HSBC profits rise 10% boosted by bumper Hong Kong earnings
The international banking group made pre-tax profits of £8.7bn in the first six months of the year The international banking group HSBC reported a 10% increase in earnings for the first half of the year, boosted by bumper profits in Hong Kong as the lender considers whether to move its headquarters from London to the […]
Bank lending to business forecast to rise in 2015
Annual investment could rise by 0.25% over the year despite a dip in June – the first annual increase since the pre-crisis peak in 2008 Business lending by Britain’s banks remains on track to rise in 2015, despite falling sharply in June, according to a new forecast from the EY Item Club. Boosting business investment […]
Voice over: why Tesco’s female tills have checked out for the final time
Britain’s biggest supermarket has had it up to here with unexpected items, and former EastEnders actor Helena Breck has paid the price: her self-service voiceovers have been replaced by those of a cheery, posh gent Name: Helena Breck. Occupation: Actor. Continue reading… Source: The Guardian Circular Economy RSS
RBS sale speculation gathers pace
Advisers to Chancellor George Osborne reportedly discussing whether or not to signal start of sale The starting pistol could be fired on the government sell-off of its stake in Royal Bank of Scotland as soon as this week. Advisers to George Osborne are still deciding whether to recommend to the chancellor that now is the […]
Dr Now: the smartphone app that puts you in touch with a GP – for a fee
New health apps exploit gaps in overstretched NHS by offering subscribers virtual consultation with a GP A UK tech firm is offering video consultations with doctors via mobile phone, in a bid to repeat the success of British startup apps such as Hailo and Just Eat in which a taxi or a meal is a […]
Greece braces for busy day's trading as Athens stock market reopens
Shares expected to sell off sharply when trading in Greek stocks resumes on Monday after a five-week shutdown Greek investors expect a tumultuous day’s trading when Athens’ stock market reopens on Monday after a five-week shutdown. The resumption of trading in Greek stocks will be the latest step back towards economic normality, after the prime […]
Interest rates: economists and homeowners brace for Super Thursday
Bank of England to reveal key interest rate decision, discussions behind it and quarterly economic forecasts on same day for first time Britain’s mortgage borrowers will be warned this week to brace themselves for higher interest rates on what City of London traders have dubbed “Super Thursday”. At least two, perhaps three, of the nine […]
Next banks £170m in interest charges from shoppers
The huge profits made on clothing retailer’s online and Next Directory catalogue credit service were found in small print of accounts Next, one of Britain’s biggest high street retailers, banked almost £170m in interest charges last year from shoppers using its online and catalogue credit service. The windfall highlights how the company has used the […]
UK interest rate rises – waiting for lift-off
To gauge how high interest rates will go, and how fast, we need to understand how fiscal and monetary policy interact, writes Gavin Kelly With prominent members of the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee (MPC) – not least the governor – lining up in recent weeks to talk up the prospect of rate rises […]
RBS, why the rush to sell it off?
George Osborne has everything in place to sell off RBS – it’s just that the taxpayer does not need to Sir Philip Hampton said the results released by Royal Bank of Scotland last week were like “groundhog day”. The bank’s outgoing chairman was referring to the fact that decent growth in operating profits was wiped […]