Standard Chartered to face shareholder action over climate change policies May 10, 2021 Shareholders are set to eye Standard Chartered bank’s climate policies, according to environmental organisation Market Forces, revealing it has pumped $31.4bn into fossil fuels since the Paris Agreement. The scrutiny comes as the bank confirmed its participation in a $400m five year loan for global coal giant Adaro Indonesia, as part of a syndicate of [...]
Travelodge’s interim chief executive Craig Bonnar secures permanent role May 10, 2021 Travelodge has appointed Craig Bonnar as its new chief executive, six months after former boss Peter Gowers stepped down. Bonnar took the reins as interim boss at the start of the year having previously served as Travelodge’s chief operating officer since January 2017. Gowers resigned last November following the conclusion of a dispute with its [...]
UK house prices hit new record high after growing at fastest rate in five years May 10, 2021 UK house prices grew at the fastest pace in five years last month as the stamp duty holiday continued to buoy the market. Average house prices in April reached a new record high of £258,204, an annual increase of 8.2 per cent and a monthly rise of 1.4 per cent. Almost £20,000 has been added [...]
Countdown to COP26 – how 2021 is a “make or break” year in the fight against climate change May 10, 2021 This year will be “make or break” in the fight against climate change, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned. The next United Nations climate summit, COP26 – or to give it its full title, the 26th Climate Change Conference of the Parties – is due to take place in Glasgow in November. Postponed from last [...]
More restrictions to be ditched as PM to make announcement later today May 10, 2021 Boris Johnson will hold a press conference later today about how the UK will move into the next phase of reopening the country, Health Minister Nadine Dorries said this morning. “It does look as if the roadmap is on course,” Dorries told Sky News. “The prime minister will be making an announcement later this afternoon [...]
Former Serco boss calls for abolition of Serious Fraud Office May 10, 2021 A former Serco executive who was cleared of defrauding taxpayers by hiding millions of pounds in profits has called for the abolition of the white collar crime agency that pursued him. Simon Marshall, who was acquitted last month, said the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) did not have “anything to do with justice” and should be [...]
Operating profits soar 35 per cent at funeral services firm Dignity May 10, 2021 Funeral services firm Dignity saw underlying operating profits soar 35 per cent to £26.1m in the first quarter of this year, as there were 43,000 more deaths than in the same weeks last year. The group’s underlying revenue also grew 14 per cent to £94.7m in the 13 week period ending 26 March as the [...]
Provident Financial to shut doorstep lending arm after 141 years as it crashes to loss May 10, 2021 Troubled sub-prime lender Provident Financial today confirmed plans to shutter its doorstep lending arm as it reported a hefty loss for the full year. The Bradford-based company said it was withdrawing from the home credit market after 141 years, adding that it has begun a consultation process for 2,100 employees. “In light of the changing [...]
British Gas owner Centrica still suffering from fall in electricity demand May 10, 2021 British Gas owner Centrica today said that the pandemic was continuing to heap pressure on its finances, with electricity demand down 15 per cent in the first quarter. The company’s quarterly residential boiler installations were also down 11 per cent compared to the same period in 2020, while non-essential visits were postponed due to Covid [...]
Hotel Chocolat to return furlough money after Easter and Mother’s Day sales beat pre-Covid levels May 10, 2021 Hotel Chocolat has pledged to return furlough money to the government after sales soared despite the closure of the British chocolatier’s stores during lockdown. The firm said this morning that revenue for the eight weeks ended 25 April- which included Mother’s Day and Easter – was 19 per cent higher than the comparable period in [...]
