Champions Cup rugby: ‘I predict eight home wins out of eight’ March 31, 2023 Though the fixtures suggest a couple of upsets, I am going out on a limb and saying that there will be eight home wins in the Champions Cup round of 16 ties this weekend. It’s one of those weekends where I will be putting my phone on vibrate and just enjoying what is set to [...]
Former HSBC Company CFO Joins GFA Exchange Advisory Board March 30, 2023 Inclusive Fintech Startup Attracts Global Experience To Transform Financial Services Mark Body, a highly accomplished financial management professional and director has recently joined the advisory board at award-winning fintech, GFA Exchange. He brings a wealth of experience as the former Global CFO of HSBC ServCo, an £18 billion business unit within the largest bank in [...]
FTSE 100 live: Ocado steams ahead again as analysts warn banks have long road to recovery March 30, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 scaled higher today lifted by middle class favourite and online supermarket Ocado extending its strong rally this week. The capital’s premier index climbed 0.32 per cent to 7,588.65 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more in tune with the health of the UK economy, bumped 0.73 per cent [...]
Welsh rugby clubs overwhelmingly vote for WRU reform March 26, 2023 Local clubs across Wales today voted for major reform to the way the Welsh Rugby Union is governed. Of the 282 clubs eligible to vote for changes to the way the rugby union structures its board, 252 clubs voted with 245 voting in favour of reform. The successful vote at the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) [...]
Top City firms pledge to hike contributions to employees’ pensions pots amid concerns over looming savings crunch March 21, 2023 A coalition of top City firms today vowed to boost the contributions they make into their employees’ pensions in response to growing concerns about the potential for a looming savings crunch. Aviva, Phoenix and Herbert Smith Freehills all pledged to give pensions contributions equivalent to at least seven per cent of their workers’ salaries in [...]
It’s not a case of whether England lose Six Nations match, it’s by how many March 17, 2023 England’s final-round Six Nations tie in Dublin is not a case of whether the hosts can win, it’s a discussion about how many they win by. The Irish chasing a Grand Slam in Dublin, against England, on St Patrick’s weekend. It is made for a famous home victory, isn’t it? And even with their injuries [...]
Business charm offensive: Reeves discusses investment plans at meeting with Lloyds, Aviva, L&G and British Land March 14, 2023 Labour’s business charm offensive is continuing as shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to discuss plans to boost investment. Keir Starmer’s Labour has positioned itself as the ‘party of business’ as it aims to exploit the Conservatives’ reputational hit following the economic chaos of Liz Truss’s calamitous mini-budget. Reeves will discuss plans to boost business [...]
Six Nations: What Ireland and France need to win the Championship title March 13, 2023 Only Ireland and France are in with a shout of winning the 2023 Six Nations this weekend. It was so nearly a three-horse race going into round five but results last weekend ensured that Scotland would not be in the mix for a title. We’ve broken down who needs what to win the title. Ireland [...]
FTSE 100 close: Silicon Valley Bank collapse drags London index into red despite HSBC sale March 13, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 was dragged down into a global market sell off today driven by fears over how far the effects of the collapse of tech-focused Silicon Valley Bank could ricochet through the financial system. The capital’s premier index slid more than two per cent to close at 7,548.64 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE [...]
Direct Line shares crash as winter cold snap and inflation leave its results ‘as ugly as they can be’ March 13, 2023 Direct Line today posted a £45m loss for the year 2022 as the insurer suffered a hit from soaring inflation, extreme weather, and market volatility, in what analysts described as one of the “worst years” in the Bromley firm’s history. Shares in Direct Line fell by 5.79 per cent on the news, as the insurer [...]