Shares in financial institution NBNK has had its shares suspended on AIM after it confirmed it is in merger talks. The bank, which is run by Gary Hoffman who is the former chief executive of crisis-torn Northern Rock, was established a year ago to make acquisitions and is set to build a significant presence in [...]
Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has warned it may lower the US triple-A debt rating if a deal to lift the Government’s $14.29 trillion borrowing limit is not agreed soon. The news comes just one day after fellow ratings agency Moody’s said there is a risk of a possible downgrade. Both warnings come as tense negotiations [...]
European stocks were lower today after it emerged that top EU officials are meeting in Brussels to discuss the ongoing debt crisis in the euro zone. Germany’s DAX 30 lost 0.68% to 7,352.73, while France’s CAC 40 was down 0.89% to 3,878.60. London’s FTSE was 0.2% lower at 5,977.31. The meeting has been arranged as [...]
Holidaymakers look set to have their summer travel plans disrupted after it emerged today that Virgin Atlantic pilots have voted for industrial action – the first time in the airline’s 32-year history. According to the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) union, 97% of its members voted for strike action after pay talks with the company [...]
British Airways (BA) and the Unite union have finally come to an agreement to end their bitter dispute – which has been ongoing since November 2009. The agreement means the threat of strike action has been lifted. Cabin crew were involved in a bitter dispute with the airline for more than 18 months over cost-cutting [...]
The long-running dispute between the Unite union and British Airways (BA) could come to an end following talks to avert further industrial action. Union members are understood to be meeting later today which could lead to an offer. Cabin crew have been involved in a bitter dispute with the airline since November 2009 over cost-cutting [...]
China and the US are set to hold economic talks in Washington DC next month as the two countries endeavour to reach an agreement over currency issues. The State Department announced yesterday: “The third meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) will be held in Washington, DC, May 9-10, 2011.” China has been [...]
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has today announced that it has fined the Norwich and Peterborough Building Society (N&P) £1.4 million for giving unsuitable advice on its Keydata products. The Watchdog said the group failed to properly assess the financial circumstances of many of its customers and often designated them as having a higher tolerance [...]
Officials from the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are to meet in Lisbon today to discuss the terms of Portugal’s bailout. The bailout represents the third in the euro zone after Greece and Ireland, and will be finalised by mid-May. The €80 billion (£70 billion) rescue package comes [...]
After months of speculation, it has been announced that Portugal will seek financial help. EU finance ministers are set to meet in Hungary this week when the bailout will be discussed. Portuguese borrowing costs rose to more than 10% this week – the first time since the introduction of the euro. A surge in borrowing [...]
It has been revealed that Yorkshire Building Society is in talks with smaller rival Norwich and Peterborough (N&P) which could lead to an acquisition. The announcement comes after much consolidation in Britain’s mutual sector, as a result of funding pressures. Late last year, Coventry Building Society and Stroud & Swindon merged, creating a business with [...]
HSBC, which is Europe’s largest bank, has once again denied rumours that it is planning to relocate its UK headquarters to Hong Kong. A report in the Sunday Telegraph quoted an unnamed, investor as saying “we were told that a move [to Hong Kong] is now more than likely”. However, the bank has refuted the [...]
There is speculation that the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is in talks with the Treasury about its early exit from the Government’s Asset Protection Scheme (APS). The scheme, which insurers against losses arising from toxic assets, was established in 2009 to boost confidence in the system following the financial crisis in autumn 2008. It [...]
There are fears of further strikes on the London Underground (LU) after the Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) claims two workers are being unfairly treated by management and facing disciplinary action. As a result, hundreds of workers are to be balloted for strikes over the dispute with action expected to be taken in the [...]
There were fresh fears for the euro today after it emerged that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could be called in to assist the euro zone in resolving the banking crisis in Ireland. Ireland’s Prime Minister, Brian Cowen, has again, however, reiterated that his country has not asked for emergency funds and said the economy [...]
