Energy bills set to shrink as oil price plummets January 6, 2015 OIL PRICES continued to fall yesterday, after driving markets down on Monday. Brent crude stayed below $53, the lowest it has been since 2009 and fell to as low as $50.85 during the day. Meanwhile US benchmark WTI remained below what ETX Capital strategist Daniel Sugarman termed the “psychological barrier” of $50 a barrel. Consumers [...]
FTSE 100 slips on weak British economic data – London Report January 6, 2015 UK SHARES fell for a third-consecutive session yesterday, and the pound traded lower against the dollar, as weaker-than-expected economic data weighed on British assets. The blue chip FTSE 100 fell 0.8 per cent, or 50.65 points, to 6,366.51, bringing its three-day loss total to three per cent. The index fell two per cent on Monday, its [...]
Oil prices sink below $50 a barrel as petrol costs tumble January 5, 2015 Boost for motorists and airlines as petrol costs tumble… yet the speed of black gold’s collapse spooks global markets. The price of oil slid further yesterday, providing a boon to motorists and fuel-dependent industries, yet contributing to market turbulence throughout the world. American crude crashed below $50 a barrel during trading, while benchmark Brent tumbled under [...]
Petrol price of £1 a litre comes one step closer as big four supermarkets cut prices January 5, 2015 The good news for drivers just keeps on rolling. Britain's so-called "big four" supermarkets have announced a 2p cut to the price of petrol, with Tesco's reduction coming into effect immediately. The rest, which include Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury's, will cut their prices tomorrow. The reductions bring the prospect of £1 per litre petrol tantalisingly [...]
Who’s lining up in the CEO sack race? Ladbrokes’ odds on Standard Chartered’s Peter Sands January 4, 2015 There were a lot of interesting moves at the top in 2014, with chiefs taking P45s left right and centre – Harriet Green at Thomas Cook, Simon Calder at Mothercare and Tesco’s Philip Clarke to name but a few. But who will be saying sayonara in 2015? Well, sadly we don’t have a crystal ball [...]
Retailers’ woes in focus after a festive slump – London week ahead January 4, 2015 RETAILERS’ woes will be centre stage this week as J Sainsbury, Tesco, WM Morrison and Marks & Spencer update the market after what is expected to have been a relative slump in trading over the festive season. Tesco’s trading announcement on Thursday will be of particular interest, as new chief executive Dave Lewis will outline [...]
L&Q and Development Securities in £150m regeneration contract on Edgeware Road December 22, 2014 Property firms L&Q and Development Securities have entered into a partnership to deliver the new £150m regeneration project at 399 Edgware Road in north west London. The planned residential quarter, which is currently a vacant site, will include 183 apartments and townhouses for private sale set around landscaped gardens as well as cafes, shops and [...]
Thames Water awards contracts December 22, 2014 CONSTRUCTION firms Kier Group and Clancy Docwra have been named, in a joint venture, as a preferred bidder for Thames Water’s new £1bn alliance. The joint venture, KCD, will work alongside Agility, which comprises of J Murphy & Sons and Morrison Utility Services. The contract is expected to commence in April 2015 and will run [...]
Christmas quiz: Test your knowledge December 22, 2014 Deloitte’s chief economist, poses some of the trickiest questions of the year. How many can you get right? Answers are at the bottom. 1 The Louvre is the world’s most popular art gallery, with 9.3m visits in 2013. How many visits did people make to Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Florida in the same year? a) [...]
From Quindell and Gotham City to Uber and the LDTA – five of the biggest business battles to watch out for in 2015 December 22, 2014 Rival camps have banded together, the lines are drawn, battle armour is on and adrenaline is running high. All that's left for spectators to do is grab some popcorn and watch from the ringside. From rival estate agents, to a business targeted by a Batman styled US fund and an influx of tiny new banks [...]