FTSE 100 live: London index under pressure despite easing of UK recession woes FTSE 100 LIVE The FTSE100 index was trading slightly lower, down 0.24 per cent, this morning despite the UK narrowingly avoiding recession. London’s premier index had fallen to 7,892.06 points – down from yesterday’s close – while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index was off 0.55 per cent. Standard Chartered’s shares fell nearly five per cent in early [...]
SWR’s two-year extension to run London Waterloo services follows ‘milestone agreement’ with union TSSA SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY South Western Railway has been awarded another two years’ contract to run services between London Waterloo and the south-west, parent company Firstgroup said. “We welcome the contract extension for South Western Railway (SWR), which enables us to build on the achievements of the first two years of the contract and continue improving the customer offering,” [...]
Half-term holiday bonanza: Britons flock abroad with departures soaring 44 per cent CLEAR SKIES Britons are capitalising on the first restriction-free February half-term in two years to flock abroad, according to new data. Figures released today by aviation analytics firm Cirium showed that departures during the coming half term are up 44 per cent on last year’s levels, as 15,455 flights are scheduled to take off from UK airports [...]
Investigation finds rail union TSSA tolerated bullying, harassment and sexual assault February 9, 2023 An independent inquiry has found instances of bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment at the rail union TSSA. Launched in the summer and led by Baroness Helena Kennedy, the investigation uncovered a series of “appalling accidents.” These ranged from coercive behaviour and humiliation to inappropriate and sexual touching as well as sexual assault. Baroness Kennedy wrote [...]
Rail: Inquiry launched into anti-strike bill amid concerns about minimum service level proposal February 9, 2023 The Commons’ transport select committee has launched an inquiry into how the controversial anti-strike bill will apply to the railway sector – with a focus on the demand for minimum service levels. The legislation – which is having its second reading in the Lords on 21 February – will guarantee minimum service levels during strike [...]
Nissan profits soar to £832.2m as carmaker takes advantage of weaker yen and cuts sales estimates February 9, 2023 Nissan said its profits had risen by 60 per cent due to a combination of weaker yen and what it called “cost optimisation”. The Japanese car maker has reported a ¥133.1bn (£838.2m) in the three months ended, up from last year’s ¥52.2bn. Revenue also soared by 28.5 per cent to ¥2.2tn, while net income at [...]
How decoupling cost of electricity from gas can benefit EV uptake, according to motoring groups February 9, 2023 Motoring groups have called on the government to decouple the wholesale price of electricity from gas in a bid to bring down the costs associated with running an electric vehicle (EV). The RAC and EV campaign group Faircharge today urged ministers to publish the results of their Review of Electricity Market Arrangements, which closed in [...]
‘Unmitigated disaster’: Unions and Sadiq Khan slam transport sec Mark Harper’s rail reform plan February 8, 2023 Unions and Sadiq Khan have slammed the government’s plans to enhance the private sector’s role in railways, calling it “an unmitigated disaster.” It comes after transport secretary Mark Harper announced last night the creation of Great British Railways (GBR), saying the new public body will take “politics out of the railways.” According to Harper yesterday, [...]
Government, not ULEZ expansion, causes crippling anxiety Khan tells ‘rebel’ council Harrow February 8, 2023 Sadiq Khan has told Harrow council leader Paul Osborn he should be blaming the government and not City Hall’s ULEZ expansion for leaving residents filled with anxiety. “The reason why people are stressed out is because of this government’s policy over the last 13 years,” the Mayor of London told City A.M. “What this Conservative [...]
Shipping giant Maersk warns of profit slump as post-Covid boom comes to an end February 8, 2023 Maersk has shrunk its profit expectations for 2023 as volumes and freight rates normalise after two booming years. The shipping giant announced today it expects its underlying EBITDA to be between $8bn (£6.6bn) and $11bn – 78 per cent down on last year’s $36.8bn. “Guidance is based on the expectation that inventory correction will be [...]