Euro zone finance ministers are heading to Brussels today to discuss Ireland’s debt crisis, which poses a risk to the 16-nation bloc. Ireland’s Government continues to reject claims that it is seeking emergency financial support via the EU rescue fund. However, the Irish Government has said it is in talks with European partners about how [...]
A report by the BBC has revealed that Britain’s biggest banks are understood to be in talks about reducing the amount they receive in bonuses. Bonuses have been a major issue for some time now and have sparked public outrage since many argued that excessive bankers’ bonuses reward the risk-taking culture that led to the [...]
The G20 group of nations have agreed to avoid “competitive devaluation” of currencies in what has been regarded as a tense summit in Seoul, South Korea. Most notably were the tensions between the US and China. The US has previously expressed dissatisfaction that China is keeping the value of the yuan low to help its [...]
Firefighters will go ahead with industrial action over the crucial bonfire night weekend after talks collapsed between the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and the London Fire Authority yesterday. The strike, which will take place from 10am on November 5 to 9am on November 7, incorporates Bonfire Night – the fire service’s busiest period. Members embarked [...]
CBI: Decline in retail sales slows in October
According to the latest Confederation of British Industry (CBI) distributive trades survey, the fall in retail sales slowed in October, but only a modest rise in volumes is expected next month. Consumers continue to be cautious about the economic outlook and rein in their spending on the back of rising unemployment, higher inflation and slow [...]
Euro zone leaders agree to deal
Following a tense summit in Brussels last night, it has been announced that euro zone leaders have reached a deal which they say will help resolve the growing debt crisis in the 17-member nation. The deal will see the euro zone’s main bailout fund expanded to €1 trillion, while banks will accept a loss of [...]
Policymaker says another recession is likely
Bank of England policymaker Paul Fisher has today said Britain is likely to suffer another recession. His comments come just a few days after fellow Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) member, Martin Weale, warned that a contraction in the fourth quarter is possible. Returning to Mr Fisher, he was asked how likely a double dip recession [...]
US economic growth rises in Q3
The world’s largest economy expanded at its fastest pace in a year in the three months to the end of September, official figures revealed today. According to the Commerce Department, the US economy grew at an annualised rate of 2.5% in the third quarter of this year. The figure was in line with forecasts but [...]
CBI: Confidence among manufacturers slump
According to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), confidence among UK manufacturing firms has slumped as a result of the debt crisis in the euro zone, as well as a fall in expectations for future growth. The latest industrial trends survey by the employers’ group established that 30% more businesses were pessimistic about the future [...]
Euro crisis: Leaders gather for emergency summit
EU leaders are travelling to Brussels for an emergency summit – the 14th in 21 months – designed to tackle the euro zone debt crisis. The summit will also see leaders discuss Greece’s second bailout, as well as boosting the €440 billion rescue fund. There are still growing fears that Greece’s debt crisis could spread [...]
US consumer confidence slumps in October
US consumer confidence slumped in October, the Conference Board has reported. The closely-monitored Consumer Confidence Index from the Conference Board dived to 39.8 this month from September’s reading of 46.4. Not only was the reading less than forecasts of a level of 46.0, it was the lowest since March 2009, when the US was in [...]
BoE Governor: QE may not boost lending
Mervyn King, the Bank of England’s Governor, has confessed that the latest round of stimulus is not guaranteed to boost lending to SMEs. The ongoing lack of credit to SMEs has been a major concern for the Government as these companies are the key to job creation in the UK and are expected to be [...]
India lifts interest rates further to combat inflation
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has today raised key interest rates for the thirteenth time since March 2010, in a bid to tame stubbornly high inflation. The central bank lifted its main rate to 8.5% from 8.25% as inflation soars on the back of higher food and fuel prices and the measures were widely [...]
Markit: Household finances continue to be squeezed
The Markit Household Finance Index (HFI) has today published a gloomy report as families’ finances were slightly worse in October than in September. Meanwhile, Markit’s HFI, which measures prospects for finances over the coming year, dived to 34.5 this month, from September’s reading of 42.2. The reading represented the lowest in the survey’s history and [...]
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