Financial news

• UK growth revised up; Unilever vows to unlock value – as it happened

  22-02-2017 18:31 via theguardian.com
  
  All the day’s economic and financial news, as a second estimate of UK GDP shows faster growth than first thoughtLatest: Unilever acts after Kraft Heinz approachUK economy grew faster than expected in October-DecemberDetails: GDP revised to +0.7%...
  ..but business investment has droppedBritain no longer fastest growing G7 economy last yearWhat the experts say 5.31pm GMTIt was far from convincing, but most European markets managed to end the day in positive territory.News that Françoi
  
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• Gas and electricity prices may have to rise further, warns industry body

  22-02-2017 16:11
  
  Energy UK chief tells MPs rising wholesale prices and government subsidies mean continuing pressure to increase billsBritain’s big six energy suppliers are under pressure to pass on more price hikes to consumers’ energy bills, the industry trade body has warned.Npower, EDF and Scottish Power have already announced price rises for millions of customers, blaming a mix of rising wholesale costs, installation of smart meters and government policies paid for through bills. British Gas has
  
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• Amazon, Deliveroo and Uber 'still viable' with no gig economy workers

  22-02-2017 15:32
  
  Firms admit to MPs they would not go out of business if change in law meant they could no longer rely on self-employed staffAmazon, Deliveroo and Uber have admitted their businesses would remain viable if they were no longer allowed to rely on self-employed workers who do not receive sick pay, pensions or a guaranteed minimum wage.Senior executives working for the three firms, as well as the delivery company Hermes, told MPs that a change in the law being considered by the government to give mor
  
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• South Ribble: the best place to live in the UK – if you’re in your 20s

  22-02-2017 14:25
  
  The Lancashire district was named the best place in Britain for twentysomethings to move – and nowhere in the south-east even made it to the top 50Name: South Ribble.Age: 43. Continue reading...
  
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• Hotpoint tells tumble dryer owners: unplug faulty machines due to fire risk

  22-02-2017 13:55
  
  Whirlpool – which also owns Indesit, Creda and Proline – changes advice after criticism from trading standards and Which?The maker of Hotpoint and Indesit tumble dryers has changed its advice to the owners of millions of potentially dangerous machines, telling customers to unplug the appliances and stop using them until they are repaired.Whirlpool – whose brands also include Creda, Swan and Proline – on Wednesday updated the advice on its website after receiving two enfor
  
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• Brexit economy: can consumers keep shoring up the UK?

  22-02-2017 11:41 via theguardian.com
  
  The latest monthly Guardian analysis finds cracks showing in the picture of resilience seen since the vote to leave the EU• Help fund our journalism by becoming a Guardian supporterRising fuel and food prices are eating into household budgets as the impact of the Brexit vote on the value of the pound pushes up inflation, according to a Guardian analysis that casts doubt over how much longer consumers can continue to shore up the UK economy.
  Cracks are starting to show in the picture of econ
  
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• Convicted fraudsters sell Ed Sheeran tickets through Ticketmaster

  22-02-2017 10:48
  
  Husband and wife convicted of a £2m fraud in 2012 found to be listing thousands of pounds’ worth of gig ticketsA pair of convicted fraudsters are using Ticketmaster to sell thousands of pounds’ worth of seats at Ed Sheeran gigs, it has emerged, fuelling concerns among campaigners about the anonymity of touts who use secondary ticketing websites.Michael Mayiger and Michelle Meiger, who are husband and wife, were convicted of a £2m fraud in 2012 after they admitted using fa
  
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• Let's tackle 'careism' and give workers the respect they deserve | Ann Gallagher

  22-02-2017 09:27
  
  Scandal-obsessed media, low pay and lack of government interest devalue care work. Universities have a role to play in challenging negative attitudesThe word “careism” was originally coined in relation to discrimination against young people in care. It is time to re-appropriate the term to refer to negative and devaluing attitudes directed at social care and those who work in the sector. Careism is endemic, both in and beyond social care services. Social care workers are diverse in t
  
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• What next for renewables in cities? – the expert view

  22-02-2017 09:03 via theguardian.com
  
  A complex range of factors is shaping how and why cities adopt renewable energy, from costs to the need for stable power supplies
  ‘This building is its own power plant’: your stories of renewables in the cityAs renewable energy projects are rolled out in cities around the world, we spoke to companies and organisations working in the sector to find out what’s happening and what to expect. Here’s what they said. Continue reading...
  
