Huawei: The fake choice between US and China will weaken the world economy November 22, 2019 Over the last year, the UK and its European partners have been asked to make a false choice between the US and China. What started with a series of false claims about Huawei’s role in telecoms infrastructure has broadened into a wider campaign that places the very concept of globalisation and the global economy at [...]
John McDonnell says Labour will break up Big Four ‘cartel’ November 19, 2019 Shadow chancellor John McDonnell today promised to break up the “cartel” of the Big Four accounting firms if Labour wins the upcoming election. “Under Labour the Big Four companies will not be allowed to continue to act like a cartel,” McDonnell told a Westminster audience during a speech on Labour’s plans for the economy. The [...]
Pub operator Ei Group reports earnings drop ahead of Stonegate deal November 19, 2019 Ei Group, the pub operator being bought by Slug and Lettuce owner Stonegate, reported that earnings dropped this year after the disposal of 354 venues. The figures Revenue was up 4.17 per cent from £695m to £724m, in the 12 months to 30 September. Read more: Competition watchdog to examine £1.3bn tie-up between Stonegate and [...]
Why passionate innovators make for better investors November 19, 2019 What does it take to succeed in business and investing? Differentiation is among the key ingredients. You need to offer a product that differs from the competition in a way that clients recognise as added value. If you want to beat the market as an investor, the first thing you need to do is something [...]
DEBATE: Is there a case for Labour’s ‘free broadband’ proposals? November 18, 2019 Is there a case for Labour’s ‘free broadband’ proposals? Miranda Hall, a researcher at the New Economics Foundation and co-author of forthcoming report on digital infrastructure for Common Wealth, says YES. Without internet you can’t look for a job, receive childcare and housing benefits, or keep in touch with friends. But across the UK, digital [...]
Audit watchdog could push for clawback of audit partners’ bonuses after poor quality work November 17, 2019 The audit watchdog could push for powers to clawback bonuses from audit partners if an audit fell below a certain level of quality. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is thinking of asking the government for powers to set remuneration standards for auditors, The Sunday Times reported. The idea follows scandals at department store BHS, outsourcer [...]
Watchdog pauses investigation into First Group’s West Coast Rail franchise November 15, 2019 The UK’s competition watchdog has paused its investigation into the decision to award the West Coast Rail franchise to First Group after the company offered to make changes to the deal. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said last week it would escalate its probe into First Group’s joint venture with Trenitalia on the route unless [...]
SSE profit rises as it calls for political action on renewables November 13, 2019 Big Six energy supplier SSE swung back into profit in this morning’s half-year results, as its chief executive called on the next government to put renewable power at the front and centre of their climate change plans. Read more: Competition watchdog to examine £500m Ovo Energy SSE deal The figures Reported profit rose to £128.9m [...]
Newsquest outbids Reach in race for local publisher JPI Media November 12, 2019 Regional publisher Newsquest is said to have tabled a surprise bid for i newspaper owner JPI Media, threatening to derail the takeover efforts of rival Reach. Newsquest, which owns a string of titles including the Oxford Mail and Brighton’s Argus, is now thought to be the frontrunner in the bidding war, the Guardian reported, citing [...]
Dignity profit falls 30 per cent as fewer people die November 11, 2019 Dignity, the UK’s only listed funeral firm, saw its underlying operating profit slip 30 per cent for the year to date, driven by a significantly lower number of deaths. Profit fell from £68.6m in 2018 to £47.9m this year. Underlying revenue also fell eight per cent, from 244.2m in 2018 to 225.4m. Despite the fall [...]