FTSE 100 nudges higher after BoJ tightening boosts UK banks December 20, 2022 London’s FTSE 100 nudged higher today after banks were boosted by yet more signals from the global central banking community that policy will keep tightening next year. The capital’s premier index added 0.13 per cent to close at 7,370.62 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of [...]
Strikes: Sunak says public sector pay process doesn’t need reform December 20, 2022 Rishi Sunak has thrown his backing behind the government’s independent pay review process for public sector workers, despite this month’s widespread strikes. The Prime Minister told MPs on a Westminster committee today that pay offers to striking NHS staff members were “fair” as Number 10 today said Sunak would not intervene to negotiate with unions. [...]
Government must outline support for businesses, urges leading energy supplier December 20, 2022 One of the UK’s leading energy suppliers has criticised the delay in outlining future support for businesses beyond next spring.
Fortnite fined over £420m as video game makers face regulation December 20, 2022 Makers of videogame Fortnite have been fined a record $520m (£428m) by the US’s Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The fine is a two part penalty for Epic Games, the video game company behind Fortnite. The company was fined for tricking players into making in-game purchases and for storing children’s data without parental consent. The penalty [...]
London businesses lament dismal start to 2023 after another rail strike set for January December 20, 2022 Hospitality leaders have reiterated calls for rail firms and unions to hash out an eleventh-hour resolution to swerve January strikes, after train drivers announced another walk-out. Train drivers at 15 companies in the union Aslef have agreed to strike on 5 January, as part of a long-standing pay dispute. The walkout will take place on [...]
Shop ’till you drop: Christmas spending up despite rampant inflation December 20, 2022 Shopping habits die hard as Brits continue to spend across the board in the run-up to Christmas and the holiday season despite historic levels of inflation raising prices. Spending on essentials is up by an average of 43.5 per cent compared to the same time last year, with non-essential expenditure also rising by an average [...]
More than 1,000 City workers evacuated after ruptured gas main December 20, 2022 Firefighters evacuated around 1,300 office workers and shoppers in the City of London after a ruptured gas main on Tuesday afternoon. The London Fire Brigade said that its firefighters were attending a rupture on Seething Lane, in the heart of the Square Mile. The service said around 1,300 people had been evacuated from surrounding shops [...]
Meta under fire may face £10m fine from EU December 20, 2022 Meta, Facebook’s parent company has been accused of flouting competition rules by an EU commission. If the charges are proven, they may face a penalty of up to £10m. Meta is likely in breach of the European Union’s anti-trust regulations. The EU’s preliminary review has found that Meta has tied access to the social media [...]
Ouch: Petrofac predicts $100m loss, causing shares to plummet December 20, 2022 Petrofac's shares slid to a record low on Tuesday after the embattled company forecast an operating loss of $100m in its full-year results.
Stansted readies for busiest Christmas in three years with 1.2m passengers expected December 20, 2022 Stansted airport is getting ready for its busiest Christmas in three years with 1.2 million passengers expected to pass through its gates during the festive period. Airport figures published today show that around 650,000 people will depart from the north London airport between 16 December and 3 January, with 550,000 expected arrivals. According to forecasts, [...]
