Diageo to appeal ASA ruling on “irresponsible” Parrot Bay advert October 15, 2014 Drinks firm Diageo is planning to appeal the Advertising Standards Authority's ruling that its advert for an alcoholic frozen cocktail could have “strongly” appealed to children. The TV ad, for Parrot Bay Freeze and Squeeze cocktails, was shown at 6pm during the film King Solomon's Mines and featured a colourful animated parrot in a tropical [...]
How high is teen pregnancy in the UK? Rates drop by a quarter, but we’re still in the EU’s top five October 15, 2014 The number of British teenagers giving birth has dropped by a quarter – but the UK is still well above the European Union average. During 2012, the UK birth rate for 15 to 19 year-olds was 19.7 out of 1,000, compared with the EU's average rate of 12.6. But the UK's rate has [...]
Aldermore pulls IPO citing “deteriorating global markets” October 15, 2014 Challenger bank Aldermore has pulled its IPO, citing “the recent deterioration of global equity markets”. City A.M. reported the company was on the brink of rowing back on its plans last night. The flotation, which would have valued the company at £800m, had been hit by choppy and volatile markets, combined with a [...]
Property conference targeted by residents, unions and campaigners hoping to #BlockBoris October 14, 2014 For those planning on attending the annual property conference Mipim this week, the fact it is in dreary old London rather than sunny Cannes is not the only change in normal proceedings. The trade show, which expects to welcome 4,000 property delegates to its Olympia location, is being targeted by groups including anti-gentrification campaigners, empty [...]
Citigroup to exit consumer banking in 11 territories worldwide October 14, 2014 US bank Citigroup is pulling its consumer banking arm out of 11 markets across Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East, it announced today. Consumer franchises in Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, Hungary, Japan, Nicaragua, Panama and Peru, as well as the consumer finance business in Korea, as the [...]
Citigroup to exit consumer banking in 11 territories worldwide October 14, 2014 US bank Citigroup is pulling its consumer banking arm out of 11 markets across Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East, it announced today. Consumer franchises in Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, Hungary, Japan, Nicaragua, Panama and Peru, as well as the consumer finance business in Korea, as the [...]
Global regulator sets out new shadow banking rules October 14, 2014 Multinational regulatory body the Financial Stability Board (FSB) has set out proposals to strengthen rules on short-term lending, affecting both banks and non-banks, as it moves to curb risks in shadow banking. The FSB, which coordinates regulation for the G20 and is headed by Bank of England governor Mark Carney, is concerned that increased [...]
UK house prices grow nearly 12 per cent in a year – but in London it’s closer to 20 per cent October 14, 2014 The average price of a UK house rose by 11.7 per cent in the year to August, with London still leading the way. Figures published by the Office for National Statistics this morning showed that house price inflation was strongest in England, up 12.2 per cent, followed by Northern Ireland, where prices rose 9.6 [...]
Wales’ mobile venture TPO looking to list October 13, 2014 ETHICAL mobile phone company The People’s Operator (TPO) is looking to list in London as it seeks capital to help fund global expansion using a similar model to Wikipedia. The London-based company, which allows users to donate 10 per cent of their monthly bill to charity, is planning to launch on Aim in the next [...]
Will Ebola spread to the UK? Jeremy Hunt says it’s likely we will see “handful” of cases in next few months October 13, 2014 Measures to screen passengers as they enter the UK from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea will be introduced tomorrow, with health secretary Jeremy Hunt saying it is likely the UK will see a “handful” of Ebola cases in the next few months. Hunt was echoing the phrase used this weekend by chief medical officer [...]