UK banks are ramping up lending, marking the end of a loan drought after government Covid-19 support schemes were ditched. The total value of lending to UK businesses climbed £12bn to £533bn in the nine months to May, according to research based on Bank of England data published today by debt advisor ACP Altenburg Advisory. […]
Almost six in ten small and medium-sized businesses say they prefer a hybrid style of working which combines home working with going into the office, according to new research. With eye-watering energy rates continue to sting for employees working at home, the cost of living may be forcing millions to balance home and HQ – […]
Aston Martin Lagonda has announced plans to raise £653 million via a placing and rights issue that will result in Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund becoming the luxury carmaker’s second largest shareholder. The kingdom’s Public Investment Fund will invest £78 million for a holding of just under 17 per cent and a seat on the […]
Drivers at 14 train operating companies are to go on strike for two days in August, in a move that will bring many services around Britain to a halt. The announcement was made hours after another union confirmed strike action for July. RMT members at Network Rail and 14 train operators will strike for two […]
Ministers have issued an ultimatum to the chief executive of Heathrow, calling on him to provide a plan to resolve the airport’s staffing problems, it has been reported. John Holland-Kaye (pictured) has until midday on Friday to assure ministers that the airport has sufficient workers for security screening and to assist disabled passengers, according to […]
Amazon is creating 4,000 permanent jobs in Britain, including for roles in warehouses set to open in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, and Knowsley on Merseyside. The American online retailer is also seeking software developers, product managers and engineers, as well as workers for its 19 Amazon Fresh stores, including the first store outside London in Sevenoaks, […]
Borrowing on credit cards rose in the second quarter, accompanied by an increase in defaults as people struggled to meet repayment deadlines amid widespread price rises. Demand for unsecured lending, which is driven by borrowing on credit cards and through personal loans, rose in the three months to June, according to the Bank of England’s […]
Higher central bank interest rates will trigger a wave of corporate defaults as companies struggle with higher borrowing costs and the threat of a global recession, fund managers have warned. A quarterly survey of global money managers said that company defaults were set to climb from very low levels during the pandemic as monetary policy […]
Aston Martin Lagonda is closing in on a deal to raise more than £500 million by bringing in Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund as a major shareholder and launching a rights issue for investors. The move will result in Saudi’s Public Investment Fund investing up to £200 million for a near 20 per cent shareholding […]
Streaming giant Spotify has snapped up daily music game Heardle as the firm builds out its interactive offerings to keep music lovers listening. The news comes just weeks after the company launched a “karaoke mode”, which provides users with the lyrics to their favourite songs. Heardle, which is a Wordle spin-off, will remain a standalone website, and […]