Prudential share price tumbles as Jackson Life demerger gets pushed back May 13, 2021 Prudential’s demerger of its US arm Jackson Life has been pushed back to the second half of the year, the insurer announced today, causing its share price to tumble. The group had originally hoped to complete the demerger in the second quarter of this year, however it has now been pushed back to Q3 or [...]
Watchdog gives UHY Hacker Young a slap on the wrist for shoddy audit May 13, 2021 The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has given what it described as a “severe reprimand” to UHY Hacker Young for its audit of a Malaysia-based rubber manufacturer. The FRC declared UHY Hacker Young’s 2016 audit of Inch Kenneth Kajang Rubber (IKKR) was unsatisfactory, and as a result told the accountancy firm to give staff involved in [...]
Huge spike in recruitment as permanent jobs up 90 per cent year-on-year May 13, 2021 The number of permanent roles available in April was up 90 per cent year-on-year, as the UK got ready to emerge from more than a year of falling in and out of coronavirus restrictions. Permanent vacancies were up 90 per cent year-on-year last month, while contract roles were up 83 per cent, according to data [...]
BBC apologises to James Dyson for labelling him a ‘prominent Tory supporter’ May 12, 2021 The BBC has issued an apology to James Dyson after the broadcaster referred to him as a “prominent Conservative supporter”. The BBC issued the apology today and admitted the inventor of the Dyson vacuum cleaner was mischaracterised in its coverage of Whatsapp messages between himself and the Prime Minister. In a statement the BBC [...]
Directors to face bans for finding loopholes to avoid Covid loan repayments May 12, 2021 The Insolvency Service will be given new, beefed up powers to crack down on those looking to avoid repaying their pandemic loans. The Insolvency Service will be able to investigate and sanction company directors trying to dissolve their business to avoid repaying creditors, the Financial Times first reported. The government is reportedly keen to clamp [...]
PIRC sides with activist investor in Exxon boardroom battle May 12, 2021 Governance advisor Pensions & Investment Research Consultants (PIRC) has recommended Exxon Mobil shareholders vote in favour of four hedge fund board nominees, adding further fuel to the battle for Exxon’s boardroom. Exxon and activist hedge fund Engine No. 1 are battling over board seats and Exxon’s strategy to meet demands for lower-carbon energy. The fund has nominated four board [...]
US inflation sees biggest leap in nearly 13 years May 12, 2021 Consumer prices in the United States shot up 4.2 per cent in the 12 months to April, which could add fuel to market fears of a lengthy period of higher inflation. The jump marked the biggest increase in consumer prices since June 2009, and the biggest inflation gain since September 2008. The jump also followed a [...]
Norway to drop AstraZeneca jab from vaccination programme May 12, 2021 Norway will drop the AstraZeneca jab from its vaccine programme, after a government-appointed commission recommended it be excluded. Norway’s Prime Minister Enra Solberg today announced the country would no longer be using vaccine, and added that a decision on Johnson & Johnson jabs was yet to be made. The commission recommended both vaccines should [...]
Exclusive: Medical cannabis company chaired by former Lord Mayor of London to float on LSE May 12, 2021 Hellenic Dynamics, a medical cannabis cultivation business, plans to list on the London Stock Exchange next month, in a move likely to give the budding business a valuation of £50m. The group will list on the main market of the London Stock Exchange via reverse takeover into a shell company. “What we were looking for [...]
Hiscox tops list of insurers facing business interruption claims May 12, 2021 Hiscox faces paying the out on the largest number of business interruption claims, according to data compiled by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Hiscox has accepted 6,692 business interruption claims for Covid-19 losses and faces making a decision on whether another 3,122 pending claims are valid, data published by the FCA today shows. The insurance [...]
