Financial news

• Mortgage fraud by identity thieves at highest level since 2012

  05-05-2016 18:20
  
  During first quarter of 2016, proportion of crimes attempted by fraudsters increased to 6% – often by using identities of recently deceasedA “worrying” increase in identity thieves attempting to commit fraud within mortgage applications, including criminals applying in the name of people who have recently died, has been uncovered by a credit checking company. Experian said that during the first quarter of 2016, the proportion of attempted mortgage fraud committed by identity th
  
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• UK talking 'intensively' with Tata Steel: David Cameron - Financial Express

  05-05-2016 16:49
  
  Financial Express
  UK talking 'intensively' with Tata Steel: David Cameron
  Financial Express
  The British government is "talking intensively" with Tata Steel and will work with it to create a shortlist of "serious" buyers of the Indian steel giant's loss making units in the UK, Prime Minister David Cameron has said. By: PTI | London | Published ...en meer »
  
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• Monsanto, Dow, Syngenta: rush for mega-mergers puts food security at risk

  05-05-2016 16:30
  
  Recent deals in the global agrochemical and seed industry, driven by financial motivations, are a threat to farmers, prices and the environment
  The global agrochemical and seed industry is undergoing profound upheaval, with a spate of mergers and attempted mergers consolidating the sector and raising concerns about the future of the food system.It began last year when Monsanto started looking for a partner, trying three times (unsuccessfully) to link up with Syngenta. By the end of 2015, Dow and
  
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• The Fed's new global mandate is not without risk

  05-05-2016 13:56
  
  If the US Federal Reserve feels beholden to financial markets, the risk of sharper rate hikes will increase“There are only two tragedies in life,” Oscar Wilde wrote. “One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.” As the US Federal Reserve inches closer to achieving its targets for the domestic economy, it faces growing pressure to normalise monetary policy. But the domestic economy is no longer the Fed’s sole consideration in policymaking. On the
  
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• Financial structure at care homes group Four Seasons 'unsustainable' - Belfast Telegraph

  05-05-2016 13:42
  
  Belfast Telegraph
  Financial structure at care homes group Four Seasons 'unsustainable'
  Belfast Telegraph
  Britain's biggest care homes group Four Seasons is running out of cash and risks falling into the hands of its creditors this year, credit ratings agency Moody's has warned. Last week, Four Seasons reported a 39% fall in annual earnings to £38.7 ...
  
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• Lowdown on Barclays' 100% mortgage, a new online bank and news on rent rises

  05-05-2016 13:02
  
  Plus, homes in castles, the ‘Beverley Hills of Britain’ revealed and no-smell socksHello and welcome to this week’s Money Talks – a roundup of the week’s biggest stories and some things you may have missed. Continue reading...
  
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• Investors – and Donald Trump – are loving gold. How long will the rush last?

  05-05-2016 13:00
  
  The gold price has soared alongside the fortunes of Donald Trump, a big fan of the precious metal. How long can the new gold rush last? Two phenomena that pundits said would almost certainly never happen have taken place this week: Donald Trump clinched the Republican presidential nomination, and the price of gold capped a 15-month rally by soaring above $1,300 an ounce.Related: California gold miners seek a different type of glitter: celebrityContinue reading...
  
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• UK service sector growth slumps to three-year low – business live

  05-05-2016 11:27
  
  Growth in Britain’s dominant service sector has fallen to the lowest since February 2013, fuelling fears over the UK economyLatest: Service sector suffers slowdownEconomy nearly stalled in April, says MarkitEU referendum blamed 10.27am BSTThis chart shows why the weak service sector data probably show that UK growth has slowed sharply.If, as we expect, the UK votes to remain in the EU, then the growth rate should recover to its trend rate of 0.5% qoq in the second half of the year. While t
  
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• Morrisons records second quarter of sales growth

  05-05-2016 11:24
  
  Supermarket chain’s shares are up 2% after it said sales had risen at stores open for longer than a year Morrisons has clocked up its second quarter of sales growth as the supermarket chain presses ahead with its bid to turn the business around.The retailer was one of the FTSE’s biggest risers in Thursday morning trading after it said sales at stores open for more than a year rose 0.7% in the first quarter ending 1 May. Continue reading...
  
