Regional construction activity booming despite Brexit gloom, says Deloitte February 5, 2019 Construction activity at four major regional UK cities is at record levels, despite uncertainty around Brexit causing industry growth to falter, according to research. Accounting firm Deloitte’s regional crane survey covering Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester and Belfast showed growing activity across sectors including projects building office space, hotels, retail sites, education facilities and student housing. Read [...]
England’s relentlessly reinforced positive approach is partly to blame for their disastrous collapses in Test matches February 4, 2019 Positive. Aggressive. Competitive. Destructive. Dynamic. These are the adjectives which are supposed to define England 2.0, the one shaped by former director of cricket Andrew Strauss, selector Ed Smith, head coach Trevor Bayliss and captain Joe Root. These are the words you can imagine floating around in the blue-sky thinking sessions within the walls of [...]
Viacom launches on-demand streaming app for MTV reality shows February 4, 2019 MTV owner Viacom has launched a new streaming app aimed at younger audiences as it joins a growing list of broadcasters offering an on-demand service. MTV Play, which will initially be available only in the UK, will offer a range of catch-up and box set programmes, as well as a live feed of MTV’s broadcast channel. [...]
Veteran investor Bill Gross to retire from Janus Henderson Investors next month February 4, 2019 Veteran investor Bill Gross has announced he will retire from Janus Henderson Investors next month. Gross, who founded Pimco in 1971, will step down from his role as portfolio manager of the Global Unconstrained Bond and Total Return strategies on 1 March and his responsibilities will be transferred to the Global Macro Fixed team led by [...]
Ofcom complaints league table reveals worst phone and broadband providers February 4, 2019 Virgin Media and Vodafone have topped the league table for the most telecoms and broadband complaints in the third quarter last year, according to regulator Ofcom. Virgin received the most complaints for both pay-monthly mobile and pay-TV services, while Vodafone was the most bemoaned provider for broadband and landline. Read more: Which mobile operators offer London's [...]
Interserve shareholders jittery as firm homes in on debt-for-equity rescue deal February 4, 2019 Shareholders of debt-laden outsourcer Interserve were anxious this morning following reports it will announce the details of a long-awaited rescue deal this week. Interserve’s stock fell three per cent this morning after last night’s story that chief executive Debbie White was gearing up to finally reveal the refinancing terms with the firm’s lenders. Read more: [...]
An end to gridlock? How artificial intelligence could help get London moving again February 4, 2019 London is a truly remarkable city – an economic powerhouse and a cultural destination without equal. It’s a magnet to millions, and rightly so. But it’s a terrible irony that this fast-moving, fast-living, fast-earning metropolis is stuck in traffic so much of the time. We simply cannot move. According to traffic data company INRIX, London [...]
Struggling outsourcer Interserve approaching finalised rescue refinancing deal with lenders February 3, 2019 Chiefs at debt-stricken outsourcer Interserve are nearing a rescue refinancing deal with the firm’s lenders to keep its head above water. The public sector outsourcing giant, which has been struggling with more than £600m debt, is due to announce it has reached an agreement with its banks in the next week, according to reports. Read [...]
Five talking points from Sunday’s Premier League matches: Manchester City dispel title doubts, Arsenal losing ground, Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford inspire Manchester United, Leicester in limbo February 3, 2019 It took just 50 seconds for Sergio Aguero and Manchester City to dispel the notion that that the midweek defeat at Newcastle was anything other than an aberration; one of those freakish results that even the best teams usually succumb to once a season. City penned in Arsenal, Aymeric Laporte whipped the ball across goal [...]
Labour MPs mull party breakaway to form centrist movement in wake of Brexit divisions February 3, 2019 A handful of Labour MPs are rumoured to be on the brink of leaving their party to create a new centrist movement in the wake of dissatisfaction over Brexit. Up to six Labour MPs are thought to be prepared to walk away from the Labour party because of its stance on Brexit, anti-semitism, immigration and other [...]