Editor’s diary: Threats to the City’s dominance come from home and abroad October 21, 2016 This week one of our front page stories caused quite a stir in parliament. Wednesday's paper reported on the growing levels of unease in the City regarding the way in which some people in government view financial services and its place in upcoming Brexit negotiations. We quoted a number of senior sources, all of whom [...]
Unite to begin balloting Gatwick staff on strike action over closure of pensions scheme October 20, 2016 Unite has announced it will begin balloting 1,800 members for strike action next Friday over the closure of Gatwick’s final salary pension scheme. Surface transport workers, firefighters and security officers are to be balloted, following a 96 per cent vote in favour of doing so in a recent consultative ballot. It will close on 16 [...]
Google Pixel review: Quite comfortably the greatest Android phone ever made October 19, 2016 Every Android phone has come with some compromise built in. Whereas the iPhone owes much of its popularity to Apple’s ability to control every last design detail – creating software and hardware that works in perfect harmony – Google has always had to rely on third-party manufacturers to build its phones. Imperfection’s gnarled fingers tended [...]
Leeds wealth manager aims to take revenues north with London firm takeover October 18, 2016 Leeds-based wealth management company the Private Office (TPO) has acquired a London financial planning firm. The cash and equity deal for PQR Financial Planning will strengthen TPO’s London presence and create a platform for further growth, the firm said. The combined business, which also includes TPO sister company SavingsChampion.co.uk, will have a turnover of £8.5m. [...]
Tech sector drives demand for London’s offices post-referendum October 18, 2016 The tech sector is driving a return to health for the commercial property sector in central London. According to Knight Frank, there was demand for 9.5m square feet (sq ft) of office space in central London between June and September. This is ahead of the long-term quarterly average of 7.5m sq ft. Read more: How [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open October 18, 2016 Inflation in the UK has jumped, and new loans in China grew by more than expected. Here's what you need to know before the US market open at 2:30pm. US futures are pointing higher ahead of the open. The S&P is up by 0.54 per cent, while the Nasdaq is 0.62 per cent higher. The Dow [...]
Utilitywise share price buzzes on double-digit turnover and 97 per cent cut to net debt October 18, 2016 Shares in utility cost management consultancy Utilitywise rose this morning after the company posted double-digit revenue growth and announced the appointment of a new chief financial officer. The figures Revenue at the group rose 22 per cent to £84.4m in the year to 31 July, up from £69.1m in 2015. Profit before tax grew by seven per [...]
Inflation surges to two-year high as economists warn of huge price hikes October 18, 2016 Prices are rising at their fastest pace in nearly two years as sterling's dramatic post-referendum demise looks set to bite consumers over the coming months. Inflation came in at one per cent in September on the consumer prices index (CPI), the Office for National Statistics (ONS) declared this morning – a big leap from the 0.6 per [...]
Former leadership hopeful Steven Woolfe quits ‘ungovernable’ Ukip October 17, 2016 Ukip's Steven Woolfe has announced he is quitting the party, deeming it "ungovernable". Woolfe said the party "lacks direction, it lacks a purpose and it lacks any semblance of professional organisation". He said he will now sit as an independent MEP in the European Parliament. [infographic id="922"] Earlier today, party chairman Paul Oakden said Ukip may [...]
Construction industry still struggling for momentum October 14, 2016 British builders downed tools over the summer, as construction output missed economists' expectations in the wake of the EU referendum. Activity in the sector, which accounts for around six per cent of the UK economy, dropped by 1.5 per cent between July and August, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) confirmed this morning. The fall [...]