Nationwide profits fall as it warns IT investment will continue to weigh down earnings February 8, 2019 Profits fell in Nationwide’s third quarter as the building society was hit by a £167m write-off charge as well as an ongoing technology investment, it revealed today, warning profit pressure will remain in the fourth quarter. The figures Pre-tax profits dropped a staggering 20 per cent year on year to £703m for the last three [...]
South Western commuters face more strike misery with fresh dates announced February 7, 2019 Fresh strikes are set to hit commuters on South Western Railway routes in February and March, a union warned today. The RMT union said it secured a fresh mandate for industrial action in a long-running dispute over a reduction in the number of guards on South Western trains. Read more: Ryanair profits slide as strike [...]
Brexit latest: Juncker refuses to reopen Brexit negotiations in ‘robust’ talks with May February 7, 2019 Brexit cannot be renegotiated, insisted European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker today at a meeting with the Prime Minister described as “robust but constructive”. However, UK and EU negotiators will continue to search for a path through parliament for Theresa May’s Brexit deal as they seek to save the agreement, the leaders said today. Read more: [...]
UK house prices fall at the start of 2019 as Brexit uncertainty weighs on market, says Halifax February 7, 2019 UK house prices experienced their steepest drop for nine months in January as eyes turn towards the possible impact of Brexit on the housing market, figures released today showed. House prices dropped 2.9 per cent in January compared to December’s 2.5 per cent rise, Halifax house price index data revealed. That is just short of April's [...]
Tube delays: Severe delays hit Circle Line and Hammersmith & City Line with London Overground part suspended February 7, 2019 Severe delays were affecting three London lines this morning as commuters made their way to work. Read more: Watchdog bans Red Bull Tube ad telling workers to clock off early A signal failure at King’s Cross was behind severe delays on both the Circle Line and the Hammersmith & City Line this morning – both [...]
Thomas Cook considers airline sale as losses hit £60m February 7, 2019 Thomas Cook is set to consider selling its airline business as seasonal losses deepened to £60m for its first quarter, with the airline blaming customer uncertainty. The figures The embattled travel agent saw its operating loss increase by £14m year on year to hit £60m for the three months to the end of December as holiday bookings dropped, [...]
Greg Clark: Tariffs should remain in no-deal Brexit February 6, 2019 Tariffs would remain in a no-deal Brexit, business secretary Greg Clark said today after reports that fellow cabinet member Liam Fox would slash import duties in such a scenario. Speaking to the Business, energy and industrial strategy select committee this morning, Clark said he would examine such a policy but that it could have a [...]
Huawei offers to open Polish cyber security centre to combat spying fears February 6, 2019 Huawei has offered to open a cyber security centre in Poland in a bid to assuage fears that it is spying for the Chinese government. “We are ready to establish a cyber security center in Poland if authorities accept this as a trusted solution,” Huawei’s Poland boss, Tonny Bao, said today, according to Reuters. Read [...]
Daimler profits slide as Mercedes-Benz maker warns of ‘strong headwinds’ February 6, 2019 Profits tumbled at Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler in 2018, the manufacturer revealed today, as it warned of “difficult political and economic conditions”. Read more: DEBATE: Is Brexit likely to be the biggest factor behind Nissan decision? The figures Daimler saw net profit plummet 29 per cent year on year to €7.58bn, down from €10.62bn in 2017, [...]
Watchdog takes action to end ‘misleading’ online hotel booking practices February 6, 2019 A watchdog is taking action against several hotel booking sites including Expedia and Trivago to tackle hidden charges and other “misleading” activities. Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda, Hotels.com, Ebookers and Trivago have agreed to end “misleading” practices such as hidden charges and “pressure selling”, in what the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is calling a victory for [...]