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• Rolls-Royce boss to announce turnaround plan is working

  05-05-2016 10:58
  
  Warren East will tell investors firm is close to ‘break-even’ in first six months, with profits expected to improve in second halfThe Rolls-Royce boss Warren East is due to tell investors that trading in the first months of the year has met expectations and that the embattled engine maker’s turnaround plan is on track.Before its annual meeting in Nottingham on Thursday, the British company, which makes engines for aircraft and ships, stuck to its full-year outlook after issuing
  
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• BT to spend £6bn on superfast broadband and 4G rollout

  05-05-2016 10:58
  
  At least 10m homes and firms to get ultrafast broadband as BT hires 1,000 new engineers and pledges improved serviceBT, under pressure from rivals and regulator Ofcom, is to invest £6bn in improving its services, including extending superfast broadband and 4G coverage to more than 95% of the UK by 2020.The UK’s largest telecoms firm laid out its investment plans on Thursday as it reported a 15% rise in pre-tax profits to £3bn for the year to 31 March, helped by stronger demand
  
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• FTSE edges higher but British Gas owner Centrica drops after £750m cash call

  05-05-2016 10:41
  
  Company to raise funds to reduce debt and pay for two acquisitionsLeading shares are edging higher after their recent tumble, but the moves are not convincing.And British Gas owner Centrica is missing out, dropping nearly 8% to 213.5p after it announced it planned to raise around £750m with a placing of 350m shares. It said the funds would be used to cut its debt mountain and also to pay for two acquisitions, energy management group Neas for £350m and another “customer facing&r
  
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• Alberta declares state of emergency as wildfire forces Fort McMurray evacuation

  05-05-2016 10:21
  
  More than 80,000 residents ordered to leave city and at least 1,600 buildings destroyed as ‘nasty, ugly’ inferno rages in hub of Canadian oil sands industryWorst of blazes ‘still to come’ after Fort McMurray evacuatedHave you been affected?
  The Canadian province of Alberta has declared a state of emergency after a raging wildfire destroyed dozens of homes, engulfed several neighbourhoods and forced the hurried evacuation of the entire city of Fort McMurray.More than 80,00
  
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• RBS owner seeking more 'attractive' financial returns after restructuring - Belfast Telegraph

  05-05-2016 10:00
  
  Belfast Telegraph
  RBS owner seeking more 'attractive' financial returns after restructuring
  Belfast Telegraph
  The boss of Ulster Bank owner Royal Bank of Scotland said the "heaviest restructuring" of the bank will be behind it by the end of the year. Ross McEwan told shareholders at the bank's annual general meeting that it will be able to focus on targeting ...en meer »
  
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• Hotel Chocolat founders make £20m each from stock market debut

  05-05-2016 09:25
  
  Angus Thirlwell and Peter Harris share £43.5m of £55.5m raised through flotation of luxury chocolate companyThe founders of Hotel Chocolat have each made more than £20m after the chocolatier floated on the London stock exchange. Hotel Chocolat’s stock market debut on Thursday morning valued the company at £167m, raising funds for the brand’s expansion in the UK and online.Continue reading...
  
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• Trinity Mirror reports 19% print ad slide as it confirms the New Day's closure

  05-05-2016 08:48
  
  Publisher says it is to focus on boosting digital revenues as it admits sales of cut-price paper were ‘below our expectations’Trinity Mirror has reported a fall of nearly 20% in print ad revenues as it confirmed it is to close the New Day after just two months.Ahead of its AGM on Thursday, the Daily Mirror publisher said the print advertising market had been “volatile” in the first four months of this year, but digital had bounced back somewhat. Continue reading...
  
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• Lessons from a life coach: three steps to conquering your fears

  05-05-2016 08:21
  
  Sometimes the only way to get past your fear is to recognise it, name it and commit to whatever you need to do to get past itI recently made several big changes to my life. I got married, expanded my business and moved from London to LA. I was excited about all these things, but even when there is an exciting change on the horizon, the little voice at the back of my head kicks in; questioning what I’m doing, doubting whether it will work. I believe that no matter how confident you are in a
  
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• Rents continue to rise across the UK and in London

  05-05-2016 08:01
  
  Latest figures show average rent outside London rose to £755 a month, while within the capital it hit £1,543The average cost of renting a property outside London rose by 5.1% in the 12 months to April, while tenants in the capital faced a 7.7% increase, according to the latest figures from referencing firm HomeLet.Its index, which is based on new lets agreed by landlords and agents using its service, shows that in the three months to April 2016 the average rent outside London rose to
  
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• It's a game changer: recruiters make a play for ideal jobseeker

  05-05-2016 08:00
  
  Tech startup Arctic Shores says its games-based recruiting tools better match companies and candidates and help create a diverse workforce
  Welcome aboard the Starship Comet – a virtual spaceship in the smartphone game Cosmic Cadet, which asks players to complete six levels of interstellar challenges in 30 minutes. The game may look and feel like Angry Birds, but it is testing more than your ability to swipe and aim. It is a psychometric assessment, which its creators believe will revolutio
  
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• How can we rent out our new house and continue living on our boat?

