Competition watchdog opens probe into Facebook’s Giphy takeover January 28, 2021 The UK competition watchdog has launched a formal investigation into Facebook’s takeover of popular gif search engine Giphy. Facebook last year announced it planned to merge the gif-maker with Instagram in a deal worth a reported $400m (£321m). The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) served an initial enforcement order in June, forcing the social media [...]
Toyota overtakes Volkswagen to become world’s top carmaker January 28, 2021 Toyota has today overtaken Volkswagen to reclaim its crown as the world’s biggest car producer, the first time it has held the spot since 2015. The Japanese carmaker saw 9.5m cars roll off its assembly lines last year, despite an 11 per cent drop in production due to the pandemic. Volkwagen, on the other hand, [...]
UK banks urged to scrap branch closures during lockdown January 28, 2021 Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority has today told banks to rethink moves to close branches during lockdown. The FCA said banks should consider the impact of national restrictions on their ability to comply with regulatory guidance on closing branches. The authority released a statement today urging banks to consult any customers that are affected directly. The [...]
Rishi Sunak tells MPs he wants to raise taxes then cut them before next election January 28, 2021 Rishi Sunak has told a group of Conservative MPs that raising taxes this year will give him scope to cut them in the lead up to the 2024 election. The chancellor told the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers yesterday that he will have to make difficult choices this year to trim the UK’s bulging Budget [...]
M&C Saatchi lifts forecasts as new boss sets out strategy overhaul January 28, 2021 Shares in M&C Saatchi pushed more than seven per cent higher this morning after it lifted forecasts for the full year, marking a welcome boost for the troubled ad agency. The London-listed group had previously forecast pre-tax profit of £4m for 2020, but now expects an upward revision of this figure after delivering better-than-expected trading [...]
Euromoney revenues drop as pandemic damages events unit January 28, 2021 Financial information company Euromoney has suffered lower first quarter revenues as its events business was hit by lockdowns, the company revealed today. Euromoney’s quarterly revenue fell to £78.7m, a 20 per cent drop from the £99.2m reported a year earlier. Group events revenue of £8.6m was just 30 per cent of the same period last [...]
J20 and Tango owner Britvic suffers slump in sales due to hospitality restrictions January 28, 2021 Soft drinks group Britvic, which owns J2O, R White’s lemonade and Robinsons, suffered a slump in sales in the first quarter due to restrictions on pubs, bars and restaurants. The FTSE 250 firm said this morning that total revenue declined 9.8 per cent to £328.1m in the three months ended 31 December. The Hemel Hempstead-based [...]
It’s retail traders, Jim, but not as you know it! January 28, 2021 Crypto at a Glance If Bitcoin is f*ck you money, does that make GameStop a f*ck you stock? All eyes this week have been on Reddit traders, who have arrived at the blackjack tables fully armed with their sacks of pennies and battered old card counting books, ready to bankrupt the casino through sheer numbers [...]
Renewable energy production surpasses fossil fuels in 2020 January 28, 2021 Renewable energy sources surpassed fossil fuel energy production in the UK for the first time ever in 2020, led by wind power generation. According to analysis by think tank Ember, renewable sources provided 42 per cent of the UK’s energy, while fossil fuel sources like gas produced 41 per cent. The remaining 17 per cent [...]
Joules mulls hiking prices for shoppers to offset rising Brexit costs January 28, 2021 Fashion retailer Joules has warned it is considering increasing prices for consumers as it revealed that Brexit had disrupted exports and could cost it an extra £1m per year. Joules said that, despite its preparation for the end of the transition agreement, exports to certain EU markets had suffered, with Germany being particularly impacted. The [...]
