WPP share price rise leads FTSE 100 as results beat expectations August 9, 2019 Advertising giant WPP has outperformed market expectations in the first half of the year, as its turnaround strategy helped boost business with key clients like Ebay and L’Oreal. Read more: WPP sells 60 per cent stake in Kantar to value it at $4bn The figures Profit before tax sank 44.1 per cent year on year [...]
Malaysia charges 17 current and former Goldman Sachs staff in 1MDB fund fraud case August 9, 2019 Malaysia has charged 17 current and former Goldman Sachs directors and in a corruption investigation into the state fund 1MDB. “Custodial sentences and criminal fines will be sought against the accused in the Section 367 Charges, given the severity of the scheme to defraud and fraudulent misappropriation of billions in bond proceeds,” Malaysia attorney general [...]
Going for broke(rs): Student takes job hunt to Moorgate station for his big break in finance August 8, 2019 A university student trying to get his start in London’s financial district took matters into his own hands this week when he spent 11 hours stood outside Moorgate station holding a placard asking the capital’s brokers to give him a chance. “It’s not where I’m coming from, it’s where I’m going,” read Imperial College London [...]
TfL warns of Bishopsgate delays after lorry breaks down near Bank of England August 8, 2019 Traffic is running delays from Liverpool Street station after a broken down vehicle blocked a key road close to the Bank of England. The A10 Bishopsgate is blocked to southbound traffic at the junction with Threadneedle Street, Transport for London (TfL) warned, due to a broken down skip lorry. “There are delays from Liverpool Street [...]
Fintech giant Robinhood to launch commission-free stock trading service in UK August 8, 2019 Commission-free stock trading giant Robinhood is bringing its fintech platform to the UK after receiving the go-ahead from the UK’s financial regulator, it said today. The US startup, which is valued in the billions of dollars, will have to contend with rivals Revolut, Freetrade and Etoro in the UK space after the Financial Conduct Authority [...]
AA share price climbs as earnings accelerate at motor breakdown insurer August 8, 2019 Breakdown insurance firm AA saw its share price rise almost five per cent this morning as it told investors that half-year earnings are set to outpace last year’s growth. Read more: Hasting insurance struggles as rate change sinks profits Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) for the six months to July will beat [...]
Rics: UK house prices ‘flatlining’ over no-deal Brexit concerns August 8, 2019 UK house prices are “flatlining” in a weak housing market, according to an influential group of chartered surveyors. A headline price indicator slipped deeper into negative territory in July, according to the latest survey by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (Rics). Read more: UK house prices ‘tread water’ as they slip for another month [...]
Aviva confirms strategic review of Asia units as UK life insurance profits fall August 8, 2019 Aviva confirmed it is reviewing its Asian insurance arms with the potential for a sale as it revealed what its chief executive called a “mixed” bag of half-year results today. The figures The insurer saw operating profit climb one per cent year on year to £1.45bn in the first six months of 2019, beating forecasts [...]
British Airways IT outage causes flight delay chaos at Heathrow airport and Gatwick airport August 7, 2019 British Airways passengers are suffering delays and cancellations at airports including London Gatwick after an IT failure caused havoc with the airline’s online check-in system. The flyer has been forced to revert to manual check-in systems at airports, leaving customers stuck in queues as they wait longer to board flights. Read more: How to protect [...]
UK house prices suffer surprise July fall as housing market ‘treads water’ August 7, 2019 UK house prices continued to “tread water” in July as they slipped 0.2 per cent month on month, Halifax warned today. However, annual growth rose 4.1 per cent thanks to the housing market’s poor performance in 2018, the bank’s latest house price index found. Russell Galley, managing director of Halifax, said: “The average UK house [...]