Lloyds Banking Group is axing 1,755 more jobs and closing 29 branches of Lloyds, Bank of Scotland and Halifax February 3, 2016 More than a thousand jobs will go at Lloyds and 29 branches will close in its latest round of cuts designed to reduce its workforce by 10 per cent by 2017. The axe will fall on staff at Lloyds' retail businesses as well as commercial banking, consumer finance and legal departments. Around 1,000 jobs went at the end [...]
Zurich Insurance Group share price down as insurance company’s risk chief reveals in an interview that it may narrow down some of its business after being knocked back by claims February 3, 2016 A member of Zurich Insurance Group's management has stated that the insurer is looking to slim its business after taking on more claims than expected last year. In an interview with Bloomberg, which was published this morning, Cecilia Reyes, Zurich's risk chief, said: "We were surprised, obviously, by the poor underwriting results in the general insurance [...]
US dollar and stocks down after economic data fuels growth concerns February 3, 2016 US stocks and the dollar lost ground today after negative economic data cast doubt on the strength of the US economy. The dollar is down by over one per cent against the pound, with one dollar currently buying £0.6870, and has also lost a similar amount against the euro. The S&P 500 is currently down 1.18 per [...]
US non-manufacturing sectors register weakest growth since 2014 as concerns grow over global economic conditions February 3, 2016 The US economy had a tough first month of 2016, according to survey data published today. The Institute for Supply Management's non-manufacturing purchasing managers' (PMI) index dropped to a score of 53.5 in January, its lowest since early 2014. Scores above 50 imply the non-manufacturing sectors grew over the month. However, January's score suggests economic growth [...]
Why Matchesfashion.com’s chief executive Ulric Jerome is on the way to world fashion domination February 3, 2016 Matchesfashion.com’s French-born chief executive Ulric Jerome has grown up surrounded by fashion since the time his designer label of choice was Pampers. His father ran a family business in haute couture while his mother used to work at fashion bible Vogue. But when the founders of the luxury retailer Matchesfashion.com, Tom and Ruth Chapman, approached [...]
Clydesdale Bank share price trades above opening offer as conditional trading starts on IPO after 24-hour delay February 3, 2016 Clydesdale Bank’s shares were trading just above their offer price as its IPO got underway after a 24-hour delay. The bank's shares were worth 183.5p at 9:43am in early conditional trading in London, slightly above the 180p opening value. National Australia Bank (NAB), which sold off the Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank Group (CYBG), priced shares at 180p per [...]
RSM now sixth biggest accountancy network in the world, narrowly overtaking Grant Thornton, with six per cent fee income growth for year ended December 2015 February 3, 2016 RSM has today announced it achieved six per cent growth for fee income in the year to December 2015, meaning the accountancy network has narrowly overtaken Grant Thornton to become the sixth biggest worldwide. The firm, which was previously in seventh place in the global rankings and currently has over 750 offices across 120 countries, [...]
Severn Trent says it’s still on target for its full year results, increases expected payout from Ofwat February 3, 2016 Water utility firm Severn Trent has increased its guidance for the net reward from outcome delivery incentives for the financial year to £15m. It had previously expected just £10m. The company gets a pay-out from the industry regulator Ofwat if it over delivers on its performance targets. The regulator ensures water companies pass on savings to consumers and offers [...]
GlaxoSmithKline revenue rises four per cent in 2015, forecasting further growth in 2016 February 3, 2016 Drug giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has reported earnings for 2015 up four per cent on last year at £23.9bn, with a profit of £10.5bn. In the fourth quarter revenue rose by two per cent to £6.2bn, from £6.1bn in the same period a year earlier. Fourth quarter results came in broadly inline with expectations, mostly down to growing demand for [...]
Government to force councils to reveal empty properties as part of housing push February 3, 2016 Local authorities are to be forced to publicly disclose all the properties they own as part of government plans to make better use of public sector land and build more homes. Speaking at the Government Property Conference this morning, Cabinet Office minister Matthew Hancock said that through the Housing and Planning Bill councils will be [...]
