Pawnbroker H&T’s share price plunges on FCA review November 18, 2019 Shares in the UK’s leading pawnbroker plummeted this morning after the firm revealed it was working closely with the City watchdog to review its high-cost short term credit (HCSTC) loans business. H&T group’s share price crashed 25 per cent in early morning trading, with the firm announcing it has ceased all HSCTC unsecured lending, at [...]
Battle for the bourse: Two stock exchange operators in race to buy BME November 18, 2019 Two rival stock exchange operators are battling it out to buy Spanish bourse BME. In a sign of the consolidation efforts within Europe’s financial exchanges sector, Euronext and SIX Group have both revealed they have had talks to buy the Madrid-based national stock exchange Bolsas y Mercados Espanoles. Read more: Debate: Should the London Stock [...]
IoD urges regional focus in business manifesto November 15, 2019 A blitz of investment incentives and a focus on turbocharging regional growth should be at the heart of the next government’s priorities, a leading business group has urged this morning. The Institute of Directors (IoD) has called for regions to be given their own funding pots and cabinet meetings as part of a wider decentralisation [...]
Uncertainty takes its toll as manufacturing exporters report weaker trading November 15, 2019 Fresh fears for the UK’s manufacturing industry have been raised this morning, with exporters hit by mounting political uncertainty. A majority of UK manufacturing exporters have reported a deterioration in both sales and orders over the last quarter, as indicators reflected a substantial drop compared to 2017 and 2018 levels. Read more: Daimler to cut [...]
Motorola Razr 2019: Flip phone revived with foldable screen model November 14, 2019 The iconic flip phone has made a comeback, with Motorola revealing an upgraded version of the once-universal device. Some 15 years after the original Razr hit the markets, Motorola is launching a slim retro reboot with a foldable screen. Read more: Revealed: The fastest growing tech companies in the UK The gadget, which is set [...]
Growth in loan books after Charter Court tie-up with OneSavings November 14, 2019 Onesavings Bank and Charter Court Financial struck an upbeat tone yesterday after saying that lending franchises at both groups were strong following their recent merger. The duo said that they are expecting to report larger loan portfolios for the full-year period. Read more: Has Wework destroyed Softbank’s credibility? Loan book growth at OneSavings grew 15 [...]
CFOs hold increasingly pessimistic outlook amid backdrop of uncertainty November 14, 2019 Over a third of Europe’s finance chiefs feel gloomier about their companies’ prospects now than they did three months ago. According to accountancy group Deloitte, 36 per cent of Europe’s chief financial officers feel more pessimistic today than last quarter, underlining current concerns over the future of the global economy. Read more: UK businesses increasingly [...]
Shop Direct gets £75m injection from Barclay brothers as it looks to plug PPI funding hole November 13, 2019 Shop Direct has been given a £75m equity injection from its parent company as it looks to plug a funding gap from the cost of recent payment protection insurance (PPI) complaints. The online retailer owned by the billionaire Barclay brothers said today that £75m will be invested by way of an equity injection before the [...]
Royal Mail wins High Court injunction to prevent Christmas postal strikes November 13, 2019 Royal Mail has secured a High Court injunction to block potential Christmas postal strikes. The company argued that there were “irregularities” with the ballot which delivered an outcome overwhelmingly in support of industrial action. Read more: Royal Mail launches search for new UK director The postal service has claimed that officials interfered with the voting [...]
Investors question firms’ game plans as risks multiply November 13, 2019 Public companies are facing greater heat from investors over their long-term game plans, according to a new corporate survey. A growing number of investor relations officers (IRO) are reporting higher levels of scrutiny from shareholders over the direction in which their listed firms are heading. Read more: Has Wework destroyed Softbank’s credibility? Governance issues such [...]
