Sky high: Introducing the most expensive homes in the world April 30, 2015 For the super rich, a trophy home isn’t simply a place to live, it’s a savvy investment; the discreet market in prestigious properties is booming and they’re selling for record-breaking prices. The cities that are home to these super-luxe homes also get an ego boost, as their ability to attract some of the wealthiest individuals [...]
HSBC looking for greener pastures should not surprise April 29, 2015 The sandwiches and coffee were standard fare at HSBC’s annual meeting. But it took mere minutes for political red herrings to be added to the menu. Take the bank’s confirmation it is reviewing its headquarters’ location. Labour’s attempt to blame HSBC’s action on a Conservative-inspired EU referendum was misguided, but inevitable. Douglas [...]
Wimbledon champions deserve record prize money, say bosses April 28, 2015 WIMBLEDON chiefs have defended their prize money policy after confirming that players at this year’s championships are to earn more than at any tennis tournament in history. A seven per cent increase in the total pot to £26.75m is reflected in prize money for all rounds, with the men’s and women’s winners banking £1.88m each [...]
Broadcasters told by Ofcom to make phone-in charges simpler April 28, 2015 Telecoms regulator Ofcom has forced TV companies to change how they advertise phone-in and mobile voting competitions – because, it says, they're currently too confusing. The watchdog has changed the broadcasting code – the rules which govern TV and radio in the UK – to reflect how they can make pricing clearer. Viewers [...]
General Election 2015: David Cameron vows to slash £10bn of regulation for small businesses April 27, 2015 David Cameron has said his party is engaged in a "battle for the backbone of Britain" and that meeting small businesses "pumps" him up, unveiling the Tories' small business manifesto in a noticeably more passionate address than in the previous weeks of campaigning. The Conservatives plan to relieve small businesses of £10bn worth of regulation [...]
Brexit and the City: Business and Brussels – to stay or split? April 27, 2015 HSBC chairman Douglas Flint entered a political firestorm last week when he said Britain’s biggest bank was considering moving its headquarters out of the UK. Speaking at the company’s annual general meeting (AGM) in London on Friday, Flint said the bank was looking to relocate in part due to uncertainty over the UK’s relationship [...]
Stephen Hester braced for pay revolt at insurer RSA April 27, 2015 Former RBS chief Stephen Hester could be set for a row over his pay packet at insurer RSA, as activist investor Cevian Capital has indicated it may vote against the remuneration deal. Hester’s package at the FTSE 100 insurer includes provisions for a bonus payment of up to 230 per cent of his £950,000 salary. [...]
General Election 2015: The odds of Labour-SNP coalition just shortened as Sturgeon warns Miliband he will have to “change his tune” over a deal April 26, 2015 Ed Miliband may have spent the day insisting that he's not interested in doing a deal with the SNP after the General Election, but more people are betting that it will happen. Odds on a coalition between the two parties have shortened to 10/1 from 12/1 with hefty backing from political punters, Ladbrokes has said. [...]
US pharmaceuticals group Verseon begins road show for Aim listing April 23, 2015 CALIFORNIA-BASED pharmaceuticals group Verseon is working towards a £230m stock market listing in London. According to Sky News, the company, which uses proprietary technology to assist in the drug discovery process, has appointed Cenkos, the investment bank, to prepare it for a listing on the juior Aim market. Sky reported that Cenkos has recently begun [...]
Microsoft trump expectations thanks to sky-high cloud revenue April 23, 2015 The figures Microsoft's profit and revenue came in above analysts' expectations for the third quarter of 2015, causing the company's stock to rise in after-hours trading. The software and technology giant posted earnings of $0.61 per share – trumping the forecast $0.51 per share – but also significantly falling from the $0.68 per share posted [...]