London business confidence hits highest level since May last year August 31, 2023 Business confidence in London surged to its highest level since May last year, as firms around the country were increasingly optimistic about the UK economy. Business confidence in London rose 20 points during August to hit 52 per cent, according to the latest Lloyds Business Barometer. Some 56 per cent of firms were confident in [...]
Lloyds rides out end of interest rate spike with bumper profit October 25, 2023 Increasing competition was not enough to stop Lloyds from performing above expectations in the third quarter as the bank continued to benefit from a relatively benign credit environment. In the three months to September, pretax profit hit £1.9bn, more than triple the same period last year and slightly ahead of analyst expectations. Net interest income [...]
City groups call for action to prevent government rail fare hike September 12, 2023 Ticket prices could shoot up eight per cent if the DfT uses the same metric as it did this year to calculate the increase.
FTSE 100 close: London markets storm to two week high August 29, 2023 London’s premier index stormed to a two week high thanks as falling food inflation and hopes of a Chinese stimulus package lifted sentiment. The bluechip FTSE 100 ended 1.7 per cent higher at 7,464.99 while the midcap FTSE 250 rose 1.9 per cent to 18,468.59. Many markets around the world saw strong trading yesterday, when [...]
Hargreaves Lansdown shares surge after bid from private equity giants May 23, 2024 Hargreaves Lansdown has rejected a takeover bid by a consortium of private equity investors including CVC and Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund, the company confirmed today.
London’s West End ‘picking up’ after £102m worth of deals bolsters high street August 23, 2023 The West End showed signs of “picking up” in July as demand from businesses to secure a spot in London’s premier shopping district led to a cluster of five deals totalling £102.2m taking place. So far this year some 58 property transactions have taken place and turnover year to date has reached £1.92bn. This is [...]
Spring Budget 2024: What are business groups lobbying for? February 29, 2024 Firms up and down the UK are waiting in anticipation for Jeremy Hunt and the Treasury to reveal the contents of next week’s Spring Budget.
Natwest shareholders approve proposal to buy back 15 per cent of shares from government April 23, 2024 Natwest shareholders have approved the bank's proposal to buy more of its stock from the government to accelerate its privatisation, potentially leaving the Treasury with fewer shares to offer retail investors.
London: West End and Knightsbridge urge Hunt to relax Sunday trading laws to bring in £350m extra March 13, 2023 The West End and Knightsbridge have urged the chancellor to relax Sunday trading restrictions and help them rake in an estimated £350m a year. The duo have submitted a joint proposal to Jeremy Hunt ahead of this week’s budget, urging the government to relax Sunday trading laws within the popular London districts in an effort [...]
Commuter numbers into City of London nearly double with Wednesdays and Thursdays busiest August 12, 2022 Commuter numbers into the City of London have nearly doubled since last year and the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions in England, according to new data from mobile operator O2. The network said the data – which it gathered based on connections to O2 mobile masts in major commuter, hospitality and retail hubs – had found [...]