UK drive: The Renault Clio returns better than ever
What is it? While the Nissan Jukes and Ford Ecosports of this world might be slicing into the sales of conventional superminis, there is still a big market for these affordable compact models.
City
Ministers have 24 hours to save one million hospitality jobs, trade body warns
The Government has 24 hours to save one million jobs in the hospitality industry amid the worsening coronavirus crisis, it has been warned.
Toyota adds to line-up with new Proace City compact van
Toyota has bolstered its commercial vehicle line-up with the addition of a new Proace City model.
FTSE 100 claws back ground in worst week since financial crisis
London’s top 100 companies saw earlier gains pared back as the market eked out sluggish growth at the end of what proved to be the third worst week in the index’s history.
Markets remain turbulent on coronavirus fears after Monday’s meltdown
Stock markets have endured further volatile trading as investors remained nervous after the “Black Monday” meltdown saw the worst day for London blue chips since the 2008 financial crisis.
‘Black Monday’ for traders as FTSE 100 collapses nearly 8%
An all-out oil war between Saudi Arabia and Russia has led to stock markets and oil prices tanking around the world.
Baggage handlers and other service workers could be affected by Flybe collapse
Fears are growing for the jobs of thousands of workers who provided baggage handling and other services for Flybe following the airline’s collapse.
Robert Walters shares sink on likely coronavirus hit
Recruitment giant Robert Walters has seen shares come under pressure after it warned the coronavirus outbreak is likely to impact 2020 profits.
Capitalism in need of rethink, Bank of England chief economist says
Capitalism is in need of a rethink as the model’s “success story” over the past 200 years has started to stall, the Bank of England’s chief economist has warned.
New fathers at insurance giant taking five months of parental leave on average
The number of new fathers taking advantage of shared parental leave at one of the UK’s biggest insurance firms has jumped 23% in a year, according to new research.
FTSE jumps higher on weak pound and optimism over China
The FTSE 100 rebounded as traders were optimistic that China will use more funds to aid firms impacted by coronavirus while the index also benefited from weakness in the pound.
Inflation rises on back of energy bills and plane tickets
The cost of energy and aeroplane tickets pushed household prices higher in the opening month of 2020, official statisticians have revealed.
Economists hail ‘robust’ jobs market despite stalling economy
Economists have hailed a “remarkably robust” set of UK labour figures despite the economy stalling at the end of last year.
Investors in failed mini-bond scheme get £2.7m payout
A small number of customers in the failed mini-bond scheme London Capital and Finance (LCF) have been given the first payout from a fund set up to protect investors.
First drive: Multiple flaws fail to detract from the Fiat Panda Hybrid’s lovable personality
What is it? Shock horror. Fiat has finally made a noticeable change to its Panda city car. It’s not a model that is frequently seen on UK roads, but here in Bologna where we’re trying the latest model it’s as if Fiat has been giving them away for free they’re that popular.
Estate agent Countrywide delays £38m Lambert Smith Hampton sale
The UK’s biggest estate agent chain has been forced to delay the sale of its commercial real estate division due to the founder of the buyers “being indisposed” in January.
Royal Mail shares plunge to new lows on warning over UK losses
Royal Mail has seen shares plunge to record lows after warning its UK arm could be loss-making next year and it may miss turnaround targets amid the threat of strike action.
UK consumers set to feel impact of coronavirus outbreak on supply chain
Companies in the UK and across the globe have warned that the outbreak of coronavirus in China could significantly impact their supply chains and stop products reaching consumers.
Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser to leave studio
Dan Houser, the co-founder of Rockstar Games, the studio behind Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, is to leave the firm next month.
Boss who transformed Babcock into defence giant to step down
The chief executive who led Babcock to become a major player in the defence space is set to step down after more than three years in the job.
Safety group calls for restriction on SUVs around towns and cities
The European Transport Safety Council has urged local authorities to consider a restriction on SUVs around town and city centres in order to protect cyclists and pedestrians.
UK car output falls to near 10-year low
The number of cars built in the UK fell to its lowest level in almost a decade in 2019, with a further decline expected this year, new figures reveal.
Markets remain muted as traders wait for Mark Carney’s final interest rate call
The FTSE 100 marched on the spot on Wednesday, ending the period at more or less the same point that it started, as an early rise was wiped out by bad numbers from China.
Santander profits tumble 37% on PPI and shake-up costs
Santander has revealed UK profits slumped by 37% last year after taking a hit on the payment protection insurance (PPI) scandal and costs of its branch shake-up.
Which UK cities are putting restrictions on car use?
In a quest to drive down emissions many UK councils are putting into place plans which would stop cars from entering popular city centres.
Internet speeds too slow for more than half of all small businesses, poll finds
More than half of all small and medium businesses (SMEs) in the UK are without a high-speed internet connection, according to a new survey.
Berkeley pays out ‘precautionary cushion’ to shareholders in £1bn scheme
Berkeley Group will pay its shareholders a nearly half a billion pound windfall as it doubles the money it plans to return to investors.
Venture capitalist Ophelia Brown launches new £142m fund
One of Britain’s top venture capitalists has launched her second fund as she tries to snap up a larger portion of the expanding European technology scene.
Travelex to relaunch some foreign money exchange after weeks-long blackout
Travelex has restored some of its systems after a New Year’s Eve cyber attack left customers unable to exchange foreign currency online at some of Britain’s biggest banks.
Flybe confirms it was given tax holiday by HMRC to avoid collapse
Flybe has confirmed it has agreed a financial arrangement to defer tax payments of “less than £10 million” with HM Revenue and Customs.