Publishers rally as Google advertising antitrust trial restarts in US September 9, 2024 One month after a US court ruled that Google illegally maintained its monopoly on internet search, the tech giant is back in the dock. This time, Google’s lucrative online advertising business, which last year raked in nearly $240bn (£183bn), is under fire, with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and 17 states accusing its parent company, Alphabet, of monopolising digital [...]
HSBC mulls merger of investment banking and commercial arms in cost-cutting drive September 9, 2024 HSBC is mulling a merger of its investment and commercial banking arms as part of a push by new chief Georges Elhedery to slash costs, according to reports. Elhedery, who took over as group CEO last week, is considering combining the lender’s global banking and markets arm with its trading and investment banking division, Bloomberg [...]
‘Game over’ for TGI Fridays’ UK owner Hostmore as shares crater almost 90 per cent September 9, 2024 TGI Fridays’ UK owner Hostmore is set to be wound down in a move that could wipe out its shareholders, after revealing it had dropped plans to buy the US restaurant chain for £177m. Shares in the London-listed company tanked by almost 90 per cent following the announcement on Monday. Hostmore, a hospitality firm which [...]
Jefferies upgrades Rightmove as REA group eyes £4.4bn takeover bid September 9, 2024 Jefferies analysts have upgraded their guidance for Rightmove as they believe Australian real estate giant REA Group will probably make a formal offer for the British property platform. Last week, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp-backed REA said it is considering a £4.4bn cash and share offer for Rightmove, sending the latter’s shares up nearly 25 per cent. Rightmove [...]
Unite Students faces legal action over rats, mould and rubbish in flats September 9, 2024 Hundreds of students across the country have demanded rent refunds from the UK’s biggest accommodation provider, citing problems ranging from rat infestations to dirty flats. Flat Justice, a not-for-profit tenants’ rights group, is currently leading multiple cases against Unite Students for blocks in London, Oxford, Coventry, Liverpool and Birmingham. A spokesperson for Flat Justice said [...]
Government must sack air traffic control boss after ‘long line of cock ups,’ Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary says September 9, 2024 Thousands of passengers have had their flights cancelled at Heathrow and Gatwick Airport due to air traffic control staff shortages.
Back at square one: Crowdcube co-founder Darren Westlake embarks on bold new venture following exit September 9, 2024 Two decades ago, Darren Westlake set out to transform startup funding in the UK with the launch of Crowdcube. Fast forward 20 years and the entrepreneur finds himself in a familiar position – back at square one – after stepping down as CEO of the platform last year to “start again.” His new project, Disco, [...]
Investors pounce on start-up incentive scheme amid fears of Labour tax rises September 9, 2024 Flows into a government-backed scheme offering tax reliefs for investors in UK start-ups have surged since the general election, new data has revealed, as fears grow of possible tax rises under the new Labour government.
Entain shares jump as UK arm returns to growth on Olympics and Euro boost September 9, 2024 Shares in Ladbrokes owner Entain jumped as much as 7.6 per cent in early trade after investors were cheered by news that a sport-heavy summer drew in extra punters. Online net gaming revenue (NGR7 ) has continued to grow faster than expected, the London-listed gambling firm said in a trading update on Monday, as the [...]
The secret language of City dealmaking September 9, 2024 Dealmaking on the public markets can be a dense and confusing world. Firms court each other in the public domain; cryptic, flirtatious barbs are fired across the market, and bosses on either side try to size each other up. But what do their messages really mean? What is the hidden meaning behind the jargon? From Pac-Man [...]