FTSE 100 live: No Friday feeling for London index as banks follow Natwest to dip into negative territory April 28, 2023 London’s blue chip FTSE 100 index was trading flat, down 16 points at 7,815.94, as banks led the fall in the last day of trade before the May bank holiday. Despite better than expected profits Natwest shares fell 5.58 per cent. Michael Hewson chief market analyst at CMC Markets said: “When NatWest reported its full-year [...]
Natwest profits soar but customers withdraw £1bn as cost of living and tax bills bite April 28, 2023 Natwest has beaten profit expectations during the first three months of this year. Natwest Group, which includes Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank, recorded a pretax profit of £1.8bn in the three months ending 31 March. The total comes in ahead of analysts’ expectations of £1.6bn for the quarter and ahead of the £1.2bn during [...]
FTSE 100 close: Barclays surge fails to prevent losses on London index April 27, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 slipped today, pushed lower by investors wobbling over concerns about the health of the global economy amid banking and interest rate fears. The capital’s premier index dropped 0.27 per cent to 7,831.59 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, climbed [...]
CBI to be renamed in bid to rebuild after sexual misconduct scandal, new boss says April 27, 2023 The new boss of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has said that the scandal-hit business lobby group would likely be renamed as the organisation looks to rebuild after a sexual misconduct scandal. In the last week, there has been a mass exodus of businesses from the CBI, including prominent groups such as John Lewis, [...]
FTSE 100 close: Persimmon and Standard Chartered peg losses on London index April 26, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 skidded lower today despite a decent batch of results pumping up banks and house builders. The capital’s premier index lost 0.49 per cent to close at 7,852.63 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, edged 0.04 per cent lower to [...]
Is the CBI is “finished”? City grandee and AJ Bell chair Baroness Morrissey says so April 25, 2023 The crisis-hit CBI is “finished” after the organisation admitted it failed to sack workers who sexually harassed female colleagues, City boss Baroness Helena Morrissey has said. Firms have deserted the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) in their droves after two rape allegations and a series of claims of a toxic work culture surfaced, reported by [...]
Hunt for next Natwest chair begins as Howard Davies says he will step down by July 2024 April 25, 2023 The hunt for Natwest’s next chair is underway after Howard Davies told shareholders today he will be stepping down. Speaking at the bank’s AGM in Edinburgh, Davies said he expects a replacement to be found and handover completed by July next year. Noting that nine years was the maximum recommended tenure under the UK corporate [...]
Not funding Sizewell C risks UK’s green ambitions, nuclear industry warns April 24, 2023 The nuclear industry has pushed the environmental benefits of Sizewell C amid reports the project is struggling to lure UK investors.
Standard Chartered, Barclays, Natwest kick off UK bank earnings this week with interest income back in focus April 24, 2023 Profit looks set to increase at the UK’s largest lenders as they line up to report first quarter earnings over the coming two weeks. The FTSE banking giants have seen relative stability over the last few weeks following the extreme volatility in March, but this stability means investors will refocus their attention on other major [...]
Hunt for Britain’s next top lobby begins as CBI crumbles under scandal April 24, 2023 The hunt for the heir to the CBI’s throne has begun as industry chiefs begin casting around for Britain’s next top business lobby organisation. It comes as the “hopefully temporary” stand-in group BizUK emerged this weekend, in a bid to help steer political parties’ approach to industry ahead of the general election. City grandees suggested [...]