Ashtead launches buyback amid FTSE 100 departure December 11, 2024 FTSE 100 giant Ashtead has launched a $1.5bn (£1.2bn) share buyback after announcing yesterday it would be switching its primary listing to the US. In a stock exchange notice today, the construction equipment firm said it had entered into an agreement with Barclays to buy back up to 65m shares over the next 18 months. [...]
Cohort’s order book hits record amid booming defence spending December 11, 2024 AIM-listed defence group Cohort has reported strong half-year results, attributing its performance to conflicts in Europe and the Middle East and “heightened international tensions” in the Asia-Pacific region. The group, which owns six defence companies including Chess, EID, and SEA, recorded a 25 per cent year-on-year increase in revenue for the six months to 31 [...]
Vodafone hit with £120m legal action by UK franchisees December 11, 2024 A group of Vodafone franchisees across the UK have launched a multi-million pound legal action against the telecoms giant over "bad faith" business practices
Tui profit jumps but growth set to slow December 11, 2024 Shares in Tui fell on Wednesday despite full-year profit rising by a third on strong demand for its wide-ranging travel offering.
HSBC plots $3bn cost savings in new chief’s restructuring December 11, 2024 HSBC is reportedly hoping to realise at least $3bn of cost savings as part of its biggest restructuring in a decade under new chief executive Georges Elhedery. Europe’s biggest lender aims to complete its revamp by next June, Bloomberg News reported. The overhaul will see the London-based lender reorganise into four new divisions and split [...]
S&U says Budget and motor finance scandal weighing on performance December 11, 2024 S&U said the Budget and a scandal over motor finance commissions have dragged on the specialist lender’s financial performance. Anthony Coombs, a former Conservative MP who has been S&U’s chair for the last 16 years, argued Labour’s first Budget had “curtailed the sector’s growth ambitions and cast doubt over the new government’s plans to ‘Get [...]
Heathrow Airport to cap off year in record style December 11, 2024 Heathrow said it served 6.5m passengers in November and on Wednesday forecast December would also be a record breaker.
British American Tobacco’s smokeless gamble starts to pay off December 11, 2024 Pall Mall and Lucky Strike owner British American Tobacco (BAT) said today its shift to smokeless products was yielding strong results as it waited for further updates on its legal action in Canada. In a trading update, the company confirmed it would deliver full-year results in line with guidance, as trading in the second half [...]
The battle of ideas is more important than ever December 11, 2024 One of the features of modern politics is just how reactionary it is; political leaders jump from issue to issue as the agenda dictates while the media (understandably) follows or leads this trend. For those who keep a close eye on politics it can therefore feel as if life is a series of tactical battles [...]
Motor finance scandal: FCA boss tells unhappy customers to complain December 10, 2024 Treasury Committee chair Dame Meg Hillier on Tuesday described the ongoing saga over the sale of car finance as "one unholy mess."