its annual word of the year announcement today by releasing its ‘Brexicon’, a list of ten words brought to prominence by Brexit – “for better or for worse.” ‘Cakeism’ – a wish to enjoy two desirable and incompatible alternatives – rubs shoulders with ‘Brexiety’ – a state of [...]
BritBox launches in the UK – but can it challenge Netflix? November 7, 2019 BritBox, the new streaming service from the BBC and ITV, has launched in the UK this morning as broadcasters attempt to muscle in on the lucrative online television market. The platform, which announced this morning that it would also feature content from Channel 4 and Channel 5, is entering a crowded market, with market leaders [...]
BHP shareholders vote against leaving industry groups November 7, 2019 Shareholders at Anglo-Australian mining giant BHP have voted against a motion calling for the company to give up its membership in industry bodies which support policies which run counter to the Paris climate change treaty. A tally of the votes taken at the group’s annual general meeting (AGM) in Sydney showed that 72.9 per cent [...]
NHS ‘perfect storm’ could threaten Tory election hopes November 7, 2019 The Conservatives’ election hopes face a potentially major blow from a damning report out today that warned more than 1m NHS patients could experience four hour waits at A&E this winter. The British Medical Association (BMA) analysis warned the NHS is set for its “worst ever” winter as pressure on the health provider looks set [...]
CNG Fuels to offer first carbon neutral fuels for HGVs November 7, 2019 This morning CNG Fuels, the UK’s leading supplier of renewable biomethane, announced plans to become the first supplier of carbon neutral fuels for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). The supplier plans to use manure to produce carbon neutral biomethane which will undercut diesel prices up to 45 per cent by 2021. Read more: MPs demand parliament’s [...]
Astrazeneca pushes further into China with trio of new projects November 6, 2019 Astrazeneca this morning unveiled three new initiatives to further deepen the UK-based company’s footprint in China. The pharmaceuticals multinational has agreed a partnership with China International Capital Corporation (CICC), one of China’s leading investment banks, to create a $1bn Healthcare Industrial Fund. Read more: AstraZeneca beats estimates in strong third quarter Astrazeneca will be a [...]
Connect Group shares slide as pre-tax profit falls 18 per cent November 6, 2019 Shares in newspaper distributor Connect Group fell more than four and a half per cent this morning as the company reported an 18 per cent fall in pre-tax profits for the year ending 31 August. According to the group’s preliminary results, profits fell from £28.4m in 2018 to £23.2m this year, with earnings per share [...]
Oil prices drop back after three day surge November 6, 2019 After three days of growth oil prices dropped this morning, as US crude stocks nearly tripled against analyst expectations. Inventories rose by 4.3m barrels last week to 440.5m barrels, far higher than forecasts of a 1.5m barrel increase. Read more: OPEC chief optimistic for 2020 as oil price rises one per cent An easing in [...]
