Investors demand companies manage climate change risk ahead of AGM season March 5, 2020 Investment managers will demand to know what companies are doing to manage climate change in this year’s AGM season. The Investment Association (IA), whose members own one third of the value of UK listed companies, is asking companies to report the impact of climate change will have on their business model and how it will [...]
FTSE reshuffle: Kingfisher, NMC Health and Tui booted out of top City index March 4, 2020 Several embattled firms have been relegated from the FTSE 100 of listed companies as part of its quarterly review. Screwfix owner Kingfisher, embattled firm NMC Health and holiday company Tui will be moved to the FTSE 250 index of companies. In their place, miner Fresnillo, Intermediate Capital Group and Pennon Group will join the FTSE [...]
Corporate governance at Travelex owner questioned over links to NMC Health founder March 4, 2020 Ongoing financial turmoil and questions over its corporate governance structures have caused analysts to downgrade the credit rating of money transfer giant Travelex, amid ties to troubled firm NMC Health through its founder. NMC founder and former chief executive BR Shetty and his son own 66 per cent of shares in Finablr — the sole [...]
Legal & General boosts operating profit to £2.1bn March 4, 2020 Insurance giant Legal & General (L&G) today said it had increased operating profit 12 per cent to £2.1bn, up from £1.9bn the previous year. The company said operating profit from continuing divisions in 2019 was up 17 percent to £3.5bn, compared to £2.1bn the previous year. Earnings per share increased 16 per cent to 28.6, [...]
The world’s biggest economy is scared March 4, 2020 The final weeks of 2019 saw the traditional flurry of analysts and market commentators raising the prospect of so-called black swan events in 2020. Looking back through these notes today, one is confronted with a range of nightmare scenarios ranging from military conflict in the South China Sea to the collapse of a major investment bank [...]
From Yes We Can to Feel The Bern — American politics is a masterclass in messaging March 4, 2020 US politics is a fascinating watch, especially if you’re interested in branding, communications, and the successes and failures of connecting with audiences. And for those that follow it through this lens, right now is prime-time viewing. As Democrats vote on their candidate to take on Donald Trump in November, the political battlegrounds in the US [...]
DEBATE: Should the chancellor rethink plans to get rid of entrepreneurs’ relief in the Budget? March 4, 2020 Should the chancellor rethink plans to get rid of entrepreneurs’ relief in next week’s Budget? Caroline Plumb OBE, chief executive and co-founder of Fluidly, says YES. Critics of entrepreneurs’ relief want proof of its economic impact, but it’s not as simple as throwing a couple of headline figures around and dismissing beneficiaries as the already [...]
World Bank announces up to $12bn in immediate funds to help fight coronavirus March 3, 2020 The World Bank is to release up to $12bn (£9.3bn) immediately to fight the global spread of coronavirus. The funding emerged on the same day the Federal Banking Reserve cut interest rates to protect the US economy from the economic consequences of the outbreak. Traditionally, the role of the World Bank is to lend money [...]
MPs to grill BBC executives amid questions over broadcaster’s future March 3, 2020 Top BBC executives are set to be hauled in front of MPs to face a grilling over their plans for the future as the broadcaster attempts to stave off a string of crises. Outgoing director general Lord Tony Hall and chairman Sir David Clementi will both give evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport [...]
EY strengthens tax controversy and risk management team with five key appointments March 3, 2020 EY has announced the arrival of five key appointments to its tax controversy and risk management team, expanding its tax litigation and corporate crime service offerings to clients. The new arrivals are all practicing solicitors. James Wilson, EY Partner and head of the Tax Controversy and Risk Management team comments: “We’re delighted to welcome these [...]