Banks across the UK are ‘pulling the drawbridge’ as lending to small businesses hits all-time low May 16, 2022 The UK’s largest business group is warning that banks “pulling up the drawbridge” to small firms will further stifle economic growth as a new SBI study showed that successful finance applications plunged over the first quarter of this year. Fewer than one in ten (9 per cent) small firms applied for finance in the [...]
Summer holidays plans? Expect higher ticket prices and endless airport queues, warns Ryanair’s boss May 16, 2022 Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary warned this morning that flight prices will be higher this summer due to the high demand for European holiday destinations. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme earlier today: ”I think capacity, generally, across the summer will be down 10 per cent, 15 per cent.” “Prices will be up by, [...]
Police get free reign as Priti Patel permanently lifts all restrictions on use of stop-and-search powers May 16, 2022 Home Secretary Priti Patel confirmed she is planning to permanently lift restrictions placed on police in the use of stop-and-search powers as part of the Government’s strategy to tackle violent crime. In a letter to police forces on Monday, Patel announced the easing of conditions on the use of the tactics under Section 60 of [...]
Exclusive: Andy Warhol’s iconic pop art queen to go on sale to mark platinum jubilee with public to own £100 shares May 16, 2022 City A.M. can reveal this morning that Andy Warhol’s world-famous portrait of the Queen will be sold to the public as part of the Monarch’s upcoming Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The ‘Elizabeth II’ screen print (1985) has been acquired by Showpiece.com and will enter into fractional ownership, a scheme which allows ordinary members of the public [...]
Ryanair narrows losses to £300m and expects to fly back into profitability this financial year May 16, 2022 Budget airline Ryanair said this morning it has narrowed annual losses of £302m and hopes to return to “reasonable profitability” in its current financial year. However, chief executive Michael O’Leary said it was “impractical, if not impossible” to give guidance for 2022-23 due to the risk to holiday bookings from Covid and the Ukraine war. The [...]
Post-pandemic expansion push for Screwfix as DIY giant goes on hiring spree for 800 people to staff 80 new UK stores May 16, 2022 As part of plans to open 80 new shops across the UK and Ireland, home improvement business Screwfix said this morning it is to create 800 retail jobs by January. The retailer’s sales were boosted during the pandemic as locked-down Britons hired tradespeople to spruce up their properties and gardens. Screwfix and B&Q owner Kingfisher [...]
Barnet shaken by brutal murder as three Londoners are arrested after 30-year old man dies May 16, 2022 The Metropolitan Police confirmed this morning that three people have been arrested on suspicion of murder following the fatal stabbing of a 30-year-old man in north London. Two men – aged 33 and 25 – and a woman – aged 24 – were arrested on Saturday. The men remain in custody while the woman has [...]
Only one in ten UK workers to get pay rise this year as most Brits say employer simply does not care May 16, 2022 Most workers are in the dark over their pay or have already been told they will not have a wage rise this year, according to new research. A survey of 4,000 workers showed that only one in 10 has been told they will be getting a pay increase. Jobs site CV-Library said its study indicated [...]
Boost for the City as UK trading venues regain top spot for Sterling swaps with even greater share than before Brexit May 16, 2022 UK trading venues have recovered their position as the biggest location for on-venue execution of GBP interest rate swaps (IRS), giving them a greater market share than pre-Brexit. In fact, a third of all GBP swaps and 57 per cent of on-venue GBP swaps are now executed in UK venues, the highest ever recorded share, [...]
Half of all £1m+ UK property sales are in London with not Chelsea but Wandsworth leading the pack May 15, 2022 Despite a more lethargic pandemic property market performance, London remains by far the most prestigious pocket of the property market across England and Wales, accounting for almost half of all homes sold at £1m or above. With an average sold price of £1.4m and a total of £17.6bn worth of property sold at or above [...]
