Rapid responses December 11, 2012 The payday debate [Re: The poorest will suffer if we ignore the real evidence on payday loans, yesterday] This is the first honest, data-driven response to the payday loan industry debate I’ve seen. Unfortunately, screaming headlines about sky-high interest rates and vulnerable borrowers have led some to ignore the sad truth that many are far [...]
More bidders enter RBS sell-off December 6, 2012 Two private equity giants are to team up and enter the race for 316 Royal Bank of Scotland branches, it emerged last night. JC Flowers and Apollo Global Management, two of the biggest buyout houses in the world, are understood to be on the cusp of launching a joint venture to bid for the branches, [...]
Tesco poised for dramatic exit from US December 4, 2012 TESCO is likely to close its US franchise, Fresh & Easy, pending a strategic review of the lossmaking business. Chief executive Philip Clarke will announce the review today alongside the retailer’s quarterly results, and will make a decision on the venture by April. Fresh & Easy has failed to turn a profit in its five [...]
Sky comes out on top in survey December 4, 2012 Sky has come ahead of rivals BT and Virgin Media in a consumer satisfaction survey conducted by Ofcom, the broadcasting regulator. The company was voted best in the landline, broadband, and pay-TV categories. In a survey of mobile networks, O2 came far ahead of the competition, followed by Three and T-Mobile, then Orange. Vodafone was [...]
What the other papers say this Morning December 3, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES EDF cost rises damp nuclear hopes EDF, the French utility, said the cost of its new nuclear power station in northern France had increased by a third, raising fears that its planned UK plant may also be vulnerable to a similar budget blowout. But EDF Energy, the company’s UK subsidiary, insisted that the [...]
Murdoch shuffle has ex-Sky exec as News Int CEO December 3, 2012 RUPERT Murdoch announced a host of changes at his media empire yesterday, including the hiring of ex-BSkyB chief operating officer Mike Darcey as the new chief executive of UK paper owner News International. Darcey’s appointment follows the weekend resignation of Tom Mockridge. Among other changes made were the closure of the iPad-only publication The Daily, [...]
Fitness-based Christmas gifts have never looked so good December 3, 2012 FITNESS & DIET EXPERT GONE ARE the days where presents for your fitness-loving friends meant a toss-up between a pedometer and the latest fitness DVD. Now there are gifts galore for the active, gadget-happy exec. Here are this year’s pick of the bunch. 1 Perfect for the fitness fanatic who also happens to be fan [...]
Delta sizing up a stake in rival Virgin Atlantic December 2, 2012 US airline Delta Air Lines is eyeing up a 49 per cent stake in Virgin Atlantic, according to reports. Delta is said to have offered to buy Singapore Airlines’ holding in the London-based carrier. Singapore has been open to bids for its stake in Virgin Atlantic for the last two years, having bought into the [...]
Payday loan charges to be capped by law November 28, 2012 PAYDAY loan firms face a cap on the amount they can charge consumers, the government announced last night. In a blow to the booming industry, ministers said that legislation will be introduced to give the new Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) power to intervene in the industry if it sees evidence of bad practice. The government [...]
Series win would equal Ashes in Australia November 27, 2012 CRICKET fans who got up early enough to catch England’s fantastic second Test demolition of India over the last few days got a treat, and the good news is that the best may be yet to come. So emphatic was the victory in Mumbai that all momentum has swung behind England, and there is no [...]