Tube strikes: The unions are harming London and the low paid by striking over Night Tube January 12, 2016 When Mike Brown was confirmed as London’s new transport commissioner last September, he might have expected to find a note from his predecessor stating bluntly: “Dear commissioner, I’m afraid there is no money”. While most of the UK economy has adapted to the realities of modern-day austerity, however, the transport unions are apparently yet to [...]
Tube strikes 2016: When are they, how long are they for, who is striking and why? Everything you need to know January 11, 2016 When are the strikes and how long will they last? London will be brought to a halt once again by 24-hour strikes on the Tube, and they're coming pretty soon. The dates to stick in your diary are at the end of January and middle of February. 1. Tuesday 26 January – Wednesday 27 January. 2. Monday [...]
Tube strikes January and February 2016: Drivers’ union Aslef confirms its members will strike alongside RMT this month January 11, 2016 Transport for London and business groups have slammed unions for committing to a further three strike dates, which will bring the capital's Tube system to a standstill yet again. Aslef has confirmed it will join RMT in striking on three dates, after the unions dismissed yet another pay deal put forward by transport bosses. The drivers [...]
Retail bonds: What they offer small cap firms January 11, 2016 Launched in 2010 by the London Stock Exchange as part of its efforts to help firms find new ways to access capital, the UK retail bond market may still be comparatively new. But it has already shown itself to be an attractive way for small to mid cap companies, particularly those with a well recognised [...]
Deal spree to provide relief to the City with Shire on verge of tie-up with Baxalta January 11, 2016 A string of mega deals is set to provide welcome relief to the City after a rocky start to the year saw £85bn wiped off the value of the UK’s biggest firms in the first trading week of 2016. London-listed pharmaceutical giant Shire is on the verge of inking a £22bn deal with US rival Baxalta, [...]
New mobile challenger bank Starling Bank gets $70m investment as Pinsent Masons finds 38 per cent of Londoners would consider using payment apps January 11, 2016 A new British bank focused exclusively on current accounts has secured a $70m (£48m) investment from an American investor. Starling Bank, which applied to the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) at the end of last year for a banking license, announced the latest funding round today. Commenting on his $70m [...]
Focus On Croydon: The affordable South London hotspot that’s getting a £1bn facelift January 8, 2016 If there’s one thing we learnt from the London property market in 2015, it was not to underestimate the outer boroughs. Some of the largest house price growth increases were to be found in these supposed backwaters. Growth in places like Haringey and Hillingdon far outstripped traditionally prime areas like Kensington & Chelsea and Camden, [...]
Homes go on sale at former North London Post Office building in Islington January 8, 2016 As the historic North London Post Office, this 50,000sqft site in Islington delivered birthday cards, love letters and lists for Father Christmas. But next year, joint property developers Sagar Group and Cain Hoy hope they’ll be equally as successful at delivering a new housing, shopping and commercial district in the heart of one of London’s [...]
Without proper e-commerce investment, Steve Rowe risks making Marks & Spencer fade into obscurity January 8, 2016 Ahead of Christmas, UBS analysts predicted that the retail winners would be those with the strongest online offering. As sales results from the holiday period get reported, the analysts are being proven right, with the most e-commerce and mobile-friendly retailers coming top of the pile in the festive fight. This trend claimed it’s first victim this week, with the [...]
Homeward bound HSBC, City Hall race and oil glut make a busy 2016 January 7, 2016 Forecasting events in the City is frequently a fool’s errand but one thing’s clear from the first week of 2016: it is going to be a tough year for much of corporate Britain. Here’s where I think most of the action will be. 1. Among the first big decisions of the year will be delivered when [...]