Total lockdown: NatWest freezes Russian TV station’s accounts October 18, 2016 The UK is facing a new round of tit-for-tat reprisals from Russia following a shock move by NatWest to freeze the bank accounts of Kremlin-funded news channel RT. British journalists could be among those targeted by the Kremlin in the aftermath of the decision to close UK accounts being used by the broadcaster, previously called Russia Today. RT revealed [...]
Criminal finance bill set to give police powers to delay M&A if there is suspicious behaviour October 16, 2016 POLICE could be given the power to delay M&A transactions for up to six months under little-noticed proposals in the criminal finance bill. The bill, which was published on Thursday, contains proposals to extend the time police have to investigate tip-offs from financial services firms for so-called “suspicious activities” from the current maximum of one [...]
Ultimate Products’ record results put the wholesaler to discounters and supermarkets on course for an IPO next year October 16, 2016 NULL
Business rates that hit London need reform October 11, 2016 Business rates are a blunt instrument, one which is set to deliver a heavy blow to London’s retailers, offices and hotels. Rates are due to rise from next April after a revaluation of rateable values for England’s 1.85m commercial properties by the Valuation Office Agency. It is the first such revaluation since 2010. Analysis by [...]
Heathrow vs. Gatwick expansion: Airports decision still stuck on the tarmac October 10, 2016 The question of where to build a new runway in the south east is an issue that has been stuck in the hangar for years. The current choice, between Heathrow or Gatwick, is just the latest instalment in a long-running capacity saga. Since 1963, no fewer than 12 policy documents, commissions or white papers have been produced [...]
UK SMEs start investing more in future exports although more than half are concerned by the decreasing value of sterling October 10, 2016 THE number of UK SMEs investing in trading overseas has almost doubled over the past 12 months according to the latest SME Confidence Tracker from business funder, Bibby Financial Services (BFS). The report, which tracks SME sales performance, investment intentions and confidence, highlights that while the main focus for investment in the third quarter of [...]
Retailers in Mayfair and Bond Street to be hardest hit by 2017’s business rate review but those in High Street Kensington can cheer a drop October 10, 2016 Retailers in Mayfair will be Central London's hardest hit by hikes in the 2017 business rates review, according to analysis from consultancy CBRE. Mount Street occupants will see their average rateable values increase by 138 per cent while just yards away on Bond Street, businesses are facing increases of up to 100 per cent. Steep [...]
Megadeath to megadeals as EY sees recovery in UK M&A activity in the third quarter despite Brexit uncertainty October 10, 2016 THE value of UK M&A in the third quarter increased from the previous quarter despite Brexit uncertainty, according to EY which predicts the end of the so-called megadeal. Data released today by EY shows that the overall value for UK M&A reached $78.3bn, up from $25.7bn in the previous quarter, driven largely by international deals. [...]
Back with a bang: Business confidence back to pre-Brexit level October 7, 2016 Business confidence has bounced back to pre-referendum levels, according to a major poll published today. The business monitor of 500 businesses from YouGov and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) climbed to 112.4 in September, on a ranking where scores above 100 signify corporate optimism. The surge in confidence, near to levels last seen [...]
Tesco’s Drastic Dave must keep delivering to revive fortunes of the supermarket giant October 5, 2016 Tesco's slogan “every little helps” was aimed at cost-conscious shoppers in the financial crisis, but the same could also be said of the grocer’s gradual recovery under CEO Dave Lewis. Two years into his tenure, the retailer can perhaps add a new catchline to its roster: buy everything here. Lewis is steering the Tesco juggernaut [...]
