Next chapter in leadership for the high street retailer as John Barton steps down as chairman February 14, 2017 Retailer Next today announced chairman John Barton will step down after 15 years with the company. Barton has been on the board of the firm since 2002 and was appointed chairman in 2006. He will be succeeded by the Michael Roney when he retires on 1 August 2017. Read more: Next and Morrisons: What a difference [...]
Credit Suisse posts worse than expected losses with thousands more jobs to go in 2017 February 14, 2017 Credit Suisse's share price jumped over three per cent this morning despite posting greater than expected fourth quarter losses following its settlement with US authorities. The lender also revealed it plans to further reduce headcount in 2017, with 5,500 jobs set to go. Shares in the firm were trading at SFr15.20 at 8.30am this morning. The figures Fourth quarter [...]
Fears grow for Toshiba as it delays nuclear writedown and earnings announcement February 14, 2017 Shares in Toshiba fell over eight per cent in overnight trading after the conglomerate unexpectedly pushed back an announcement on its quarterly earnings and details of a mammoth writedown of its nuclear business. Investors were waiting with bated breath for the announcement, due today at 3am GMT (12pm Japan time) with the market expecting a charge of [...]
Energy M&A powers into the record books: Deal activity jumps by over a third in 2017 February 13, 2017 Energy and power M&A activity is at an all-time high at the start of 2017, with nearly $66bn (£53bn) of deals announced this year. Deal activity is 36 per cent higher in the sector compared with the same period last year and the best start to a calendar year since records began in the 1980s, according to Thomson [...]
Here are four reasons why the Russian ruble is at its strongest level against the US dollar since July 2015 February 13, 2017 One of the best performing currencies of 2016 was the Russian ruble. In fact, having edged up a further 0.5 per cent against the US dollar overnight, the currency is at its strongest level against the greenback since July 2015. But what is driving the change? The answer is a mixture of actual changes and market [...]
MPs believe accountants will play a pivotal role in helping the UK navigate its exit from the EU February 13, 2017 A beancounting Brexit boost is on the cards according to some of the very people charged with negotiating Britain's exit from the EU. Nearly half (47 per cent) of MPs polled by YouGov believe Brexit will have a positive impact on the accountancy sector, as clients will run to their trusted financial advisers to understand the [...]
Three mobile’s Danish arm refuses to pay ransom after being blackmailed by hackers February 13, 2017 Mobile phone operator Three has revealed it refused to pay a ransom to hackers that targeted its Danish arm. Personal details of around 3,600 Danish customers were stolen by cyber criminals, the company said. But it refused to pay them "millions" not to publish the data, instead handing details of the data breach over to police. Read more: Hello from [...]
Fidessa shares rise after being boosted by a year of change February 13, 2017 Fidessa's share price jumped nearly four per cent after revealing it was well placed to take advantage of regulatory and structural change and posting "solid" full-year profit growth. The figures Revenue at the trading software firm for the year to December 2016 grew by 12 per cent to £332m, although this was three per cent growth based on [...]
Co-operative Bank and Capita resolve differences after row over £325m contract February 13, 2017 The Co-operative Bank and Capita have resolved their differences after a public spat over alleged failings regarding a £325m servicing contract. The lender sold its mortgage servicing company, Western Mortgages Services (WMS), to Capita in November 2014 for £25m. The deal was followed by a 10-year contract for Capita to service the Co-operative Bank's mortgage book by [...]
The Co-operative Bank has put itself up for sale February 13, 2017 The Co-operative Bank has put itself up for sale after making "considerable progress" on its turnaround plan that saved the lender from near-extinction in 2013, it said this morning. A number of US hedge funds came to the rescue of the ethical lender four years ago, bailing it out after the lender revealed losses of £600m [...]