Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered Labour’s first Budget in 14 years, announcing £40bn of tax rises, Central London Alliance comments
WPP mergers fall amid restructuring plan despite increase in deals across sector January 16, 2019 Advertising giant WPP saw its M&A activity halve last year, despite a rise in the total number of deals among marketing communication firms. WPP completed 15 deals in 2018, down from 30 the year before, according to research by Results International. Read more: Brexit, ad fraud and #MeToo – what does the future year hold for [...]
Mark Kleinman’s big predictions for the Square Mile in 2019 January 11, 2019 Sir Martin Sorrell’s WPP exit, Unilever’s HQ U-turn, Melrose’s swoop for GKN: 2018 was a year full of surprises in the City. And while forecasting might be a fool’s errand, here are 10 predictions for the year ahead. •Theresa May will decisively lose next week’s “meaningful vote” on Brexit: that’s not a punt that will [...]
Do not succumb to the ‘Fat Cat Friday’ outrage January 3, 2019 As if Greggs’ vegan sausage rolls hadn’t prompted enough misplaced shock and outrage for the start of a new year, you can expect more of the same this morning when campaigners declare it to be “Fat Cat Friday”. The High Pay Centre, which opposes current levels of executive remuneration, calculates that by this afternoon a [...]
Stock predictions 2019: Which stocks and shares will do well this year? January 2, 2019 After a tumultuous year in the markets with Brexit uncertainty, the threat of trade war and rapidly changing consumer habits, the FTSE 100 suffered its worst year since the financial crisis in 2018, ending it 12.5 per cent down. While there is no sign that 2019 will be any less eventful, with the date Britain [...]
Sir Martin Sorrell’s S4 Capital ready to compete ‘at the highest levels’ after confirming Mightyhive takeover December 24, 2018 Sir Martin Sorrell’s new company S4 Capital has completed a merger with US advertising group Mightyhive and is now “in a position to compete at the highest levels.” The company announced the closing of the merger today and welcomed three new board members, Mightyhive principals Pete Kim and Chris Martin and Stanhope chief executive Daniel [...]
FTSE 100 falls in Christmas Eve trading after Wall Street selloff dashing hopes of a Santa rally December 24, 2018 The FTSE 100 has fallen in Christmas Eve trading as Wall Street troubles dash hopes of a late Santa rally. The blue chip index dropped 0.8 per cent in early trading at the beginning of a half-day session. A partial US government shutdown, trade tensions between the US and China and reports President Donald Trump [...]
FTSE 100 and sterling climb on Brexit delay possibility and US-China trade tensions easing December 12, 2018 The FTSE 100 is up one per cent today despite blue-on-blue infighting in the Tory party seeing Prime Minister Theresa May face a threat of a no confidence vote this evening. Conservatives will vote in a secret ballot tonight on whether they wish May to remain leader or whether she should stand down, after she [...]
FTSE and sterling rebound from lows caused by Brexit deal vote delay December 11, 2018 The FTSE 100 has rebounded this morning after yesterday's decision to delay the Brexit deal vote sent the index tumbling. The blue chip index has risen 1.2 per cent this morning to 6,800 points – as high as it was before the vote was delayed – as markets began to stabilise after a tumultuous start [...]
WPP to slash 3,500 jobs as it launches new streamlining strategy December 11, 2018 Advertising group WPP is cutting 3,500 jobs as it restructures the business and shifts its focus to technology in a bid to stave off competition from tech giants. WPP today said it will spend £300m over the next three years as it simplifies the business, aiming to make annual savings of £275m by 2021. The [...]
Sir Martin Sorrell fights hard to remain king of adland December 6, 2018 Sir Martin Sorrell channelled his inner Frank Sinatra recently and proclaimed that the success of his new venture S4 Capital would be “the best form of revenge” against WPP. “I want to build the best,” the businessman said of his new advertising outfit, which he previously called a “peanut” in comparison to the global scale [...]