Job hopes aid UK households May 26, 2015 GROWING job security, improving personal finances and increased faith in the economic recovery have pushed consumer confidence to its highest level since the pre-crash years, according to a Nielsen study today. The proportion feeling positive about their job prospects rose for the eight consecutive quarter to 45 per cent, the highest level since 2007. The [...]
Cabbies protest at TfL and Uber May 26, 2015 VICTORIA was brought to a standstill as London’s black cab drivers staged a protest yesterday afternoon. The group that organised it was the breakaway United Cabbies Group. At the protest, its chairman Len Martin insisted that the demonstration was aimed at Transport for London (TfL), for what the group consider the body’s failure to ignore [...]
Ryanair’s brand overhaul begins to boost sales May 26, 2015 RYANAIR yesterday announced that its profit for the fiscal year 2015 had soared by 66 per cent from the year before, and said it took more from ticket sales than the year before too. The Irish budget airline, which is celebrating its 30th birthday this year, announced it made €867m (£615m) in profit for the [...]
Boohoo’s finance chief Neil Catto granted options over 1.6m shares May 26, 2015 Boohoo’s finance chief Neil Catto was yesterday granted 1.6m share options worth £400,000 after his previous options effectively went under water following a slump in the online retailer’s share price. Catto, who steered the company through its float in March last year, was rewarded at the time with options over 2m shares. These would have [...]
Waste group Shanks first UK firm to issue a green bond in Europe May 26, 2015 WASTE management group Shanks is becoming the first UK firm to issue a green bond in euros, with a €150m (£106m) offering. Shanks announced yesterday it is selling a seven-year bond with a coupon of 3.65 per cent. With an issue price of 101.875 on the dollar, that gives a yield of 3.345 per cent. [...]
Kea Petroleum placing falters May 26, 2015 KEA PETROLEUM has suspended its shares on the junior market after failing to raise sufficient capital through a share placing. The New Zealand-focused firm tried to raise £3m via Primarybid.com, a crowdfunding platform for Aim placings, but failed to meet its goal despite extending the bid period. Kea said its working capital “remains tight and [...]
Solvency II driving deals May 26, 2015 SHARES in investment group Randall & Quilter (R&Q) went up by 6.22 per cent yesterday after the company announced a £17m deal to buy IC Insurance from AstraZeneca and Imperial Chemicals Industries. R&Q boss Ken Randall said the deal was one of a number of transactions the firm is looking at where a parent is [...]
Cineworld’s strong start boosted by hits May 26, 2015 Hits like Avengers: Age of Ultron starring Scarlett Johansson helped UK cinema operator Cineworld increase total group revenue by 26.8 per cent for the 19 weeks ended 14 May. Cineworld expanded last year following the £500m purchase of the Cinema City chain.
Taking off: London City airport’s £16m lounge revamp May 26, 2015 London City airport, a favourite with travellers who abhor long check-in queues, snaking lines for security checks and yearn for a respite from traditional public lounges, is giving a £16m revamp to its western pier which houses 70 per cent of the departure gates. New shops, restaurants and watering holes, quiet areas with mobile-device charging [...]
Madame Tussauds makeover for David Cameron as high office takes its toll on PM May 26, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron has had work done. Five years in Coalition has taken its toll on the youthful fresh-face of the 48-year-old jogger. The prospect of a tussle over the EU, NHS worries and more belt-tightening, do nothing for frown lines, or hair colour. So to keep reflections accurate, Madame Tussauds has added [...]
