888 will publicly enter the battle with its rivals to take over Bwin May 17, 2015 ONLINE gaming giant 888 Group is expected to publicly announce its desire to bid for Bwin.party today. If a formal statement from 888 comes this morning as expected, it would indicate approval for the takeover from the group’s major shareholders, which is crucial for any such deal. The firm declined to comment yesterday on the [...]
Online music shop Gear4Music to announce £25m Aim float May 17, 2015 GEAR4MUSIC, the online musical instruments retailer, will announce plans this morning to float on London’s Alternative Investment Market (Aim), in a move that will value the firm at around £25m. Launched in 2003, the Yorkshire-based music shop sells 27,000 different items ranging from £8,000 pianos to 99p kazoos. It has 19 country-specific websites across Europe [...]
Agents bet on UK housing market activity boost after General Election May 17, 2015 Agents are expecting housing market activity to pick up following a decisive outcome to the General Election. “Now the months of uncertainty are finally over, we are already witnessing confidence returning to the market with buyers and sellers in a more informed position to make the decisions they were putting off,” said Andrew Weir [...]
Thomas Cook defends payout received over Corfu hotel deaths May 17, 2015 THOMAS Cook yesterday defended claiming compensation from the Greek hotel where two children died in 2006, amid fears that the incident could lead to a consumer backlash against the tour operator. A spokesperson said that chief executive Peter Fankhauser had sent a letter of apology to parents Neil Shepherd and Sharon Wood on Friday after [...]
Allianz growth plan on track as premiums grow in first quarter May 17, 2015 Premiums grew by five per cent at Allianz UK in the first quarter of 2015, as the German-owned insurer continues with plans to become a £3bn firm by the end of 2018. Gross written premium went up to £555m, from £528m in the same period of 2014, and combined ratio improved to 97.7 per cent [...]
Aqua Shard scales new flowery heights May 17, 2015 THE SHARD, which set the record for the tallest building in western Europe when launched in 2011, will set some equally lofty standards today when the Aqua restaurant is decorated in 20 feet flowers for the launch of the Chelsea Flower Show.
Britain could be about to enter brief deflation May 17, 2015 The UK could enter deflation for the first time since comparable records began when figures are released tomorrow morning. Yet most economists believe inflation’s venture into negative territory will be short-lived, given that oil and global food prices have halted their declines. The consumer price index (CPI) – the basket of goods used to measure [...]
Chancellor to reveal emergency second budget later this summer May 17, 2015 IN A surprise announcement over the weekend, chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne said he will deliver a second budget later this summer. The chancellor said the emergency budget would implement some of the promises made by the Tories on the campaign trail. “On 8 July I am going to take the unusual step of [...]
Chairman of JCB Lord Bamford says economy would not be affected by Brexit May 17, 2015 The chairman of one of Britain’s largest manufacturers said today that Britain’s trade relationships would be unaffected if the country were to vote to leave the European Union in an in/out referendum. “We are the fifth or sixth largest economy in the world. We could exist on our own – peacefully and sensibly. We could [...]
David Cameron to appoint Joanna Shields as web safety minister May 17, 2015 Joanna Shields, the former Facebook executive turned Conservative peer, is set to be appointed as minister for internet security in the new government. Baroness Shields is formally listed on the government’s website as a minister in the department for culture, media and sport. However, she has not yet been given a full portfolio by Conservative [...]
