Oil price fall set to drag down UK dividends January 25, 2016 The collapse in oil and commodity prices took its toll on UK dividends last year as companies began to feel the bite of the price slump, with the worse expected in 2016. While oil multinationals are expected to maintain payouts, smaller producers with weaker balance sheets have slashed their distributions, according to the latest dividend [...]
Rip out four in five traffic lights to boost British economy, says Institute of Economic Affairs January 25, 2016 The government should scrap four in five traffic lights to boost the economy and improve road safety, an influential think tank has argued. In a new paper out today, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) claims a “huge proliferation in traffic regulations over the past 20 years has imposed a heavy burden” on the UK economy, [...]
Shareholders demand information about diversity in global firms’ annual reports January 25, 2016 Two-thirds of the world’s biggest banks now include diversity reporting in their annual reports, according to new research out today from DHR International, a global executive search firm. According to DHR, shareholders are increasingly keen to receive information on diversity at the banks they are investing in. “Addressing diversity is no longer optional for world-leading businesses,” [...]
Tax experts pour cold water on heated debate over Google’s £130m corporation tax agreement January 25, 2016 Tax experts have poured cold water on a heated debate over Google’s agreement to hand over £130m to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in unpaid corporation tax, dismissing suggestions that the deal was unfair. Tighter rules surrounding corporation tax will result in a string of companies striking deals with HMRC, accountants say. “There will be lots of businesses that [...]
UK retailers prove a hit with shoppers overseas as smartphone browsing soars January 25, 2016 The number of international shoppers using their smartphones to browse for UK brands has jumped over the last quarter, new research shows, as growth on mobile devices continued to outstrip tablets. According to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Google, beauty and apparel enjoyed the biggest rise in search volumes on mobile devices, [...]
The Co-operative Group kicks off hiring spree for members’ council January 25, 2016 The Co-operative Group has embarked on a recruitment drive to find 24 candidates to join the representative body for its eight million members. The mutually-owned group, which operates everything from supermarkets to funeral care services, has undergone a radical overhaul over the last two years that resulted in a shake-up of both its governance practices [...]
Outdoor retailer Mountain Warehouse eyes £200m IPO after hiring Rothschild January 24, 2016 Mountain Warehouse is eyeing a £200m stock market debut after hiring investment bank Rothschild to explore options for the business. The outdoor clothing and equipment retailer was founded by former management consultant and Oxford physics graduate Mark Neale, who opened his first shop in Swindon in the late 1990s. It now operates 191 stores in [...]
Oil price swings expected to continue as market sends mixed messages January 24, 2016 The oil price is expected to remain volatile throughout trading this week after recording massive swings over the last week. Supplies remain high around the world as analysts continue to slash their outlook on the oil price, though industry leaders have remained bullish on a price rise. The oil price staged its biggest two day [...]
Shell confident BG deal will get rubber stamped as investors asked to vote on Wednesday January 24, 2016 Royal Dutch Shell and BG Group shareholders will vote this week on whether to approve the proposed tie-up between the two companies. The acquisition is widely expected to go through, needing 50 per cent approval from Shell shareholders and 75 per cent from BG, though there has been speculation that the falling oil price would derail the deal. [...]
With just one week left until self-assessment tax return deadline day, people confess they’d rather undergo a trip to the dentist’s chair than fill out their tax forms January 24, 2016 Unbelievably, there is something people dread more than a trip to the dentist's office, and you don't even get a sticker and a lollipop for good behaviour afterwards. According to a survey by Which?, 38 per cent of people loathe completing their tax return more than they do going to the dentist. Other tasks people would [...]
