Podcaster Audioboom eyes possible merger or sale February 8, 2020 The AIM-listed podcasting group, Audioboom, has asked bankers to help it explore the possibility of a merger or sale. The group, which is backed by property tycoon Nick Candy, has asked New York-based bank Raine to undertake a strategic review that could see the company taken over by a rival, according to Sky News. Raine’s [...]
Coronavirus cruise ship counts 40 more cases February 7, 2020 More than 40 more people trapped on board a cruise ship have contracted coronavirus, it has been confirmed. Now 61 passengers on the Diamond Princess have the illness, with 20 having left the ship for further treatment, according to reports. A total of 78 Brits are believed to be on board the luxury cruise liner, [...]
City grandee Peter Cruddas in line for a peerage February 6, 2020 Peter Cruddas will reportedly be granted a peerage as Boris Johnson adds to the Brexit-supporting Conservatives in the House of Lords. Cruddas, who is the co-founder and chief executive of CMC Markets, is on a list of nominees that will be considered by the House of Lords Appointments Commission, according to Sky News. The appointment [...]
Bercow criticised by House of Commons as peerage row rages on February 6, 2020 Former speaker John Bercow has been attacked by the House of Commons for naming staff members in his tell-all book of his time in the chair, which was published this morning. A spokesperson for the House of Commons said: “Staff work incredibly hard to enable the effective functioning of our democracy and have a right [...]
Boeing shares leap on reports the 737 Max could fly again within weeks February 6, 2020 Boeing shares surged more than three percent this afternoon on reports the troubled 737 Max passenger aircraft could fly again within weeks. US Federal Aviation Administrator Steve Dickson said on Thursday international air safety regulators were likely to agree on the design fixes needed to return the Boeing 737 Max aircraft to service. “On the [...]
Coronavirus: British advice to leave China ‘excessive’, says ambassador February 6, 2020 The government’s advice for British citizens to leave China because of coronavirus is excessive, the Chinese ambassador to the UK has said. Liu Xiaoming said the number of cured patients was rising, adding that his country was “fully confident” of beating the virus. The comments came after the Foreign Office urged all Brits to leave [...]
Mike Lynch arrest: Autonomy CEO submits himself for arrest in US extradition case February 5, 2020 Autonomy founder Mike Lynch has this morning submitted himself for arrest in what his legal team said is a formality triggered by a US extradition request. Lynch – who is facing charges of securities fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy in the US related to the 2011 sale of Autonomy to Hewlett Packard (HP) – has [...]
Coronavirus: Bill Gates pledges $100m to tackle outbreak February 5, 2020 Billionaire Bill Gates has increased his pledge to $100m (£77m) to combat the outbreak of the coronavirus as the number of cases worldwide climbed to almost 25,000 and the death toll neared 500. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Foundation said today that the funding will strengthen detection, isolation and treatment, as well as developed [...]
FTSE 100 and oil prices gain on reports of coronavirus vaccine ‘breakthrough’ February 5, 2020 The FTSE 100 and European stocks have staged a comeback after opening in the red, following reports that scientists may have found a breakthrough in developing a possible coronavirus treatment. Europe’s abrupt about-turn followed an overnight rise in Asian markets, where traders were buoyed by the prospect of additional stimulus from the Chinese government. Britain’s [...]
Retail bosses call for £6bn corporation tax hike to fund business rates cut February 5, 2020 Retail bosses are preparing to urge the Treasury to increase corporation tax in order to cut business rates by £6bn in a bid to save the UK’s struggling high streets. The recommendation to the government will be made in a report by a sub-committee of the Retail Sector Council, due to be shared in the [...]