Fidel Castro: Like him or loath him, he had some life November 26, 2016 Fidel Castro has died, aged 90, Cuban state television confirmed this morning. The man how came to power as part of a communist uprising in 1959 divides opinion. Whatever people do think of him, it can't be denied that he has had some excitement along the way. Here are four facts about the man who was [...]
Network Rail reveals huge growth in retail sales at London’s railway stations November 25, 2016 Retail sales at London's railway stations have grown at a titanic 17 times the high-street average, despite the number of passengers visiting them remaining the same. Sales during the three months since Britain's vote to leave the EU grew at 3.7 per cent across Network Rail's 10 London stations. This compares with high-street growth of just [...]
Marmite owner Unilever vows to appeal €590m Brazilian tax ruling November 25, 2016 Unilever's share price fell during mid-morning trading after revealing it had received an "adverse judgement" from Brazilian courts in relation to a €590m (£504m) indirect tax case. The Anglo-Dutch consumer giant warned in October that a case in Brazil was ongoing, although it stressed "we continue to believe that our case is strong". Read more: Was Marmite-gate [...]
Compare the (annuity) market: Financial watchdog wants customers to be offered more choice November 25, 2016 The UK's financial watchdog will force annuity providers to tell customers to shop around after it found that 80 per cent of customers would get a better dealing by doing so. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) today revealed its own Black Friday push with plans for an "annuity comparator" to help people find out if there [...]
Paying a dividend: Royal Bank of Scotland’s Irish subsidiary does what the UK group is still struggling to do November 25, 2016 Beleaguered lender Royal Bank of Scotland might not be able to make any money at a group level, but its Irish operations is raking in profits. In fact, Ulster Bank Ireland DAC (aka Ulster Bank) has made so much money, it said today it will pay a mammoth €1.5bn (£1.1bn) dividend to its loss-making UK parent. It [...]
South West Water owner Pennon flushes away concerns with steady performance November 25, 2016 Shares in Pennon nosed-up over one per cent this morning after growing earnings over the first half its financial year. The figures Revenues actually fell in the six months to 30 September from £689m to £686m. But earnings jumped by 5.9 per cent to £245m and profit before tax leapt 19.9 per cent to £128m. [...]
A gold-en choice for silver circle firm: Ashurst appoints TV expert to its board November 25, 2016 A City law firm has taken the unusual step of hiring its new chief operating officer from a TV company. Jan Gooze-Zijl, who currently serves on the board of UKTV – the owner of channels Dave and Gold – is to swap re-runs of Top Gear, Only Fools and Horses and Wheeler Dealers, for an executive role at [...]
The DfT lends Network Rail millions every day. But it’s ok, the rail network is going to last for longer… November 24, 2016 Over £9m of public money is being lent every day to the company that runs Britain's ageing rail infrastructure. Network Rail drew down £1.6bn from a department for transport (DfT) facility over the last six months according to the company's – or non-departmental government body's – half-year accounts. This was on top of the £1.9bn of grant [...]
Chesnara buys Legal & General’s Dutch life business for £136m November 24, 2016 London listed life and pensions firm Chesnara has snapped up one of Legal & General's (L&G) non-core divisions in a deal worth €160m (£136m). Shares in Chesnara leapt up by seven per cent following the news that it had agreed to buy L&G's Dutch life and pensions business, which will be part-funded by a placing of £70m [...]
Black Friday 2016: Five fitness and activewear-tastic bargains to snap-up, stay fit and stay warm November 24, 2016 Usually the time to think about getting fit is after you have plumped yourself up full of turkey and Christmas pud… not before. But there are a bundle of Black Friday activewear deals out there so you can get a headstart on a healthy 2017. Or at least, grab a bargain that will stay in its box until your return to [...]
