FTSE 100 round up: Smurfit Kappa, Kingfisher, Whitbread, BT Group and Mediclinic among biggest risers May 25, 2018 The FTSE 100 closed up 20 points today on 7,737 after a late rally. That marked a slight fall on last week when the market closed on 7,778 points. The biggest risers were paper giant Smurfit Kappa, Telecoms company BT, B&Q owner Kingfisher, hospitality company Whitbread and hospital group Mediclinic, which all added at least [...]
Three in 10 FTSE 100 companies cut executive pensions as investor pressure mounts August 28, 2019 Three in 10 FTSE 100 companies have pledged to cut their executives’ pension payments in response to pressure from shareholders, as new data reveals that investor rebellions are on the rise. Research published today by the Investment Association shows that 30 companies on the index have made significant changes to executive pensions during this year’s [...]
Labour isn’t even trying to make its slapdash sums add up December 3, 2019 General Elections are always an uncomfortable period for those of us who like our facts straight and our figures honest. All too often, politicians of all stripes seem to be treating the Liberal Democrats’ infamous bar charts not as a scandal, but an inspiration. Even by modern standards, however, there is something rather special about [...]
British Gas owner Centrica ‘to cut dividend and sell off oil and gas business’ July 21, 2019 Centrica is said to be planning to cut its dividend and start looking for a buyer for its oil and gas business. The British Gas owner is reportedly planning to cut its payout in a bid to keep its credit rating. It would join the likes of Vodafone, Marks & Spencer and BT in doing [...]
Women’s Super League season preview: New-look division confident of building on World Cup platform September 5, 2019 The Women’s Super League kicks off a new season on Saturday looking to build on the success of the summer’s World Cup and there is every indication it is on the right path. Even before a ball has been kicked the signs are good. The 2019-20 campaign is the first with Barclays as the title [...]
MPs to question Huawei as part of investigation into 5G security risks June 7, 2019 MPs are set to question Huawei on Monday as part of an investigation into the security risks that the Chinese telecom giants could pose to the UK. A leak in April from the National Security Council meeting revealed that Theresa May had approved Huawei’s bid to help build Britain’s 5G network, despite the USA’s claims [...]
Sterling rises as Supreme Court scuppers Boris Johnson’s Brexit plans September 24, 2019 Sterling has risen around half a cent against the dollar after the Supreme Court ruled that Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s move to prorogue parliament was unlawful. GBP rose to $1.2487 after Lady Hale announced the 11 justices’ unanimous decision that “parliament is not prorogued”. Read more: Bercow recalls MPs as Supreme Court rules parliament suspension [...]
General Election 2019: Sadiq Khan’s Christmas wishlist December 8, 2019 Election season can be a fruitful time for local councils to stick their hands out and plead with prospective governments to turn on the taps for their part of the country. With Labour and the Conservatives both keen to spend big, and prove to voters austerity is over, this may be the best opportunity in [...]
Galliford Try joins the Winters of discontent October 31, 2019 Standard Chartered, Lloyds Banking Group, Aviva and BT Group: even the Investment Association (IA) must have been surprised by the rich seam of targets it uncovered when it launched a campaign to curb the lavish pension perks enjoyed by the chief executives of listed companies. A quarter of FTSE 100 bosses have seen their pension [...]
May called business chiefs to reassure over latest change in Brexit negotiation plan April 3, 2019 Theresa May last night tried to reassure bosses at some of Britain’s biggest firms, including Rolls-Royce, BT and GlaxoSmithKline, about her latest change in direction on Brexit negotiations. The PM hosted a call with the co-chairs of her business councils last night, shortly after announcing she would look for another extension to Article 50 so [...]