Bringing retail investors into the fold creates equality of opportunity from our wealth May 3, 2022 In the 1980s, one of the UK’s most high-profile flotations was the privatisation of the state-owned British Gas. The government’s “Tell Sid” 1986 advertising campaign attracted many of its 500,000-strong army of private investors. During the countdown to the British Gas shares sale, the government courted subscriptions from retail investors in every way imaginable – [...]
UK should follow in Chile’s footsteps with sustainability-linked bonds, says top think tank May 2, 2022 The UK should follow in Chile’s footsteps in issuing so-called ‘sustainability-linked’ bonds, which pay out more to investors should the government fail to meet its net zero targets, according to one of the country’s top think tanks. In a paper published today, the Social Market Foundation (SMF) has urged chancellor Rishi Sunak to haul in [...]
Hungary and Slovakia could be spared from Russian oil import ban amid EU divisions May 2, 2022 The European Commission could spare Hungary and Slovakia from an upcoming embargo on buying Russian oil.
FCA staff to walk out on Wednesday in first strike action since finance watchdog’s inception May 2, 2022 Staff at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) represented by Unite the union will stage the first walk out since the watchdog was created on Wednesday. Employees will protest outside the FCA’s head office in Stratford, east London on Wednesday and Thursday to demonstrate their anger at their employer’s latest pay offer. Further action will take [...]
West End woes: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella cancelled as cast learn of news ‘by press release’ May 2, 2022 Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production of Cinderella has been cancelled after less than a year, after the West End show faced a turbulent launch. Cinderella had faced a tumultuous run and is understood to have suffered heavy losses since its opening night last summer. Equity UK, the trade union for actors and singers, has written to [...]
Government weighs up extending life of Hinkley Point B as energy crisis deepens May 2, 2022 Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng is open to extending the life of nuclear power plant Hinkley Point B amid increasing focus on energy security.
Brits opt for last-minute holidays following post-Covid uncertainty May 2, 2022 Brits are booking their holidays later to avoid travel disruption, according to a report published yesterday. Data from Advantage, the UK’s largest consortium of travel agents, showed that 40 per cent of bookings are for the next 12 weeks, with reservations for May half-term holidays down by 5 per cent on 2019 levels. Before Covid, [...]
EU: Apple charged by antitrust regulators over rivals’ access to payment technology May 2, 2022 Apple could be slapped with a hefty fine after EU antitrust regulators said the iPhone maker had abused its position by restricting rivals’ access to mobile wallet technology. Regulators sent a charge sheet known as a statement of objections to the tech giant yesterday, after Apple limited competitors’ access to its NFC chip technology. Apple [...]
Oil prices tumble as China lockdowns cut into demand expectations May 2, 2022 Oil prices have plummeted amid forecasts of weak economic growth in China, which has lowered demand expectations.
Fast fashion slammed over cargo plane emissions May 2, 2022 Fast fashion critics have called for more industry regulation after Shein and other retailers have been using planes to deliver their products, often at great environmental cost. According to the data from the CarbonCare emission calculator, a cargo plane used by Shein carries 100 tonnes of cargo, producing around 443 tonnes of CO2 to go [...]