Robert Walters thankful for overseas operations as it posts record revenue figures but warns on uncertain environment March 15, 2017 Headhunter and outsourcing firm Robert Walters today posted record revenues but warned of an "unpredictable geopolitical environment". Shares rose over one per cent in early trading, with the figures boosted by currency gains from its overseas operations. The figures Revenues grew to £999m, up 23 per cent from £813m in 2015 with gross profit up 19 per [...]
Hikma Pharmaceuticals shares soar and lift FTSE 100 despite fall in profits March 15, 2017 Hikma Pharmaceuticals was the top gainer on the FTSE 100 today as its profit drop was smaller than expected. The figures Hikma's group operating profit stood at $302m (£247.6m), down 21 per cent and down nine per cent in constant currency. Group revenue hit $1.9bn, up 35 per cent and up 39 per cent in constant currency. The group proposed a final dividend [...]
Bank of America has its eye on Ireland for a post-Brexit base, as the country urges others not to engage in a red tape race to the bottom March 14, 2017 A senior executive from Bank of America has revealed today it is considering making Dublin its main EU base if the UK cannot hold onto certain rights, such as passporting, post-Brexit. The announcement came the same day the country's officials pleaded with other nations not to take part in a red tape bonfire following the UK's departure [...]
TP Icap to move client relationships to EU countries as it plans for Brexit March 14, 2017 TP Icap said today it will move client relationships out of the UK as a result of Britain's decision to leave the EU. The broker revealed the plans as it posted better than expected annual results, with shares in the firm falling two per cent in early trading. The figures Tullett Prebon completed its buyout of Icap's [...]
Olympic Stadium investigation: Beancounters net fees, findings to be made public this summer March 13, 2017 The mid-tier accountancy firm undertaking the forensic investigation into the London Stadium overspend will net at least £140,000, according to documents published by City Hall. Moore Stephens was appointed in February to perform a review of how the cost to transform the Olympic Stadium into the multi-use London Stadium increased from an original budget of £115m to £323m. The firm plans to deliver [...]
Tax rise on national insurance “modest but welcome” says IFS on chancellor Philip Hammond’s Budget March 9, 2017 Moves by chancellor Philip Hammond to increase national insurance tax on the self-employed are “modest but welcome”, according to an influential economics think tank. Paul Johnson, head of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), said the tax increase will help “shore up the tax base and create a slightly less unequal playing field.” The increase [...]
Domino’s Pizza Group shares drop after UK like-for-like sales for 2017 miss analyst expectations March 9, 2017 Domino's Pizza Group saw its share slide over 15 per cent this morning after reporting lower-than-expected like-for-like sales in the UK for the first nine weeks of 2017. The figures Sales at Britain's biggest pizza delivery firm's stores open for about two years rose 1.5 per cent during the period, much lower than the 10.5 per cent [...]
Uber bans drivers from using Greyball technology that helps them to dodge investigators March 9, 2017 Uber has banned the use its controversial “Greyball" technology, which helps the drivers dodge undercover investigators. The counter-intelligence programme allows the tech giant to identify undercover officials trying to expose Uber’s operations in cities where it has previously banned. Read more: The worst or best job in tech? Uber's hiring a COO Once identified, the [...]
The chancellor needs more than a rainy day fund to help Britain weather Brexit March 8, 2017 In his final Spring Budget, the chancellor was already weaning his audience from this once important spring affair, with little of significant economic policy substance announced. He was handed a gift by the Office for Budget Responsibility in the form of an upgraded outlook for 2017, in anticipation of more resilient consumer spending, although expectations for [...]
Spring Budget: The OBR is still too pessimistic about UK growth this year March 8, 2017 The biggest story in the Budget wasn’t big news. It had been well flagged in advance that the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) was revising up its GDP growth forecast to 2 per cent in 2017. In November last year, the OBR expected just 1.4 per cent GDP growth this year. HM Treasury’s latest monthly survey [...]