Dealmaking hopes snap five-day losing streak for the FTSE – London Report July 28, 2015 HOPES for corporate deal-making and robust corporate results offset market turmoil in China and worries about emerging-market growth yesterday. The FTSE 100 index closed up 0.8 percent at 6,555.28 points, while the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index rose one per cent. RSA Insurance soared 18 per cent on news Zurich Insurance was considering a takeover bid. [...]
Mobile network switching is about to get much easier thanks to Ofcom July 28, 2015 Switching your mobile network provider is about to get much easier as the regulator looks at changing the rules because companies are currently making it too difficult switch. Ofcom last month introduced new rules making it easier for people to switch broadband providers and is now looking at a similar move when it comes to [...]
Best UK mobile network: EE crowned fastest and most reliable mobile operator against Vodafone, Three and O2 in study by RootMetrics July 28, 2015 Here’s some news that’ll put a smile on any EE customer’s face: the operator has been crowned the best-performing mobile network in the UK in an independent study by RootMetrics. EE won a clean sweep of all categories, providing customers with both the best speed and reliability. But competitor Three proved a strong rival, coming [...]
Royal Mail’s share price plummets after Ofcom claims it “breached competition law” over delivery service changes July 28, 2015 Royal Mail's share price plummeted three per cent in early trading after Ofcom claimed it had “breached competition law” by behaving in a way that “amounted to unlawful discrimination” against competitors. The communications watchdog has issued a strongly worded “statement of objections” as part of an ongoing investigation prompted by complaints against Royal Mail [...]
Royal Mail posts flat revenue as letter sending continues to fall July 21, 2015 The figures The continued drop in letter-sending held back Royal Mail in the three months to 28 June, with revenue at the FTSE 100-listed company's core parcels and letters business falling two per cent, primarily thanks to a five per cent fall in the addressed letter volumes in the UK. Even the benefit of the [...]
Ofcom says BT merger with EE could harm other mobile firms July 19, 2015 Telecoms giant BT could be facing double trouble from the industry regulator, after Ofcom revealed concerns surrounding its proposed merger with mobile network EE. The planned £12.5bn takeover is being probed by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which issued an update regarding the scope of its investigation at the end of last week. Ofcom [...]
Royal Mail’s share price just fell off a cliff as Ofcom revealed the scope of its review July 17, 2015 Royal Mail's share price has dropped this morning as Ofcom revealed the scope of its wide-ranging review of regulation for the business. Shares, which had been trading slightly up, suddenly fell off a cliff as the watchdog released its “discussion document” settting out its remit for the review. Royal Mail's share price was down [...]
BBC shows the strain over Tory reform plan: “Aunty has very much pulled up her sleeves” July 16, 2015 The BBC ramped up its fight with the government yesterday as a groundbreaking Conservative review threatened the broadcaster’s size, funding, content and regulation. Culture secretary John Whittingdale revealed a green paper on the future of the corporation, questioning whether it should aim to be “all things to all people”, attacking its “regressive” licence fee scheme [...]
Ofcom communciations review: What next for BT, Openreach, Sky and the telecoms market? July 16, 2015 While Ofcom’s latest move is no doubt being celebrated as a win by BT’s more than vocal rivals, it’s by no means a foregone conclusion that BT is heading for a breakup. Last time Ofcom reviewed competition, BT was forced to create Openreach in order to give access to its broadband network to rivals, something Ofcom [...]
BT share price dips as Ofcom considers spinning-off Openreach July 16, 2015 It's been months in the offing and the cause of various, vociferous complaints – but now communications watchdog Ofcom has finally come out with it: it's considering breaking up BT. In an outline of a review this morning the regulator said separating BT from its Openreach network "could deliver competition or wider benefits for end [...]