Ericsson boosted by margin growth as China 5G tensions mount October 21, 2020 Ericsson today reported better-than-expected earnings for the third quarter as higher margins and the rollout of 5G in China helped boost trading. Shares in the Swedish telecoms group were up more than seven per cent today as its strategy of improving profitability saw gross margins hit their highest level in 14 years. Adjusted revenue grew [...]
FCA gets green light to take insurance giants to Supreme Court over Corona policies October 5, 2020 A High Court in London approved the FCA’s request to let the Supreme Court decide on the matter in which the market regulator is seeking clarification on the wording of numerous insurance policies in relation to claims filed as a result of the pandemic.
Watchdog accuses three construction suppliers of forming a cartel to keep prices up April 9, 2019 The competition watchdog has found that three construction suppliers colluded to form a cartel and keep prices up. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said its investigation into groundworks suppliers MGF, Vp and Mabey Hire has provisionally found that the trio broke competition law. Read more: Game over? Watchdog to probe video gaming industry It [...]
Why everyone’s talking about hydrogen January 14, 2021 What is all the excitement about? Renewable energy can and will decarbonise power generation. Renewable energy and batteries can and will decarbonise the automotive sector. But these technologies will not be as viable for aviation, shipping, commercial vehicles, steel or fertiliser manufacturing. In all of these vital industries it looks as though hydrogen will be [...]
From energy to insurance: How Open Banking could fix the loyalty penalty headache July 29, 2019 You don’t get to be Prime Minister without having a few political gifts. One of Theresa May’s was her ability to spot the issues that people cared about – even if she found it harder to come up with effective ways of improving them. That was why her maiden speech outside Downing Street was so [...]
Competition watchdog warns holiday booking sites over trip cancellation costs April 17, 2019 The UK’s competition watchdog has issued a warning to holiday booking websites to make customer terms and conditions clear. A total of one in five customers who had cancelled a booking in the past felt they had been treated unfairly, a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) survey found, as the regulator told travel businesses to [...]
KPMG examining audit spin-off in wake of damning report from MPs April 8, 2019 Big Four accounting firm KPMG is reportedly planning an overhaul of its UK business in the wake of political pressure and a wave of scandals. KPMG could split its UK audit practice from its wider UK business, The Times reported. Read more: MPs call for full breakup of audit’s Big Four in wake of scandals [...]
The fight for the future of British fish and seafood February 15, 2021 As the fishy issue of seafood continues to cloud the waters between the EU and post-Brexit Britain, fishermen and suppliers are clamouring to reinvent the industry. Local & Independent has launched a Be Unshellfish campaign highlighting the difficulties faced by fishermen and explaining how both professional chefs and consumers can buy direct from the nets. [...]
Challenger audit firms prep for forced audit separation January 29, 2021 Challenger audit firms are readying themselves for audit separation, a requirement not yet expected of them, but one they see as inevitable in the future. Last summer audit regulator the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) ordered the Big Four firms – Deloitte, KPMG, PwC and EY – to separate their audit units from the rest of their [...]
Rentokil set to continue acquisition spree while organic growth continues April 18, 2019 Pest control expert Rentokil Initial said this morning it is planning to continue an acquisition-heavy strategy and is likely to spend between £200m and £250m on takeovers this year. The firm showed 4.9 per cent growth from takeovers in the first three months of the year, while organic revenue grew at four per cent. Read [...]