Email slip-up reveals Bank of England’s investigation into what would happen if UK left the EU May 23, 2015 The Bank of England is carrying out a confidential investigation into what would happen if the UK left the European Union (EU), an email accidentally sent to The Guardian has revealed. It discloses details of a special task force set up by the central bank to look into the economic consequences of a UK exit, [...]
Germany denies reports Greece could get a parallel currency May 22, 2015 Germany's finance ministry has denied reports it was considering offering Greece its own parallel currency. Earlier today Germany's finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble was said to have raised the possibility of offering it a parallel currency during a recent meeting, according to a a report by Bloomberg. This prompted speculation that Germany was preparing for the cash strapped country's [...]
Plus500 suspends shares after it suffers a shorting attack May 22, 2015 Beleaguered spread-betting firm Plus500 today suspended trading in its shares on London's junior market, following a sell-off sparked by a hedge fund's blog post which said it was shorting the company's stock. US hedge fund Cable Car said it was shorting the trading platform with a price target of 76 pence per share. This sent the [...]
UK government faces legal action from British American Tobacco and Philip Morris over plain packaging law May 22, 2015 The UK government is facing legal action from two of the world's biggest tobacco companies over its new “plain packaging” law. British American Tobacco and Philip Morris have filed law suits with the High Court, claiming the regulation breaches EU and English property trademark laws. Marc Firestone, senior vice president of Philip Morris, [...]
Young landlords are revitalising Britain’s ailing pub industry May 22, 2015 Over the last three years young pub landlords breathed new life into Britain's ailing pub industry, helping it bounce back from a painful period of decline. Youthful landlords have tapped into the nation's penchant for pub food, helping the sector's sales rise by 23 per cent in the three years to March 2015, according to data published [...]
Public sector borrowing: Higher tax receipts helped shrink the budget deficit in April May 22, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne was given a boost today, as higher tax receipts helped shrink the deficit by more than expected in April. Public sector net borrowing excluding state-controlled banks fell by about 27 per cent to in the year to April, reaching £6.8bn, below economists' forecasts of £8.1bn, and its lowest level for that month since [...]
Mario Draghi: Structural reforms needed as growth is “too low everywhere” May 22, 2015 European governments must increase efforts to adopt structural reform if “lasting stability and prosperity” is to return to the Eurozone, Mario Draghi has said today. Reforms were needed to avoid future shocks to the system, making resilience “part of our common DNA”, he said in a speech at the start of the ECB’s annual [...]
Nationwide chief executive Graham Beale to retire next year as profits jump 54 per cent May 22, 2015 Nationwide's chief executive Graham Beale will step down next year, the building society has confirmed. Beale, who is expected to retire “at or around the date of the AGM in July”, will have been at the helm of the lender for nine years and a board member for 13 years. Nationwide is now looking [...]
Severn Trent share price falls as investments squeeze profits May 22, 2015 The figures Severn Trent's revenue increased 2.4 per cent to £1.8bn in the year to the end of March, up from £1.76bn a year earlier. Nevertheless, investments squeezed profits: pre-tax profit fell 53.5 per cent to £148.2m, down from £318.8m in 2013. It said that investment "in business development in US concessions impacted profit year on [...]
Quindell share prices rises as regulators give Slater & Gordon disposal the nod May 22, 2015 Quindell shares opened 2.7 per cent higher at 132p this morning after it revealed the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) had given its plans to sell its law arm the thumbs up. The company announced plans to sell its professional services division, which accounts for 90 per cent of its business, to Slater & Gordon in [...]