China: Country Garden avoids default after making interest payments on offshore bonds September 5, 2023 Property developer Country Garden has made interest payments on two US dollar bonds just before a grace period was coming to an end, ensuring it avoided default.
London tourism revival gets boost as Pocket Planet latest to land in Oxford Street September 5, 2023 Oxford Street’s continued revival has been given another vote of confidence, with the launch of miniature world specialists Pocket Planet as the latest to take up a spot in the West End. Retail leaders have heralded plans to open its 30,000 square foot indoor world as proof of the capital’s investment attractiveness, and big brands’ [...]
Rising star Claire Coutinho faces gruelling start in energy secretary role September 5, 2023 Claire Coutinho has taken over energy policy from Grant Shapps, and faces a highly challenging start to her new role.
Hydrogen specialist UHL plans £250m UK spend – but it won’t list in London September 5, 2023 The world's largest hydrogen conglomerate plans to invest £250m in the UK over the next 12 months, City A.M. has learned.
Tourist tax must go, urge business leaders in last-minute plea to MPs September 5, 2023 A group of business leaders, including Gatwick Airport’s chief executive, have backed a letter by BusinessLDN making a final call to the government to scrap the so-called “tourist tax” days before the issue is set to be debated in parliament. The lobby group, which represents some of London’s biggest firms, has asked Chancellor Jeremy Hunt [...]
Bulk up ‘woeful’ pension pots and help save the stock market, UK firms told September 5, 2023 British firms should be forced to ramp up “woefully inadequate” contributions to pension pots in order to boost returns for savers and get money flowing back into London’s beleaguered stock market, a top think tank has said. In a new report today in partnership with Abrdn and Citi, think tank New Financial called for a [...]
Restaurants hit by August wash out as firms pray for sunny September rebound September 5, 2023 Restaurants were hit hard by the wet weather in August suffering a 5.8 per cent monthly decline in sales, new data has revealed.
UK solar projects risk being ‘tainted’ by Uyghur forced labour, government told September 5, 2023 UK solar energy projects could be at risk of being “tainted” by forced Uyghur labour due to large-scale human rights abuses taking place in China, the government has been warned. Foreign Affairs Select Committee chair Alicia Kearns has tabled an amendment to the Energy Bill – which MPs are set to debate today – calling [...]
What does Starmer’s Labour reshuffle signify? September 5, 2023 Keir Starmer’s reshuffle, on the same day Sue Gray joins him as Labour’s chief of staff, tells us a fair bit about how he would plan to govern.
Whoever wins the fight over housing and energy will hold the key to victory September 5, 2023 With Parliament back, both parties need to focus on what's going to matter to voters in the next months: housing and energy prices will be top issues, together with questions on net zero, writes Elena Siniscalco