The business case for boardroom diversity: Diverse boards outperform male-only peers by £430bn September 30, 2015 Boardroom diversity boosts business, as diverse boards are outperforming their all-male peers by billions. Listed companies in the UK, US and India with at least one woman on their board beat male-only boards by $430bn in 2014, according to a report from Grant Thornton which measured the difference in returns on assets. Although this isn’t [...]
British retailer Next is the latest FTSE giant to invite companies to compete for its audit contract September 13, 2015 Recent regulatory changes have seen blue-chip companies enter an audit merry-go-round, with big names like Shell, British American Tobacco, Vodafone and RBS changing accountants. PwC, the market leader, is expected to lose out under the new rules, but chairman Ian Powell commented: “It’s obviously a challenge to the business, but actually our experience so far [...]
Business is in denial about the true likelihood of Brexit January 5, 2016 What are the economic implications of Brexit? Pro and anti-EU camps have been trading statistics for years about the number of jobs or level of exports linked to EU membership. It is a theoretical debate but, if Britain does vote to leave the EU, it will become very real. Most recent opinion polls have showed [...]
Week ahead: Data set to steer the FTSE after four day rising streak May 30, 2016 Markets are set to be moved by data this week after the FTSE 100 posted its biggest weekly gain since mid-April last week. The blue-chip index closed at 6,270.79 on Friday, a fourth straight day of gains and up two per cent on the week. The FTSE’s winning run is largely due to an oil [...]
Wolseley hits FTSE despite recovery in mining sector – London Report September 30, 2015 BRITAIN’S leading share index fell yesterday, with a rebound for the mining sector failing to offset the impact of a cut in revenue growth prospects from plumbing supplies group Wolseley and the ripple effect from a US healthcare sell-off. The FTSE 100 index was down 0.8 per cent at 5,909.24 points at its close, underperforming [...]
UK defined benefit pension scheme deficit worse than a year ago, finds JLT Employee Benefits November 2, 2015 The deficit for all private sector defined benefit pension schemes in the UK was an estimated £228bn at the end of October, according to figures from JLT Employee Benefits released today. By comparison, the deficit at the end of October 2014 was £208bn. JLT Employee Benefits estimates that total defined benefit pension liabilities for the [...]
City Moves for 10 December 2015 | Who’s switching jobs December 9, 2015 DELOITTE Business advisory firm Deloitte has appointed Andy Lees as a partner in its financial services team. He joins from Capgemini, the French management consulting corporation, where he was UK chief executive of its financial services business. Prior to this, Andy worked for Atos Consulting as a managing partner, after spending many years at KPMG [...]
At the close: FTSE falls after oil price drop erases earlier gains May 23, 2016 A meandering start to the week saw the FTSE 100 climb strongly shortly after the open only to fall back before lunch time. The blue-chip index ended the day at 6,136.43, down 0.32 per cent from yesterday's close price. The falling oil price, down over one per cent and moving away from the psychologically important $50 per [...]
FTSE-listed miners Glencore, Anglo American, BHP Biliton and Antofagasta’s share prices rattled by weak Chinese data October 13, 2015 Shares in London-listed miners were rattled this morning after Chinese imports slipped 20 per cent last month, reinforcing fears that the country's economy is losing momentum more quickly than initially thought. Glencore fell 5.1 per cent to 114.95p per share, Anglo American slipped 2.5 per cent to 675.15p per share, BHP Billiton fell 1.87 per cent to 1,155.50p per share and [...]
FTSE 100 falls after interest rates are left on hold – London Report November 6, 2015 The Bank of England’s (BoE) decision to keep interest rates at record lows for the 80th month wasn’t able to prevent the FTSE closing down last night, finishing with a loss of 0.8 per cent at 6,364.9 points. The FTSE had been trading in negative territory throughout the morning ahead the BoE’s announcement but rallied [...]