Some civil servants work from home 60 per cent of the week, new data shows July 20, 2023 Civil servants working on supporting the UK’s businesses were at their desks for just 40 per cent of the second week in July, government figures have revealed. Staff at the former Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) department came into the office for two fifths of the time during the week beginning Monday 10 July, [...]
UK firms looking to India for growth despite trade deal delays July 20, 2023 A host of UK firms are looking to expand their operations in India despite delays to the UK-India trade deal. India is now considered a core international growth market for UK mid-market firms, according to a survey of a survey of just over 600 medium-sized UK firms by accountancy firm Grant Thornton. Just over 70 [...]
Treasury slaps down calls for crypto to be regulated like gambling July 20, 2023 The Treasury has slapped down a suggestion from MPs that crypto should be regulated like gambling today, describing it as running “completely counter” to standards set by international watchdogs.
Wind farm with potential to power 1.5m UK homes halted as industry urges government to bolster supply chains July 20, 2023 Plans to build a new UK offshore wind farm that could have powered up to 1.5m homes have been halted today amid concerns over rising costs.
Babcock shares up 10 per cent after reinstating dividend July 20, 2023 British engineering company Babcock said it was confident on further growth this year and would reinstate its dividend, encouraged by the boost to defence spending since the war in Ukraine. The company, which designs and manufactures naval ships and weapons handling systems as well as supporting Britain’s nuclear submarines, said it expected to deliver average [...]
Pendragon reports strong first half results but rate hikes spark concern July 20, 2023 Pendragon said this morning it expects pretax profits to rise nine per cent for the first half of 2023, on the back of a strong performance from its motor division. In a trading update, the Nottingham-based motor dealership – which is behind brands including Evans Halshaw and Stratstone – said it expects underlying profit before [...]
IG Group announces £250m buyback after recording annual revenues of £1bn on the back of strong US performance July 20, 2023 IG Group upped its dividend and announced a new share buyback programme of £250m despite reporting a slight drop in pretax profit. In the year to May, profit at the trading firm dropped six per cent to £449.9m, down from £477m last year. It upped its dividend to 45.2p from 44.2p last year. The fall [...]
Farage: Government right to consider Natwest licence over Coutts brouhaha July 20, 2023 Nigel Farage has praised the Government following reports ministers are considering making new laws to stop banks closing customers’ accounts because they disagree with their political views. The former Ukip leader said MPs are “beginning to realise that this system is coming for them as well” after his bank accounts were closed by Coutts because his views [...]
Royal Mail parent group IDS names international parcels boss as new leader July 20, 2023 International Distributions Services (IDS), the parent group of Royal Mail, has named Martin Seidenberg as its new leader as new boss says there’s opportunity ahead, “but we must seize it”. Seidenberg, who has been chief executive of parcel delivery company GLS – which is owned by IDS – will take charge of IDS in August [...]
Bitcoin holds firm above $30k as most large cap cryptocurrencies inch upwards July 20, 2023 Bitcoin continues to find support above $30,000 after dipping below this key level a few times in the last week.