Plastics company Berry has until March to decide on RPC takeover
US firm Berry Global Group has been given just under a month to decide whether to buy British plastic packaging maker RPC after threatening to gatecrash its £3.3 billion takeover.
Business
FirstGroup sees rail revenue growth slow after ‘disappointing’ service
Transport giant FirstGroup has revealed slowing rail revenue growth after admitting a “disappointing” service for passengers amid strike action on South Western Railway.
Job vacancies at record level as number in work remains at all-time high
Record numbers of people are in work and job vacancies are at their highest level ever, new figures reveal.
British Gas fourth ‘big six’ supplier to raise prices to match energy price cap
British Gas has become the fourth “big six” supplier to announce it is to raise the cost of its standard variable tariff to match Ofgem’s price cap.
Small businesses facing ‘life or death’ no-deal Brexit struggle
Britain’s army of small firms is facing a “life or death” scenario as a no-deal Brexit looks set to usher in an era of higher tariffs, an avalanche of red tape and demands from overseas importers to cover extra costs.
Profits drop at InterContinental Hotels but revenue rises
Holiday Inn owner InterContinental Hotels Group said it has increased rooms at its quickest rate in a decade as it reported a drop in profit on higher costs.
Cobham takes £160m hit after settling Boeing dispute
Defence firm Cobham has said it will take a further £160 million hit after settling a spat with Boeing over the aerospace giant’s troubled US tanker programme.
Greggs hikes profit outlook after vegan sausage roll boost
The launch of a controversial vegan sausage roll has helped bakery chain Greggs lift its 2019 profit outlook after driving a surge in customers through its doors.
HSBC profit jumps but falls short of expectations
HSBC’s profits missed expectations after a “challenging” fourth quarter that was hobbled by uncertainty surrounding the US-China trade dispute and Brexit.
Barclays to help small businesses cope with Brexit uncertainty
Banking giant Barclays has ramped up measures to help small businesses navigate the risks posed by continued Brexit uncertainty.
Quiet day on markets enlivened by FootAsylum share price gain
Footasylum’s huge share price rise added a kick to an otherwise quiet London market on Monday, as global equities lacked volatility with the US markets closed.
Majority of flybmi staff laid off after airline’s collapse
Most of flybmi’s 376 employees have lost their jobs following the airline’s collapse, administrators have announced.
The People’s Operator mobile network to cease trading
Charity-focused mobile network The People’s Operator is to cease trading by the end of this month after falling into administration.
Revolut to hire team of hackers to bolster cyber defences
Revolut is hiring a team of hackers in order to bolster its cyber defences as the bank continues its rapid growth.
UK clearing houses given reprieve in event of no-deal Brexit
The European securities regulator is to recognise UK clearing houses in order to limit market disruption in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
JD Sports takes bite out of rival Footasylum
JD Sports has picked up a significant stake in its high street rival Footasylum, causing shares in the troubled firm to rocket.
Angling Direct restructures in preparation for Brexit
Fishing tackle retailer Angling Direct has restructured its operations to prepare for the fallout from Brexit.
Pearson offloads US course materials unit
Education publisher Pearson has sold its K12 course materials business in the US to private equity firm Nexus Capital for 250 million US dollars (£193.5 million).
McColl’s blames sharp drop in profits on Palmer & Harvey supply disruption
Convenience store retailer McColl’s has reported a sharp drop in profits, blaming the collapse of groceries wholesaler Palmer & Harvey in a “challenging” year for the group.
Reckitt full-year sales and profits up
Reckitt Benckiser has reported rising full-year sales and profits, despite the Vanish and Dettol owner flagging “challenging market conditions”.
Holidaymakers stocking up on euros as Brexit looms
Holidaymakers have been stocking up on euros as Brexit draws nearer, new figures suggest.
Bacardi stockpiling drinks ahead of Brexit
Drinks giant Bacardi has revealed it is stockpiling booze ahead of Brexit, but dismissed the UK’s impending divorce as “not even a blip on the horizon” in the firm’s 157-year history.
Blenheim Forge a cut above after near-£30,000 knife sale to Gordon Ramsay
British bladesmith Blenheim Forge has secured the edge over rivals after striking a near-£30,000 sale of gourmet knives to celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and celebrating its best ever Christmas.
Plus500 admits error in 2017 accounts
Shares in Plus500 tumbled after the online trading platform admitted a 103 million US dollar (£80m) “drafting error” in its 2017 accounts.
FTSE 100 strengthens on positive US-China trade talks
The FTSE 100 edged higher on Friday on renewed hopes of a US-China trade deal, while the Royal Bank of Scotland was a standout performer following better than expected results.
Barclays and Lloyds limber up as bank results keep on coming
Barclays is set to reveal a steep fall in annual profits on Thursday, adding to the banking giant’s headaches as it comes under pressure from an activist investor.
SFO’s failed Tesco case cost taxpayer over £6m
The Serious Fraud Office blew £6.2 million of taxpayer money as part of its failed attempt to prosecute three former Tesco directors over the supermarket’s accounting scandal.
Lloyds Bank appoints Morgan Stanley’s William Chalmers as new CFO
Lloyds Banking Group has tapped Morgan Stanley investment banker William Chalmers to be its next chief financial officer.
Retail sales return to growth as shoppers took advantage of January bargains
Retail sales rose in January and beat market expectations as shoppers took advantage of discounts following a disappointing Christmas.
Segro to raise £450m to fund spending spree
Warehouse specialist Segro has announced plans to raise £450 million through a share placing to bankroll its development pipeline.