Market Buzz
Sunday newspaper round-up: France, Brexit, Russia
France is to beef up cyber-security amid growing fears that Russian hackers could try to influence its upcoming presidential election following claims that Moscow orchestrated US computer attacks to help Donald Trump. Jean-Yves Le Drian, the defence minister, said French intelligence agencies were trying “to learn lessons for the future” from the allegations by their US counterparts. - The Sunday Telegraph.
Friday newspaper round-up: Retail sales, London property prices, Royal Mail
British high streets endured a fourth Christmas of falling sales as shoppers switched to buying gifts online from the comfort of their sofa. Underlying sales dipped 0. 1% in December, after a 5. 3% fall in the same month in 2015, as clothing retailers had a particularly tough year, said the consultancy firm BDO. – Guardian.
Director dealings: Action Hotels founder ups stake
Action Hotels chairman Sheikh Mubarak Al Sabah took his stake in the Kuwaiti owner, developer and asset manager of branded hotel franchises in the Middle East to just under 66% as announced good news for its largest sites in Australia.
FTSE 100 movers: Persimmon update lifts builders, JP Morgan dents insurers
Housebuilding shares led the FTSE 100 higher for the second day, with Persimmon head of the pack as it issued a bullish year-end update.
Thursday newspaper round-up: business confidence, car industry, John Lewis
Britain’s economy is bouncing back from the slump in business confidence which struck in the wake of the Brexit vote, with services, manufacturing and construction firms all reporting solid growth in the final months of 2016. At the same time the housing market showed signs of recovery, with sales on the up and construction firms receiving more orders as demand for homes rises. Businesses across the economy reported rising confidence in the final quarter of the year, making them more willing to hire and invest, according to a survey from the British Chambers of Commerce.
Wednesday newspaper round-up: Inflation, 'fat cats', gender pay gap
Ryanair and LastMinute. com been rapped over the knuckles by the advertising watchdog for trying to entice customers into buying flights and holiday deals with “misleading” advertisements. Separate complaints against the two companies have been upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority, while the two adverts in question have been banned. – Telegraph .
Tuesday newspaper round-up: Brexit, BHS, property prices
Brexit could have an impact on the City in the coming months as banks decide whether to implement contingency plans to ensure they retain access to the remaining 27 EU member states by moving business out of the UK. Theresa May, the prime minister, intends to trigger article 50 – the formal process of exiting the EU – in March and some senior officials in the financial district argue that the rest of Europe could lose out if operations are shifted out of London.