After five years the Trans Pacific Partnership deal is nearing completion October 4, 2015 After five years of negotiations the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) between the US and 11 other countries is finally nearing competition following a key breakthrough. The US and Australia made major progress on a conflict over how long a monopoly pharmaceutical companies should be given on new biotech drugs. However officials said that this still needs [...]
Insurer Prudential dusts off plans to leave the UK over EU regulations Solvency II October 4, 2015 One of the UK's largest insurers is reportedly mulling upping sticks in favour of Hong Kong or Singapore ahead of European Union regulations which are set to be introduced next year. Prudential is dusting off plans drawn up over three years ago to move its corporate base out of Britain and into Asia, according to the [...]
Prime minister David Cameron refuses to rule out Brexit ahead of referendum if renegotiation efforts fail October 4, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron has refused to rule out campaigning for a "Brexit" if he fails to renegotiate Britain's ties with the European Union (EU). "If I don't get what I want then I rule nothing out," he told the BBC when asked if he would be ready to lead UK out of the single [...]
Tesco first half results: Three things to expect from half-year interims and Dave Lewis on Wednesday October 4, 2015 Tesco is due to reveal first half results on Wednesday, and just over a year on from the supermarket shocking the City with a quarter of a billion-pound black hole in its financials, all eyes are on how far through it really is in turning things around. With a bulging balance sheet and market share [...]
Grandparents will be able to take paid shared parental leave to look after grandchildren, George Osborne announces October 4, 2015 New parents will be able to share their paternity leave with grandparents under new plans to be announced by the chancellor. Grandparents who are in work will be able to take on childcare for newborns so that parents can return to work, but will pick up paternity leave benefits for doing so. Up to 52 weeks [...]
Secure Income Reit completes £903m loan deal October 2, 2015 Secure Income Reit, led by chairman Martin Moore, has today completed a £903m loan deal in a move that paves the way for the company to start paying out dividends to shareholders. The fixed-rate loan will last 10 years and is secured against the group's £1,3bn property portfolio. Today marks the third drawdown of a three-facility arrangement. The third and final loan is valued at £315.6m, [...]
The Competition and Markets Authority wants to review O2 merger with three October 2, 2015 The UK's competition regulator has asked the European Commission for a review an upcoming deal to create one of the UK's biggest mobile operator to be referred to it. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said that the proposed deal between Hutchinson's Three and Telefonica's O2 threatens to significantly affect competition in the UK mobile markets. This is because a successful [...]
Non-farm payroll: Weak US jobs growth pushes back rate hike expectations October 2, 2015 Lacklustre US jobs growth has stoked concerns over the strength of the US economy and could push back expectations for a widely-anticipated rate hike. The Bureau of Labour Statistics said that the US economy added 142,000 jobs last month, below economists' estimates for 201,000. The August reading was also revised sharply downwards from 170,000 to 135,000. [...]
From the Chinese economy to a US rate rise: Why hot money is pouring out of emerging markets October 2, 2015 China's slowing economy. alongside a looming US rate hike, is creating a headache for emerging markets. Investors feeling the heat are set to pull around $540bn (£355bn) of cash out of emerging markets economies this year, as net flows turn negative for the first time since 1988. Residents sending cash out of the emerging markets has [...]
Volkswagen emissions scandal: UK government confirms customers will not have to pay additional tax on diesel “cheat” cars October 2, 2015 British Volkswagen customers will not have to pay additional taxes if their cars are found to have been fitted with the "detect devices" that allowed vehicles to cheat on emissions tests, the government has confirmed. Customers will not be liable to pay a higher vehicle excise duty on diesel cars that may not actually [...]