Reform UK pledge to stand candidates at all council elections in May March 17, 2025 Reform UK has promised to stand candidates in all the council elections in May. Chairman Zia Yusuf has pledged the party will stand candidates in all council seats at the local elections on May 1. Speaking at a press conference in central London, Yusuf said: “Last May, Reform failed to stand in 88 per cent [...]
Harmony Energy joins wave of investment trust buyouts March 17, 2025 Another investment trust looks set to be taken over by a private equity group amid a steep discount in share prices for UK trusts across the market. Harmony Energy Income Trust has been offered £190.8m by Foresight Group LLP, a private equity and infrastructure investment house, the trust announced today. The deal looks likely to [...]
Rightmove: 74,000 house buyers to narrowly miss stamp duty deadline March 17, 2025 Rightmove’s stamp duty report has identified an estimated 74,000 moves, which includes 25,000 first-time buyers, that will just miss the March 31 deadline and complete in April. They form the unlucky section of a “massive log-jam” of 575,000 movers hoping to complete ahead of the tax change, Rightmove said. Collectively, the buyers are set to [...]
Talking Finance: Five questions you should ask yourself before investing March 17, 2025 In this episode of Talking Finance, Marianna Hunt, a volunteer at City Pay it Forward, explains the five questions everyone should ask themselves before they start investing.
Broker questions Asda’s turnaround plan March 17, 2025 London broker Jeffries has questioned whether Asda’s sales will rise quickly enough to meet the demands of its turnaround plan. Last week, UK supermarket giant Asda announced a drop in yearly sales, alongside a significant turnaround plan aiming to bring the supermarket back to its roots. Key to this plan is a significant investment in [...]
Thames Water: Challenge to £3bn emergency loan dismissed by Court of Appeal March 17, 2025 An appeal against a £3bn rescue package for Thames Water has been dismissed following a three-day hearing last week. The Court of Appeal’s ruling on Monday averts the possibility of the UK’s biggest water supplier being placed into special administration (SAR). But critics argue the £3bn emergency loan from a group of Class A creditors [...]
Regeneration of iconic east London Gasworks gets green light March 17, 2025 The redevelopment of Bromley-by-Bow gasworks, set to create more than 2,000 homes, has been given the go ahead by Newham council. Berkeley Group company St William, in collaboration with Historic England, will invest millions in turning the 23-acre brownfield site into a multi-use residential and public space. St William’s managing director, Dean Summers, called it [...]
Asos shares plunge as investors lose confidence March 17, 2025 Asos shares have slumped more than eight per cent in early deals this morning, extending losses recorded over the past few months as investors have lost confidence in the retailer’s turnaround plan. The e-commerce firm’s share price has dropped by a third in the last month and has fallen by half since the start of [...]
Crispin Odey banned from financial industry March 17, 2025 Former hedge fund manager Crispin Odey has been fined £1.8m and banned from working in the financial services industry by the Financial Conduct Authority. The financial watchdog cited Odey’s “lack of integrity” in their decision after he attempted to escape the allegations of sexual assault he faced at his firm. Odey “deliberately sought to frustrate” [...]
Qinetiq: Shares in FTSE 250 defence firm tank March 17, 2025 Shares in Qinetiq tanked more than 20 per cent in early deals on Monday after it slashed guidance and announced plans to re-structure its US arm amid ongoing contract delays. The London-listed defence contractor said it expected a “goodwill impairment charge” of around £140m to the US business due to the market backdrop and operational [...]