  05-05-2016 08:00
  
  We need to fund works on the new home, and feel buy-to-let should not be required as our purchase is not an investmentQ: My partner and I are about to buy our first home. It is selling for £425,000 and we have a 25% deposit. However, we currently live on a boat that we own, with very low living costs. In order to save up some money after the purchase, to change floors etc and have a safety stash or some savings, we would like to rent out the house for a year before moving into it.It seems
  
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• Protest never changes anything? Look at how TTIP has been derailed | Owen Jones

  05-05-2016 07:00
  
  People power has taken on big business over this transatlantic stitch-up and looks like winning. We should all be inspiredFor those of us who want societies run in the interests of the majority rather than unaccountable corporate interests, this era can be best defined as an uphill struggle. So when victories occur, they should be loudly trumpeted to encourage us in a wider fight against a powerful elite of big businesses, media organisations, politicians, bureaucrats and corporate-funded thinkt
  
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• White-collar crime by banks in Australia is rife and going unchecked, inquiry told

  05-05-2016 04:31
  
  A report to a Senate inquiry claims fraud in Australia’s financial and lending sectors is allowed to happen by regulators and the major partiesSystemic criminal activity in the finance, insurance and real estate sectors has placed the livelihoods of consumers at risk, while authorities are aware but do nothing to stop it, a report from financial thinktank, LF Economics, says.The 52-page report tabled to the Senate inquiry into white-collar crime details evidence of widespread fraud committ
  
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• Clayton Williams Energy Provides Financial Guidance for 2016 - Yahoo Finance UK

  05-05-2016 03:52
  
  Clayton Williams Energy Provides Financial Guidance for 2016
  Yahoo Finance UK
  Clayton Williams Energy, Inc. (CWEI) today filed a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission to provide financial guidance disclosures for the year ending December 31, 2016. A copy of these disclosures accompanies this release or may be ...en meer »
  
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• Clayton Williams Energy Announces First Quarter 2016 Financial Results - Yahoo Finance UK

  05-05-2016 03:37
  
  Clayton Williams Energy Announces First Quarter 2016 Financial Results
  Yahoo Finance UK
  Clayton Williams Energy, Inc. (the “Company”) (CWEI) today reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2016. Summary. Oil and Gas Production of 13.6 MBOE/d; Net Loss of $35.3 million; Adjusted Net Loss1 (non-GAAP) of $30.7 million; Cash ...en meer »
  
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• If the budget was the government's tax white paper, they flubbed it | Greg Jericho

  05-05-2016 02:41
  
  Cutting company tax handed out joy to the government’s core constituency but serves only to exacerbate some of the issues with Australia’s tax mixIn February, Malcolm Turnbull suggested the budget would “for all practical purposes” be the government tax white paper. In the end it was nothing of the sort. The major initiative of cutting company tax was a decision that handed out joy to the government’s core constituency, but serves only to exacerbate some of the issu
  
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• European Commission likely to block sale of O2 to Three owner over competition grounds

  05-05-2016 01:51
  
  Source close to competition commissioner says decision likely due to fears loss of competit would lead to higher prices for British consumersThe European Commission is likely to block Telefonica’s sale of the British telecom business O2 to Hutchison group in Hong Kong due to fears it would inflict higher prices on British consumers, a source told AFP on Wednesday.Related: Europe finally abolishes mobile phone roaming chargesContinue reading...
  
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• Enerflex Reports First Quarter 2016 Financial Results - Yahoo Finance UK

  05-05-2016 01:29
  
  Enerflex Reports First Quarter 2016 Financial Results
  Yahoo Finance UK
  CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - May 4, 2016) - Enerflex Ltd. (EFX.TO) ("Enerflex" or "the Company" or "we" or "our"), a leading supplier of products and services to the global energy industry, today reported its financial and operating results for the ...en meer »
  
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• Financial plight of UK farmers highlighted in Prince's Countryside Fund survey - FarmingUK

  05-05-2016 01:05
  FarmingUK
  Financial plight of UK farmers highlighted in Prince's Countryside Fund survey
  FarmingUK
  17 per cent of farms face major financial problems as their liquidity ratio demonstrates they do not have the ability to pay off their short term debt. Stark research into the cash flow pressures faced by farmers is released by The Prince's Countryside ...
  
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• Oil giants should ditch high-cost projects, thinktank says

  05-05-2016 01:01
  
  Shell, BP and five other big oil firms could raise market value by $140bn if they aim for schemes with a goal of keeping global warming to 2C, report suggestsShell, BP and five other top oil companies could raise their collective stock market value by up to $140bn (£97bn) if they set new strategies based on ensuring global warming is held to a 2C (4F) rise above pre-industrial levels, a new report claims on Thursday.These leading energy companies including Exxon Mobil should ditch high-cos
  
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• CBI calls on government to back manufacturing sector strategy

  05-05-2016 01:01
  
  UK’s top employers’ association to demand ministers do more to improve skills, reduce energy costs and increase R&D spendingBritain’s leading employers’ organisation will tell the government on Thursday that it needs to back a new industrial strategy to halt the decline of manufacturing and spread prosperity to the less well-off parts of the country.Carolyn Fairbairn, the director general of the CBI will strongly criticise the lack of preparedness for the crisis that
  
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• Price war rules for Sainsbury’s as they cut prices even more

  05-05-2016 00:00 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  SAINSBURY’S expects to cut more prices and sees no end to the supermarket price war as the cost of competing sent annual profits 14 per cent lower.
  
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