Wave of dealmaking sees private equity investment in UK soar to highest level in five years August 3, 2021 Private equity deal value and volumes in the first half of the year rose to levels not seen since 2017, as investors gained confidence in post-pandemic recovery. There was a marked interest in mid-market private equity dealmaking, as funds competed for quality assets and completed 377 deals in the first six months of the year, [...]
Societe Generale returns to profit as retail banking recovers August 3, 2021 French bank Societe Generale swung back to profit in the second quarter of this year driven by a rebound in its retail banking arm. The lender registered net income of €1.4bn in the second quarter of 2021, up sharply from a €1.2bn loss in the same period the year before. Read more: Standard Chartered profits [...]
EY to pay $10m to settle SEC misconduct charges August 3, 2021 Ernst & Young and three audit partners settled charges with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over claims of misconduct in their relationship with the chief accounting officer of a US company, it is widely reported. The big four firm agreed to a $10m (£7.2m) settlement to close the case on charges of audit independence [...]
Tencent shares fall ten percent amid crackdown fears August 3, 2021 Chinese tech firm Tencent saw shares fall by some 10 per cent on Tuesday after the Chinese government labelled video games “spiritual opium.” An article posted by the state-run newspaper, Economic Information Daily, warned that a “new type of electronic drug” was “advancing by leaps and bounds”. Fears that Beijing might crackdown on online gaming [...]
Greggs bakes in recovery as chain plots high street expansion August 3, 2021 Greggs appears well set for expansion after a sustained recovery in sales as coronavirus restrictions have eased. The British bakery and fast-food chain made £55.5m in pre-tax profit in the first half of 2021, compared to a pre-tax loss of £64.5m in the same period last year. Total sales amounted to £546.2m. The increase in [...]
EU eyes pandemic exit with 70 per cent of population administered first dose August 3, 2021 Despite protests against coronavirus restrictions rocking the streets of Paris and Berlin last weekend, the EU’s quiet move towards an exit from the pandemic continues apace. The European Union surpassed its target of injecting at least one jab into the arms of 70 per cent of its population by the end of July. And according [...]
BP’s dividend edges up as profit beats estimates on climbing oil prices August 3, 2021 BP this morning said it will increase its dividend by 4 per cent and will kick off $1.4bn worth of share buybacks after its profit sprinted past estimates and rose to $28bn in the second quarter, buoyed by higher oil and gas prices. The oil giant raised its dividend to 5.46 cents, beating analysts’ expectations [...]
Olympics: Team GB sailors win double gold as Norway’s Karsten Warholm creates history in the 400m hurdles August 3, 2021 Great Britain’s sailors won two gold medals in quick succession this morning, on day 11 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. After a delay to proceedings yesterday owing to no wind, Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell claimed gold in the men’s 49er event. Shortly afterwards Giles Scott retained his men’s Finn title. But the performance of [...]
Rishi Sunak: For young people, working from home is no substitute for office August 3, 2021 Rishi Sunak has said that working from home is not nearly as “valuable” for young people’s career progression as going into the office, after the government changed its guidance. “The mentors I found when I first started my job I still talk to and they have been helpful to me even after we have gone [...]
BMW raises 2021 profit forecast, but warns chip shortage will hit second half August 3, 2021 BMW has raised its profit forecast for 2021 today announcing strong quarterly results while warning investors about the impact of the global semiconductor chip shortage on the carmaker. The company saw “strong customer demand during the first half of the year,” according to a statement by chief executive Oliver Zipse. “However,” he continued, “in light of [...]
