Government slashes EV grant a second time in bid to reel in spending December 15, 2021 The government has slashed its grant for electric vehicles (EVs) for the second time this year, in a bid to reel in spending as inflation hits a decade-long high. The grant has been cut from £2,500 to £1,500, while the value of vehicles eligible for the funding assistance has been trimmed down by £3,000 to [...]
Likewise to dish out £30m on bolstering carpet portfolio following fundraiser December 15, 2021 Flooring distributer Likewise is set to dish out £30m on bolstering its carpet portfolio after its director’s snapped up thousands of new shares. Shares dipped more than 2.1 per cent to 45p per share. The firm, which listed in London earlier this year after snagging a £28m revenue in the six months to 30 June, [...]
US inflation nears 40-year high, as Omicron fears set in December 10, 2021 US inflation is poised for a nearly 40-year high, with analysts forecasting a jump to 6.8 per cent compared with this time last year. Though investors still await more data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, which will release its consumer price index later today. The fresh inflation heights could add more coal to [...]
GDP growth falls short of expectations, inching 0.1 per cent higher in October December 10, 2021 The UK’s economic growth inched just 0.1 per cent in October, according to the latest figures. The figure remains 0.5 per cent below its pre-pandemic level, the Officer for National Statistic found, falling short of economist and analyst expectations after experts had forecast a 0.4 per cent increase. Construction and hospitality were among the hardest [...]
Boots looks to sell off aromatherapy brand for ‘tens of millions’ December 10, 2021 Boots is reportedly looking to sell off its Aromatherapy Associates brand for ‘a few tens of millions of pounds’ while it plots its own auction, sources have said. An exact figure is not yet clear, Sky News’ Mark Kleinman first reported. The parent company of the pharmacy chain, which has been a high street staple [...]
Conservative’s poll lead falters amid Christmas party scandal December 10, 2021 The Conservative party’s poll lead has reportedly faltered today, amid allegations of prime minister Boris Johnson and his party the Covid-19 lockdown rules they imposed. A YouGov poll showed the ruling party to sink by three per cent to 33 per cent of the vote since December 2, while opposition party Labour gained four per [...]
UK bolsters free HGV driving course capacity by 11,000 spots in bid to plug shortage December 10, 2021 The UK has boosted the capacity for its intensive HGV driving courses, as the government looks to plug the gaps in the UK’s driver shortage. The trickling supply of lorry drivers has deepened the supply chain disruption the country has been facing over the past 18 months. The scheme has been widened to allow a [...]
Fishing row or fishing war? French timeline for remaining licences ends today December 10, 2021 The UK has reportedly denied France its remaining 104 fishing licences, as it demands French fisherman prove they have previously used local waters. France had outlined a deadline for today, in hopes of securing the permits – before it will resort to blocking ports and curbing British trade. The government has asked French fisherman to [...]
Heathrow to employ ‘thousands’ ahead of next summer once Plan B eases December 10, 2021 The newly imposed Covid-19 Plan B have dampened Heathrow’s hopes of securing confidence in travel, as the restrictions weigh on already faltering demand. Demand remains 60 per cent below pre-pandemic levels, despite the US reopening its coveted travel corridor in November. “High level of cancellations by business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas because of [...]
City Moves: Who’s switching jobs in the Square Mile today? December 10, 2021 City A.M.’s Millie Turner provides a roundup of the most important hires and job moves across the City, every morning. Email citymoves@cityam.com to be featured. Tesco Bank Tesco Bank has bolstered its board with a new independent non-executive director, who brings three decades of financial services experience to the position. Liz Buckley, a former group transformation director at Direct Line Group, has [...]