Looming bank tax fails to dampen spirits at OneSavings Bank August 27, 2015 Specialist lender OneSavings Bank yesterday announced a 60 per cent increase in profit in the six months to 30 June, and said it remains confident that it will continue to “exceed financial objectives” in 2016 despite the new UK bank corporation tax. The challenger bank reported an underlying profit before tax of £47.6m, exceeding forecasts [...]
WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell shrugs off mounting fears over China’s economy August 27, 2015 WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell yesterday admitted “everyone should be concerned” about the current state of the Chinese economy – but said he remained an “unabashed bull” over the long term. Speaking to City A.M., Sorrell said that although Asia Pacific is the company’s third largest market, WPP would not be changing its strategy [...]
Home purchase lending drops in London as buyers are priced out August 27, 2015 LONDON’S rising housing costs are pricing people out of the market with fewer mortgages being granted. There were 18,800 home purchase loans granted from April to June, the Council of Mortgage Lenders said yesterday, marking an 11.3 per cent drop on the same period last year. The amount lent out for house purchases in London [...]
Oil analysts predict price spikes for Brent crude as early as 2016 August 27, 2015 The price of oil cannot stay at its current sub-$50 levels beyond next year, energy analysts have warned. Due to a lack of growth in North American shale production and increased decline in mature fields, a Brent price as low as $50 per barrel is not sustainable beyond 2016, according to research from Rystad [...]
Falling fuel prices hit demand for Stagecoach services in US August 27, 2015 Stagecoach yesterday announced revenue growth across all its main UK subsidiaries during the 12 weeks to 25 July, but revealed a 5.3 per cent dip in its North American business. The firm said the fall in fuel prices was hitting demand for its Megabus services in the region, but added that elsewhere in the North [...]
Monsanto gives up on £30 billion takeover bid for Swiss rivals Syngenta August 27, 2015 All Summer flings end in heartbreak – especially courtships worth $46bn (£30bn). Seed giant Monsanto yesterday threw in the towel on its four-month courtship of Swiss rival Syngenta after failing to attract the group with a takeover proposal. The New York-listed group, led by boss Hugh Grant, tried to win Syngenta round with a sweetened [...]
UK manufacturers to government: Green burden and environment legislation is out of control August 27, 2015 An overwhelming majority of British manufacturers want the government to scrap environmental legislation, according to a new report out today from the EEF. The report found that seven in 10 manufacturers said eliminating so-called “green” red tape is important to their business. Four in 10 said that the government had not done enough [...]
China’s economic crisis and the global market turmoil spooks central bankers August 27, 2015 Traders on red alert for a prolonged period of cheap money (Source: Getty) Global market turbulence is causing central bankers on both sides of the pond to shy away from any tightening of monetary conditions – putting traders on red alert for a prolonged period of cheap money. American rate-setter Bill Dudley [...]
I know what a World Cup axe feels like August 27, 2015 Ex-England No10 Charlie Hodgson tells Ross McLean that Lancaster can’t win THERE is simply no mechanism for cushioning the heart-rending blow of missing the final cut for your country’s Rugby World Cup squad. That is the view of Saracens fly-half Charlie Hodgson as England head coach Stuart Lancaster today prepares to name his 31-man party [...]
Farah refuses to be fall guy in 5,000m August 27, 2015 BRITAIN’S Mo Farah hopes to dodge the three strikes and you’re out mantra after suffering a scare in his bid for a long-distance double at the World Athletics Championship in Beijing yesterday. Defending champion Farah – hunting a record-breaking third twin title at major global events – qualified for Saturday’s 5,000m final second in his [...]
