Letters: Running away from the banks November 17, 2022 [Re: Computer says no: Frustrated businesses screaming for fresh cash struggle to get bank loans, Nov 15] As the cost-of-living crisis rumbles on, the computer says no attitude of the traditional banking system is causing huge issues for SMEs who need access to finance to survive and grow. When the going gets tough and businesses [...]
Chinese-backed Nexperia ordered to sell stake in Newport Wafer Fab over security concerns November 16, 2022 The government has ordered the Chinese-backed firm that owns Britain’s largest semi-conductor factory to sell most of its stake in the business on national security grounds. Late last night an order issued by the business secretary means the Dutch company Nexperia, a subsidiary of Chinese outfit Wingtech, will now need to sell 86 per cent [...]
Joules appoints administrators amid ‘overwhelming’ interest from suitors November 16, 2022 Administrators were appointed for beleaguered lifestyle retailer Joules on Wednesday, with some 1,600 staff members at risk. Will Wright, Ryan Grant and Chris Pole from Interpath Advisory were appointed joint administrators for the high street firm, which has struggled with a slowdown in sales. Administrators from Interpath were also appointed for its developments arm and [...]
Autumn Statement: Jeremy Hunt’s bitter medicine may be too harsh November 16, 2022 The City is not worried about a low-tax mujahideen - but economists are concerned this grim budget could choke off much-needed growth
Over 10m people at risk of exposure to record energy bills if Treasury cuts support November 16, 2022 Over 10m people in fuel poverty could be excluded from support packages for their energy bills, warned progressive think tanks SMF.
Tencent vows to ‘distribute’ $20.3bn Meituan shares to investors November 16, 2022 Tencent has vowed to give its shareholders $20.3bn (£17.4bn) worth of shares in Chinese food delivery firm Meituan as it seeks to reduce its holdings in China’s tech sector. The Shenzhen conglomerate’s “special dividend” comes as its sales dropped two per cent year-on-year, to £16.6bn, on the back of a five per cent drop in [...]
Flown to the USA: BA to launch new Heathrow route to Cincinnati from June November 16, 2022 British Airways has expanded its presence in the US market and announced it will launch a new route to Cincinnati from June. The carrier said weekly flights – five a week during the summer and four during the winter – will operate between Heathrow and Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport, connecting the UK to the [...]
More retailer woes send London’s FTSE 100 lower November 16, 2022 Another bad day for middle-class favourite and online supermarket Ocado led London’s FTSE 100 lower today. The capital’s premier index dropped 0.25 per cent to 7,351.19 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, tumbled 1.77 per cent to 19,112.40 points. Fresh inflation figures [...]
Hunt to stare down Tory backlash as he hikes taxes across the board November 16, 2022 Jeremy Hunt will have to stare down a potential Tory backbench rebellion as he delivers his tax-hiking fiscal statement tomorrow. The chancellor has warned that the mixture of spending cuts and tax rises is necessary to restore economic credibility, however they may well dent his own credibility in the Tory party. There are already rumblings [...]
UK assets in focus this week November 16, 2022 This week’s focus in markets apart from the US’s weak inflation print last week is on Sterling and the FTSE in the wake of a raft of economic data points, as well as the new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn statement on Thursday the 17th. UK inflation this morning came in at a level not seen [...]