Seven months after apologising to MPs, HMRC is now boasting of a “significant recovery” in its call-handling services June 13, 2016 HMRC has stressed a dramatic improvement in its call handling processes, with 90 per cent of calls answered, and the average call answered inside of six minutes. Speaking to MPs at the Public Accounts Committee earlier today, HMRC chief executive Jon Thompson, said that the performance represented “a significant recovery”. Last year, HMRC was slammed by a [...]
At the close: FTSE 100 sinks as Brexit fears send sterling to two month lows June 13, 2016 Resource stocks made up the majority of only a handful of risers on the FTSE 100 today as investors fretted over Brexit and sterling took a beating. The FTSE 100 closed at 6,044.97 – down 1.16 per cent on the day – and at its lowest level in three months. In March it was trading as low as 6,036, though had [...]
Opec keeps global oil demand forecast unchanged, sending the price of oil off its recent highs June 13, 2016 The one-time global oil cartel Opec (the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) has kept its forecasts for global oil supply and demand unchanged. The 13-member oil producing group reckons the second half of 2016 will continue to see oil markets rebalancing after the price of oil almost doubled in the first six months of the year – from [...]
Sterling could drop almost a quarter of its value against the dollar after a Brexit vote, two economists have forecast June 13, 2016 Sterling's value against the dollar could plummet by as much as a quarter following a Brexit vote, according to a pair of economists. This week has seen the value of the pound reach a two month low against the dollar, dropping to $1.4137 on the back of fears around a vote to leave the EU. [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open June 13, 2016 China's decelerating economy is causing fresh concern across international markets and the International Monetary Fund isn't helping. Here's what you need to know before the US market opens at 14:30 London time. The US market is pointing heavily south ahead of the open. The S&P 500 is down by 0.31 per cent in the pre-market. The Nasdaq [...]
EU referendum: Sterling and FTSE fall as Brexit fears weigh June 13, 2016 Brexit jitters have hit markets and sterling this morning with just 10 days until the UK goes to the polls. The FTSE 100 shed over one per cent as it opened before settling slightly near 0.5 per cent down. "Sliding bond yields, growth concerns and more opinion polls showing the Leave camp solidifying their lead in the [...]
UK Oil and Gas Investments’ share price leaps over six per cent – then falls back as firm buys further acreage in the Weald Basin June 13, 2016 UK Oil & Gas Investments (Ukog) has paid £3.5m to buy another licence in the Weald Basin, near Gatwick Airport. Shares in the company were up 6.35 per cent as trading began this morning, but have since fallen back and are currently down 1.11 per cent. Ukog previously announced it had discovered a massive amount of oil [...]
Meet the man behind the Uber of the exchange world June 13, 2016 In less than eight years, Bats Europe has gone from being a one-man operation in a Canada coffee shop to the largest stock exchange on the continent by market share and value traded. But despite its growth, the company’s chief executive – and first employee – Mark Hemsley still likes to emphasise its small business charm. “We’re not [...]
Asian stocks fall amid fears UK will vote to leave the European Union June 13, 2016 Financial markets are preparing for falls today after Asian stocks experienced the biggest intraday falls in over two months due to building worries that Britain may vote to leave the European Union in the upcoming referendum. The pound suffered when trading opened. Sterling fell to $1.4159 in early Asian trade, its weakest since April 18. There [...]
Remain campaign can’t rely on Labour voters June 13, 2016 With just 10 days to go until Britain votes on its membership of the European Union, how much ammunition do the two sides have left? The Leave camp feel they’re on to a winner with talk of Turkey joining the EU, not least with immigration remaining top of the list of public concerns. Number 10 [...]
