HSBC to overhaul business model as ultra-low interest rates hit profit October 27, 2020 HSBC is planning a coronavirus-induced overhaul of its business model, seeking to shift its main source of income from interest rate to fee-based businesses. Europe’s biggest lender will also accelerate a sweeping cost-cutting programme, despite reporting better-than-expected results for the third quarter. Read more: HSBC ‘to cut 300 jobs’ in overhaul of UK commercial banking [...]
Post Office to axe 600 cash machines October 26, 2020 The Post Office will cut 600 of its free to use cash machines after a decision to take the assets in-house. Over the next four years, the Post Office will invest £16m into 1,400 ATMs across its estate. At the moment, there are 2,000 cash machines at its branches, but these are owned and operated [...]
Shell mulls former BHP chief as new chairman October 25, 2020 Former BHP Billiton boss Sir Andrew Mackenzie is in pole position to become the next chairman of Shell, reports emerged today. Mackenzie joined the Shell board this month as a non-executive director but is expected to move into the chair soon to be vacated by Charles Holliday. The Sunday Telegraph first reported the news. The [...]
Anti-lockdown protest: Thousands march in central London October 24, 2020 Thousands of protesters are marching in central London this afternoon over coronavirus lockdown restrictions. The anti-lockdown protest will be the fourth to take place in the capital since the start of the pandemic. London has recently moved into Tier 2 restrictions, which bans people from socialising indoors with people they do not live with. Photos [...]
MPs ‘seriously concerned’ that British businesses are not ready for Brexit October 23, 2020 The Treasury Committee has written to chancellor Rishi Sunak to express “serious concerns” that an eleventh-hour trade deal with the EU would not give businesses enough time to prepare for Brexit. The select committee said it was left with a “significant number of outstanding questions and issues”, following an evidence session around the UK’s preparedness [...]
Coronavirus: London to lose £10.9bn from tourist spending, Sadiq Khan warns October 23, 2020 London is set to miss out on £10.9bn from a drop in tourist spending as a result of the coronavirus crisis, Sadiq Khan has warned, as footfall in the capital remains well below pre-pandemic levels. Overseas tourists will spend £7.4bn less on goods and services in London this year, while domestic tourists will spend £3.5bn [...]
Shell makes surprise bid for Post Office broadband division October 22, 2020 Oil giant Shell is said to have made a surprise entry into the race to snap up the Post Office’s telecoms division, paving the way for a potential shake-up of the UK broadband market. The FTSE 100 company already has a presence in the telecoms market after taking control of energy and broadband provider First [...]
CANZUK is a cause in need of a champion — enter Jacinda Ardern October 22, 2020 This past weekend’s sweeping victory for New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern brought her Labour Party its largest majority in five decades. Unusually for New Zealand politics, this could mean that Ardern oversees a government without any coalition partners. Yet she appears keen to consider a coalition government nonetheless. It is to that spirit of [...]
UK marketing slump continues after Covid-19 sparks record decline October 22, 2020 British companies reported another “drastic” cut in marketing budgets in the third quarter after the outbreak of coronavirus sparked the largest ever decline in spend. The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted a sharp drop in ad spend across all formats, with negative sentiment leading marketers to slash budgets. A net balance of -41.0 per cent of [...]
Netflix subscriber numbers fall short as Covid-19 lockdown boost fizzles October 20, 2020 Netflix tonight posted the weakest new subscriber numbers in four years as streaming competition increased, lockdowns eased and live sports returned to television. The company added 2.2 million paid Netflix subscribers globally during the quarter to 30 September, missing Wall Street’s target of 3.4 million. Earnings per share also landed below analyst expectations at $1.74. [...]