The Festival of Words: From Gyles Brandreth to Anthony Scaramucci – all you need to know about the Fleet Street Quarter festival
UK car manufacturing hits its highest in a decade as UK exports autos to more than 100 countries January 21, 2016 The markets may be in turmoil and growth may be teetering on the brink – but British car manufacturers are having a ball. Figures by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said manufacturers in the UK made 1,595,697 vehicles in 2015 – more than any year since 2005. Manufacturers also exported a record [...]
HSBC boss Stuart Gulliver indicates bank may delay decision on moving headquarters to Asia or the US January 20, 2016 HSBC is expected to once again delay making a decision on whether or not it will relocate its headquarters. HSBC chief executive Stuart Gulliver said earlier today that the bank will provide an "update" next month on its plans to relocate its headquarters abroad – but the update may not include a final decision. Speaking at the World Economic [...]
E.On slashes gas prices by more than five per cent as chief executive says it’s “the right thing to do” January 20, 2016 Energy giant E.On has announced a decision to slash 5.1 per cent off its gas prices – equivalent to three weeks' gas use, or £32 off your annual bill, it said today. The company said it was also launching two new dual fuel tariffs, including one aimed at people aged over 60 and one two-year [...]
Paws for thought as Pets at Home customers go crazy for posh dogfood January 20, 2016 Pets at Home has posted strong sales growth in its third quarter – thanks, in part, to a craze for "advanced nutrition" for their pets. Only the best for little Fido… The numbers The retailer posted like-for-like sales growth of 2.2 per cent in the 12 weeks to 1 January, with 1.7 per cent growth in merchandise, which was [...]
Asian markets tumble as oil hovers nearer $27 January 20, 2016 Asian markets have tumbled overnight, after oil wiped out most of the gains it made this week. Last night West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dipped as low as $27.55 per barrel, while Brent crude fell to $28.28. Yesterday both rose above $30 for the first time since the weekend, before erasing those gains. The news [...]
Fintech revolution? Banks will survive disruption from new technology January 19, 2016 Last week, yet another report was published suggesting banking has reached its digital tipping point. Figures from Javelin Strategy & Research suggest that for the first time ever, US consumers banked on their mobiles more than in branches last year. We’re seeing a similar picture in the UK, as the large banks increase their technology spend [...]
Migration Advisory Committee rules: Why making firms pay £1,000 for new hires is anti-business January 19, 2016 After four months of waiting, recommended changes to the immigration rules relating to skilled workers from outside Europe have been announced by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). Should the changes be written into law, they will apply from 6 April this year. The recommendations are the biggest changes to sponsored employees since 2010, yet businesses hardly have [...]
So much for the winter lull: UK house price growth jumps again in November January 19, 2016 UK house prices grew 7.7 per cent in the year to November, up from seven per cent the month before, as people rushed to buy homes before interest rates rise. The east of England led the charge, with price growth of 10.2 per cent, while prices in the south east and London rose 9.8 per [...]
Job interview questions from the City’s toughest banks including Barclays, HSBC, RBS, Lloyds, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs January 19, 2016 There's nothing worse than going into a job interview without quite knowing what you're in for. And given that City institutions are notoriously tough on their interviewees, going for a chat at City banks is particularly nerve-wracking. But worry no more: careers website Glassdoor.com has listed some of the toughest questions its interviewers asked potential employees. [...]
Renault to recall 15,000 cars, says French energy minister Segolene Royal January 19, 2016 Renault will recall 15,000 vehicles to bring them into line with emissions standards, French energy minister Ségolène Royal told French media today. "Renault has committed to recalling a certain number of vehicles, to check them and adjust them correctly so that the filtration system works," Royal told radio station RTL. The news comes five days after [...]
