Fracking ban is lifted amid price confusion December 13, 2012 THE GOVERNMENT yesterday gave energy firms the green light to resume exploring offshore shale gas reserves in the UK – despite splits over its potential impact on consumer energy prices. Exploration using hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” – which smashes rocks deep underground to get gas out of them – had been banned in the UK [...]
UBS set for $1bn fine next week over Libor fiddling accusations December 13, 2012 SWISS bank UBS is set to be fined early next week for its role in fiddling Libor submissions. It is expected to be hit by a $1bn (£621m) fine, divided between four regulators across the UK, US and Switzerland. That is more than double the £290m charge Barclays attracted earlier this year, and represents a [...]
Right Royal criticism of city regulation December 13, 2012 THE Duke of Edinburgh is well known for telling it straight , but the staff at the Bank of England must have thought they were safe from any Royal gaffes yesterday, as the Duke made a visit to the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street with Her Royal Highness. As Bank economist Sujit Kapadia explained the unpredictable [...]
Twelve days to save Christmas as HMV falters December 13, 2012 THE FUTURE of HMV was thrown into doubt once again yesterday after the music entertainment retailer warned it is likely to breach its banking agreements at the end of January, sending shares tumbling 40 per cent. The company said weak market conditions had created “material uncertainties” for the business, after a worse than expected start [...]
Suppliers stuck playing Santa December 13, 2012 HOW long can HMV rely on its suppliers to play Santa Claus? At the start of 2012, the long-suffering entertainment retailer forged a closer alliance with suppliers in return for a 2.5 per cent stake. Their support is understood to have run into tens of millions of pounds already, and to include supplying goods on [...]
Talks break down on internet treaty after UK refuses to sign December 13, 2012 INTERNATIONAL negotiations over internet regulation collapsed without a conclusion last night, as representatives from the UK and US refused to agree to terms demanded by countries including Russia, China and Iran. Two weeks of talks over a reformed UN communications agreement came to a head as a host of western nations said they would not [...]
Two-timing ex banker jailed for illegal tips December 13, 2012 A ROGUE former investment banker who convinced his two girlfriends to trade on insider information he fed them was locked up for two years and eight months yesterday. Thomas Ammann, 39, leaked insider tips to both of his girlfriends Christina Weckwerth, 44, and Dr Jessica Mang, 30, about his client, Canon, and its planned takeover [...]
2,000 staff to go in Barclays’ major review December 13, 2012 BARCLAYS is preparing to cut up to 2,000 investment banking jobs under a major review of how it does business, it emerged yesterday, joining the flood of investment banks cutting costs and closing down sub-scale businesses. The major British bank is expected to cut back its Asian and European operations as it focuses on its [...]
Centamin sinks as it suspends its Sukari mine December 13, 2012 SHARES in Egyptian-focused miner Centamin lost almost half their value yesterday, as is said it would close its flagship asset following a dispute over diesel supplies. The FTSE 250 firm said yesterday that it had received a claim from Egypt’s national oil company for around $65m (£40m) in back payments for diesel fuel supplied from [...]
BG Group appoints oil veteran Chris Finlayson as its new chief December 13, 2012 BG GROUP yesterday appointed Chris Finlayson as its new chief executive, starting in January. Industry veteran Finlayson is currently managing director of BG Advance and has over 35 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He joined BG Group from Shell, where he was a member of the exploration and production leadership team. [...]