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• Creative England Future Leaders list revealed

  22-02-2017 08:30 via theguardian.com
  
  The list recognises businesses for their services to creativity and innovation and includes startups in the film, tech and gaming industries An agency that creates beer from clouds and a production company focusing on disabled talent are among the 10 businesses to have been named in Creative England’s Future Leaders list, picked from the CE50, which is published today. The companies were chosen by a panel of creative industry judges including Emily Forbes, founder and CEO of Seenit, a crow
  
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• Six auction sites' ads banned over misleading savings claims

  22-02-2017 08:00
  
  MadBid among those under fire as ASA investigation finds exaggerated claims across the sectorControversial auction website MadBid, which makes claims in full-page national newspaper adverts about brand new cars sold for under £500 or iPhones for less than £100, has been found guilty of misleading customers following an investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority.The ASA also found against five other “pay per bid” auction sites after a probe into the sector that i
  
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• Homes at £300,000 – in pictures

  22-02-2017 08:00
  
  Your six-figure budget can get you a variety of accommodation – from a house boat to a French manor Continue reading...
  
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• BT’s crossed wires over line rental refund

  22-02-2017 08:00
  
  Its telephone adviser told me I would lose all my pre-paid charges if I cancelled my serviceIn light of its price increases, I contacted BT to cancel my service, as per the rules you recently reported. I was told that as the line rental and broadband are separate, if I cancelled I would lose my pre-paid line rental payments. I challenged this, but was told by the member of staff that BT is a big company with good lawyers and I would lose the money. Is this right? JD, by emailNo, what y
  
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• Australia's record household debt a threat to economy, says reserve bank chief

  22-02-2017 01:34 via theguardian.com
  
  Phil Lowe warns the risk of a decline in spending based on household debt levels is hard to quantify and difficult to ignoreThe governor of the Reserve Bank says it is difficult to ignore the risk of rising household indebtedness in Australia, warning record-high household debt levels have started to affect spending. Dr Phil Lowe has said further increases in indebtedness could make household balance sheets more fragile, and if households soon decide they have borrowed too much, they may cut bac
  
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• Savers told to vote with their feet for best deals, says finance expert

  22-02-2017 01:01 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  THE big banks continue to let down savers by offering inferior rates on their savings accounts.
  
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• PENSION SCANDAL: 106,000 job-jugglers MISSING OUT on auto-enrolment scheme

  22-02-2017 01:01 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  MORE than 100,000 workers are not being automatically placed into a pension because they are juggling multiple jobs - and women are particularly likely to be missing out - according to Citizens Advice.
  
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• Keep on track with your work pensions

  22-02-2017 01:01 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Millions of savers risk losing sight of their retirement nest eggs after running up multiple pension funds with different employers.
  
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• How to drive a hard bargain

  22-02-2017 01:01 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Motorists looking to buy a new or used car once the 17 registration plates go on sale next week must consider finance carefully.
  
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• City news: ASDA, Mining, Intercontinental Hotels and Wood Group

  22-02-2017 01:01 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  ASDA has posted its tenth straight quarter of falling underlying sales as it continues to lag behind its big-four rivals.
  
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• Avoid sky-high costs and charges to get the most out of your investments

  22-02-2017 01:01 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Savers must keep a close eye on investment fund charges, otherwise fees can eat up most of the profits.
  
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