Bentley unveils “world’s most exclusive SUV”, the Bentayga September 9, 2015 Have a spare £160,000 hanging around? Bentley has unveiled its latest offering: the six-litre, 10ft-long, 5,300lb Bentayga, the company's "sumptuous" SUV. Understated, it isn't. Described by Bentley chairman and chief executive Wolfgang Duerheimer as "redefining luxury" (that old chestnut), the car comes with "unlimited" options for paint, leather, veneer and "lifestyle". "The standard palette alone [...]
Starting work before 9am is “torture”, says sleep expert September 9, 2015 If getting into work this morning was a struggle, you're not alone: an expert has said being forced to start work before 9am is a form of "torture". Oxford University's Dr Paul Kelley told the British Science Festival that the majority of office workers are sleep-deprived because the body's 24-hour circadian rhythm is set. "You [...]
John McFarlane to staff: Leaked memo says Barclays needs to make “tough calls” to push up shareholder returns September 8, 2015 It's been just a couple of days since the traditional back to work season kicked off and already Barclays' boss John McFarlane has ruffled a few feathers with a memo sent to staff hinting at a cull. In a welcome back note sent to all Barclays staff this morning, City A.M. understands that the man famously [...]
What’s purdah and why is everyone so upset about it? Everything you need to know about yesterday’s Commons battle over the EU referendum September 8, 2015 A coalition of Labour, the SNP and nearly 40 Conservative rebels handed Prime Minister David Cameron a one-two punch late last night when they voted down the government's amendment to the EU referendum bill and backed the opposition's proposal, instead. But what actually happened? Was it as "humiliating" as some papers are saying? And [...]
What crisis? Eurozone growth revised up to 0.4 per cent in second quarter September 8, 2015 Things didn't get quite as bad during the Greek crisis as everyone thought, it turns out, after Eurozone growth for the second quarter was revised upwards. Official statistics published this morning showed the bloc grew 0.4 per cent between April and June, up from the 0.3 per cent originally thought. At the time of the [...]
Lloyd’s of London insurer Amlin share price rockets 33 per cent as Mitsui Sumitomo swoops for £3.5bn September 8, 2015 Following July's takeover of the Financial Times by Nikkei, another Japanese giant has swooped on a British company, after the board of Lloyd's of London insurer Amlin recommended an £3.5bn offer by Mitsui Sumitomo. In a statement today, Amlin said Mitsui had offered 670p in per share, a 36 per cent premium to Amlin's closing [...]
Beam me up, Scotch-y: Why space is the ultimate place to mature whisky, according to Ardbeg Distillery September 8, 2015 The best place to mature whisky is, quite literally, out of this world, it turns out – after Ardbeg Distillery discovered a vial of its distillate sent to the International Space Station (ISS) for three years had returned to earth with an "intense" flavour. Islay whisky company Ardbeg sent the vial of distillate, complete with [...]
After space whisky, here’s the booze-powered car: Government invests £11m in Celtic Renewables September 8, 2015 Say what you like about whisky, but it's definitely going places. After yesterday's revelation that when matured in space, the spirit produces a "dramatically different flavour profile", it has now been revealed that the government has awarded cash to a company trying to produce whisky-powered fuel. Celtic Renewables, a spin-out from Edinburgh Napier University's Biofuel [...]
Berkeley Group share price rises as Tony Pidgley says it’s on track to hit £2bn target thanks to General Election September 8, 2015 Another day, another glowing report from one of the UK's largest housebuilders, after Berkeley Group chairman Tony Pidgley said the company was on track to deliver an earnings target of £2bn over the next three years – thanks, in part, to the outcome of the General Election. Shares in Berkeley Group (which, lest we forget, [...]
The government must understand the impact of the bank surcharge before it goes any further September 7, 2015 The tax policy of the UK government for the banking sector has changed dramatically over the last three administrations, with very little consultation or detailed impact assessment. Labour introduced a bankers bonus tax; the coalition focused primarily on the bank levy; and, in the summer Budget, the current Conservative government announced a slow and [...]
