Swedish prosecutors drop Julian Assange rape case November 19, 2019 Swedish prosecutors have dropped their investigation into an alleged rape by Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. Assange was accused of rape in Sweden in 2010. He then fled to the UK where he took up residence in the Ecuadorian embassy. Read more: Julian Assange extradition hearing set for February 2020 The probe had been shelved 2017 [...]
FTSE 100 rallies on trader optimism over US-China deal November 19, 2019 European stock markets rallied this morning as investors reacted well to news from the US-China trade talks. Britain’s FTSE 100 was 1.21 per cent higher at midday, while the German Dax had risen 1.01 per cent. The pan-European Euronext 100 was 0.27 per cent higher. Read more: Donald Trump defends China trade war but says [...]
UK manufacturing sector continues decline despite some signs of life November 19, 2019 UK manufacturing output continued to fall in November, a closely-watched survey has shown, but there were signs that the sector’s fortunes could be improving. Orders picked up by more than expected from the decade low seen in October. But they stayed well below their historical average, the CBI said in its latest industrial trends survey. [...]
Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia’s fintech startup Snoop gets watchdog approval November 19, 2019 Fintech startup Snoop, launched by ex-Virgin Money boss Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia, has won approval from the UK’s financial watchdog to handle customer data, a key step in the company’s ambitions. Snoop is an app that pledges to use consumer’s financial data to deliver “personalised insights to help consumers avoid rip-offs and make the most of [...]
Stock markets mixed as traders await details from US-China talks November 19, 2019 Asian shares had a mixed time last night as traders held back from making big moves until there is more clarity over the US-China trade negotiations. European stock markets have opened broadly higher this morning following a subdued day yesterday. Read more: Donald Trump defends China trade war but says a deal ‘close’ China’s Shanghai [...]
The economy is slowing – can central bankers fight the next downturn? November 19, 2019 The global economy has not had a good year, to put it mildly. Trade-war uncertainty and Chinese weakness have taken a heavy toll, with growth in 2019 set to be the worst since the financial crisis, according to the International Monetary Fund. Such an environment has produced many doomsters and gloomsters, to use Boris Johnson’s [...]
Jo Swinson says Lib Dems are new ‘party of business’ November 18, 2019 Jo Swinson has said the Liberal Democrats are now the “natural party of business” as she lambasted the economic policies and Brexit stances of the Conservatives and Labour. The third party leader to address the CBI conference in London today, Swinson said her controversial policy to revoke Brexit would allow a Lib Dem government to [...]
Jeremy Corbyn ‘investment blitz’ pitch to businesses draws frosty response November 18, 2019 Jeremy Corbyn has said an “investment blitz” would create “immense” opportunities for businesses under a Labour government in a pitch to corporate Britain. Speaking at the CBI’s annual conference in London, Corbyn sought to appeal to firms by saying Labour’s Brexit policy would provide “the certainty of a customs union and access to the single [...]
UK tech firm IQE’s shares plunge after second revenue warning November 18, 2019 Shares in UK technology company IQE have plunged over 20 per cent after the firm issued its second revenue warning in five months. Read more: Shares in chipmaker IQE plummet as it warns Huawei ban will hit profits IQE, which makes parts for chips used in products made by Apple and various Asian manufacturers, said [...]
US condemns ‘unjustified use of force’ in Hong Kong after night of violence November 18, 2019 The US has condemned the “unjustified use of force” in Hong Kong after the city’s police force attempted to storm a major university on a night of fire and violence. Read more: China condemns ‘attack’ on Hong Kong minister in London Hong Kong police laid siege to the Polytechnic University last night and on Monday [...]