Old Mutual becomes the latest company to say it should be able to carry on as planned despite Brexit vote ahead of its AGM June 28, 2016 Old Mutual today became the latest in a string of companies to come forward and say the Brexit vote shouldn't affect its plans. Referring to plans announced earlier this year to split the company into four different businesses, Old Mutual chief executive Bruce Hemphill said: "Increased market volatility following the referendum decision to leave the EU does [...]
Sterling sinks below $1.30 for the first time in over three decades July 5, 2016 Sterling has been knocked back today, tumbling against the dollar and the euro as the ramifications of the Brexit vote continue to filter through. The pound was off by two per cent against the dollar, falling to exactly $1.2997 shortly after the London market close. It bounced after falling under the psychological barrier, climbing back to dizzy highs [...]
Wimbledon prize money: Andy Murray and Milos Raonic go head-to-head for £2m earnings boost July 10, 2016 Both Andy Murray and Milos Raonic can pocket the biggest prize of their career to date with victory in the Wimbledon men's singles final today. This year's champion will receive £2m, making it the richest men's final in the competition's history. The loser gets to console himself with a £1m pay cheque — the first time the All England Club has offered the runner-up a seven [...]
Theresa May’s industrial strategy isn’t about picking winners – but taking control of Britain’s economic destiny post-Brexit November 1, 2016 Purists likely shuddered at Theresa May’s commitment to a “proper, modern industrial strategy” as she reshaped the Business Department in July. Three decades of free market orthodoxy have convinced many business folk that a fully-fledged plan for industry represents a throwback to the 1970s, a decade when sickly British Leyland came to symbolise all that [...]
Here’s the UK’s “crash for cash” insurance fraud capital March 31, 2016 It may be a central part of the Midlands engine, but Birmingham also tops a different kind of motor-centric list. Birmingham has today been named the UK's crash for cash capital, with one out of every four fraudulent claims occurring in this city. The research by insurance company Aviva discovered that crash for cash incidences, in which fraudsters [...]
Aviva’s UK life business leads positive results August 7, 2015 AVIVA boss Mark Wilson said yesterday that he is confident that the restructure he has been leading at the insurer since 2013 is progressing well, with the integration of Friends Life already ahead of schedule. Reporting on the six months to 30 June, Wilson said the period marked “10 consecutive quarters of growth”, adding: “All [...]
City Moves for 1 August 2016 | Who’s switching jobs August 1, 2016 Independent Oil and Gas Independent Oil and Gas has appointed David Peattie as chairman. David has 35 years’ industry experience and was most recently the CEO of Fairfield Energy, an oil & gas company owned by a syndicate of North American and European private equity investors, led by Riverstone and Warburg Pincus. David began his [...]
Live: The spring of shareholder discontent – Weir Group sees renumeration policy struck out, with only 27.6 voting in favour April 28, 2016 It's springtime, but executives may have felt a chill in the air as they headed off to their companies' AGMs this morning. Hermes Investment Management has said that it opposes the appointment of former chief executive Michael Dobson to the role of chairman at Schroders, remarking that such a move would undermine corporate governance. Although the measure [...]
The Great Fire of London made the city an insurance hub – here’s what we need to do to maintain that status September 2, 2016 This week we’re marking the anniversary of one of London’s defining events: the Great Fire of London, which ravaged the city at the start of September 1666. It was started by nothing more than a fire from an overheated oven at a baker’s shop near London Bridge. The damage was immense. The Association of British [...]
At the close: Sterling and stocks break apart July 5, 2016 In yet more proof the stock markets and the UK economy don't always move in lock-step, the FTSE 100 jumped today, while the pound slumped, and signs of a post-referendum slowdown grew. The index of the UK's top 100 companies started the day down as it looked like the post-referendum bounce was drawing to a [...]