Cigarette plain packaging war heating up as new Australian study due for release August 16, 2015 The tobacco industry has hit back at the government’s plan to enforce plain packaging for cigarettes, warning that the ruling will cause a rise in counterfeits being smuggled into the UK. As legal battles rage between the UK government and British American Tobacco, this latest challenge comes after it was revealed yesterday that an official [...]
Most UK tech professionals would consider moving abroad: US, Australia and Canada top of the list August 16, 2015 Silicon Roundabout has proved a lure for many UK tech professionals, but maybe the pull of good coffee and free wifi is wearing off. Nearly three quarters in the industry say they would consider moving abroad for work if the right job came up, according to a poll out today. The figures, based on a [...]
Morrisons nears deal to offload M Local stores August 16, 2015 Morrisons is in talks to sell its convenience stores to the investment firm behind the rescue of Monarch Airlines as the struggling supermarket chain focuses on reviving its core business. The Bradford-based retailer is said to be nearing a deal with a team of industry executives led by Greybull Capital to offload its M Local [...]
Bob Diamond snaps up stake in New York trading outfit South Street August 16, 2015 Former bank chief turned investor Bob Diamond has snapped up a stake in New York-based repo-trading outfit South Street Securities, diversifying his portfolio since his exit from Barclays three years ago. Diamond, who was pressured to bow out of Barclays in the wake of the Libor scandal, has been actively engaged in his emerging markets [...]
Wood Group to slash thousands of jobs amid oil price plunge August 16, 2015 Top oil contractor Wood Group has been forced to slash thousands of jobs as tumbling commodity prices continue to ravage key North Sea producers. The FTSE 250-listed firm cut more than 4,000 jobs in six months, with at least 1,000 in Britain, its half-year results are expected to show tomorrow. Earlier this year, Wood Group [...]
Shire looks to lift $30bn bid for rival Baxalta August 16, 2015 Irish drug giant Shire Pharmaceuticals is prepared to top up its offer to woo rival Baxalta to the negotiating table on condition it is given direct access to its books, sources say. Shire made its all-stock $30bn (£19.2bn), or $45 per share, offer last month for US drug maker Baxalta, which has so far [...]
Uber is increasing the size of its security team four-fold August 16, 2015 Taxi app company Uber hopes to have increased the size of its security team from 25 people to 100 people by the end of the year, according to the FT. Read more: Uber vs black cab: Who wins among London passengers? – Brand Index The change comes as the firm, which is worth an [...]
London house prices up nearly 10pc in August as first-time buyers hit hardest August 16, 2015 London house prices have had their most buoyant August for eight years, new figures show. Homes in Greater London are 9.7 per cent more expensive than they were in August 2014, property website Rightmove said today. House prices normally face a drop in August when compared with July, as the holiday period distracts buyers and [...]
Number of confident City workers looking to move jobs doubles in a year August 16, 2015 New figures show workers are becoming more eager to switch jobs, suggesting greater confidence in the economy. The number of professionals looking for new opportunities climbed by 27 per cent in July compared with June, recruiter Morgan McKinley said this morning. While summer tends to see more people looking for vacancies, the 15,866 workers both [...]
Homebuyers chase longer fixed rate mortgages as interest rate hike looms August 16, 2015 The prospect of interest rates coming off their record lows is prompting potential homebuyers to search for extended mortgages. Mortgages with a 30-year term, or longer, were considered by 21 per cent of those looking to buy between April and June, according to data published today by the Mortgage Advice Bureau (Mab), a brokers. Only [...]