How much are stamps? First and second-class postage will rise in March at inflation-busting rates February 27, 2015 Inflation may be at a record low, but that’s not holding back Royal Mail. First and second-class stamps are going up by a penny from the end of March, the postal company has revealed. It takes the price of a first class stamp to 63p and second class to 54p. That’s a rise of 1.6 [...]
IAG share price soars after Iberia turnaround and British Airways profit deliver record results February 27, 2015 The figures International Airlines Group's stock rose more than five per cent in early trading after the group which owns carriers British Airways and Iberia, among others, announced a 95.3 per cent rise in operating profit after exceptional items in 2014 to €1.03bn (£750m), from €527m last year. The group now expects to make operating [...]
Quindell share price plummets as it asks for patience as it conducts independent review February 27, 2015 Shares in embattled insurance claims processor Quindell opened 10 per cent lower after it asked for patience from its shareholders while it completes an independent review. The Aim-listed company, whose share price leapt last year before losing 90 per cent of its value, said the review was taking longer than expected because of "the high [...]
Lloyds share price edges up as it resumes dividend payments for the first time in six years February 27, 2015 The figures Shares in Lloyds Banking Group edged up just under two per cent this morning, after it announced it will start paying dividends for the first time since the financial crisis began back in 2008. The part state-owned bank reported profits before tax of £1.7bn – significantly up from last year's £415m. Dividend payments [...]
Tesco risks Cable’s wrath as two women step down from board February 26, 2015 TWO OF Tesco’s three female board members are leaving the troubled supermarket. Jacqueline Tammenoms Bakker, who has been a director for six years, will retire at the end of Tesco’s financial year, which is on Saturday. Olivia Garfield is stepping down at the same time, after nearly two years at Tesco, to concentrate fully on [...]
Surveys reveal UK consumers are optimistic on the economy February 26, 2015 CONSUMER confidence is at pre-recession levels, new figures show. The consumer confidence index released today by German market research company GFK maintained a score of one for February. At the peak of the financial crisis, the index hit minus 40, but is now at levels last seen in 2005. Another measure of consumer confidence released [...]
Bank of England trains 150 staff to monitor forex markets properly after rate-rigging scandal February 26, 2015 More than 150 Bank of England staff have been retrained to keep an eye on foreign exchange markets properly, in the wake of the manipulation scandal. Although a review led by Lord Grabiner found the Bank’s staff had not done anything wrong, officials are concerned that they did not uncover the benchmark manipulation which led [...]
Playtech share price soars to all-time high as revenue and profits hit new record February 26, 2015 Gambling software firm Playtech posted record annual revenue and profits yesterday on the back of its acquisitions and partnerships, pushing its shares to an all-time high. The company reported a 24 per cent increase in revenue to €457m (£332.4m) and an adjusted profit up 28 per cent to €194m during the year to 31 December. [...]
Bank of England puts and end to “governors’ eyebrows and fireside chats” in transparency drive February 26, 2015 Transparency is to be the keyword for the Bank of England’s dealings with the City. The Bank is on a mission to overhaul how it interacts with the City in the wake of its embroilment in the forex scandal. In a speech this evening, Minouche Shafik, the BoE’s deputy governor for markets and banking will [...]
Tesco is losing directors Jacqueline Tammenoms Bakker and Olivia Garfield – meaning it has just one female board member February 26, 2015 Two of Tesco's three female board members are leaving the troubled supermarket this week. Jacqueline Tammenoms Bakker, who has been a director for six years, will retire at the end of Tesco's financial year, which is on Saturday. Olivia Garfield is stepping down at the same time, after nearly two years at the grocer [...]