Financial news

• US imposes financial sanctions on Venezuela president after election - Belfast Telegraph

  31-07-2017 22:35
  Belfast Telegraph
  US imposes financial sanctions on Venezuela president after election
  Belfast Telegraph
  The US has hit Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro with financial sanctions after an election to rewrite the constitution. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control announced the sanctions against Mr Maduro in a brief statement, a day ...en meer »
  
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• BNP Paribas to expand further into UK property business with merger

  31-07-2017 21:09 via theguardian.com
  Acquisition of property services firm Strutt & Parker will triple revenue and staff in Britain of banking group’s real estate armThe real estate arm of the banking giant BNP Paribas is to acquire a UK property services group in a deal that will triple its revenue and the number of staff it has in the country covering the business. The deal to merge the UK subsidiary of BNP Paribas Real Estate with Strutt & Parker, founded in London in 1885, will be completed in September. It comes
  
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• Bitcoin LIVE news: Latest on price as Bitcoin cryptocurrency surges ahead of BCC hard fork

  31-07-2017 20:52 via feedproxy.google.com
  BITCOIN traders are on a knife-edge ahead of the fork tomorrow, but the cryptocurrency's price is continuing to rise. Here is the latest Bitcoin price, live updates and breaking news.
  
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• Grocer Booths forced to call in accountants for financial health check

  31-07-2017 20:33 via theguardian.com
  Grant Thornton to advise upmarket family-run grocer on best way forward after tricky 18 months including £6.3m annual lossBooths, the family-owned upmarket grocer, has been forced to call in accountants to conduct a financial health check of the business after a difficult 18 months.Royal Bank of Scotland and HSBC have drafted in Grant Thornton to conduct an independent bank review of the business, which operates 28 stores across the north of England. Continue reading...
  
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• Workers who lost tribunal rights should have the chance to pursue their claims | Letters

  31-07-2017 20:31 via theguardian.com
  There should be access to justice for those who could not afford hiked tribunal fees, writes Professor John Holford, the odds are already stacked against claimants, says Tony Greenstein and Unison is congratulated for fighting the case by Frank BurchillYou report that following last week’s supreme court decision the Ministry of Justice will refund employment tribunal fees charged since 2013 (Employment tribunal fees scrapped after supreme court rules them unjust, 27 July). So it should; bu
  
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• Shocking number of scandals in the business pages | Brief letters

  31-07-2017 20:26 via theguardian.com
  Legal reports | Scandal-hit headlines | Fast-food shutdown | Viking inheritance | Time-travelling correspondent? | Smallest carnivoresI would like to suggest that, when reporting on the outcome of court cases – particularly contentious or high profile ones such as that recently involving Charlie Gard, or the employment fees decision in the supreme court, but really more generally – you should provide a link (online and in print editions) to the location of the actual judgment on the
  
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• HSBC shows what happens when a bank stops shooting itself in the foot | Nils Pratley

  31-07-2017 20:25 via theguardian.com
  The cleanup of HSBC, forced by scandals including the £1.2bn fine in the US, is finally delivering for shareholdersThe back-slapping in HSBC’s boardroom is understandable. Only 18 months ago investors were wondering if the dividend was in peril in a world where regulators insist on fatter capital buffers. Now the dividend looks so safe that HSBC can afford to throw a few billions of dollars at share buybacks. It’s been quite a turnaround. The share price has improved by a remar
  
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• Unsecured consumer credit tops £200bn for first time since 2008

  31-07-2017 20:20 via theguardian.com
  Figures come as FCA targets unauthorised overdrafts and high-cost lending to people less likely to be able to pay off debt
  The financial watchdog has announced fresh measures to protect consumers from spiralling debt as official data showed that borrowing through credit cards, overdrafts and car loans has topped £200bn for the first time since the global financial crisis. The Financial Conduct Authority said it was cracking down on the high cost of overdrafts and reviewing the booming car
  
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• So estate agents are being replaced by robots? It’s about time | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

  31-07-2017 19:47 via theguardian.com
  For years they have exploited those searching for that very simple thing – a home. But those who let them get away with it are culpable too• Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett is a freelance writerWhen you are a victim of this country’s housing crisis – and heaven knows there are millions of us – it can be hard to decide with whom to be most angry. Is it the successive governments who have failed to make home ownership an achievable ambition for much of my generation? The foreig
  
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• Qatar makes legal complaint to WTO over Gulf trade boycott

  31-07-2017 19:33 via theguardian.com
  Doha makes formal complaint against ‘coercive attempts at economic isolation’ by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and UAEQatar has filed a wide-ranging legal complaint at the World Trade Organisation to challenge a trade boycott by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates, Qatar’s WTO representative Ali Alwaleed al-Thani has told Reuters. Related: Qatar diplomatic crisis – what you need to knowContinue reading...
  
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• Moody's issues warning over UK consumer credit as borrowing hits £200bn -as it happened

  31-07-2017 19:23 via theguardian.com
  Rating agency fears that credit card and buy-to-let losses will rise, as UK economy weakens and consumer borrowing keeps climbingMoody’s downgrades UK structured finance over credit fears
  UK borrowing total hits £200bn
  Earlier:Latest: Eurozone unemployment hits eight-year lowOil price spikes after Venezuela sanctions threat 6.23pm BSTOn a relatively quiet day for company and economic news, the weakness of the dollar was a dominant theme once more. The latest going-on in the White Hou
  
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• EUROPE ECONOMY WARNING: Zombie banks present 'SERIOUS danger' for eurozone

  31-07-2017 18:51 via feedproxy.google.com
  EUROPE’S economy is fundamentally flawed with the European Central Bank keeping alive “zombie” companies and banks, the head of a German economic think tank has warned.
  
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• ESSATI firms shut door on angry customers

  31-07-2017 18:15 via feedproxy.google.com
  The scandal of bust garage doors company Essati and its rogue warranties, which have left scores of furious customers out of pocket, has now claimed another victim.
  
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• Jingle bells in July as Selfridges opens Christmas shop 147 days early

  31-07-2017 18:04 via theguardian.com
  Mixture of bemusement and excitement as retailer begins selling decorations, presents and stocking fillers at its Oxford Street storeIt might be 147 days before Christmas but on the fourth floor of Selfridges on London’s Oxford Street there are six fake fir trees decked out with fairy lights and £50-a-pop corgi and union flag baubles.A Father Christmas on Monday opened Selfridges’ annual festive shop, making it the first department store in the world to open a dedicated Christm
  
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• Ireland unlocks UK Financial Services growth in new regulatory landscapes - Bdaily

  31-07-2017 18:01
  Bdaily
  Ireland unlocks UK Financial Services growth in new regulatory landscapes
  Bdaily
  Solgari, the leading Irish cloud business communications specialist is enabling UK FinTech and Financial Services companies to fast-track compliance ahead of MiFID II implementation. Driving forward this evolution pre 2018, Solgari is providing an ...
  
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• The number of UK firms experiencing financial distress soared in the second ... - City A.M.

  31-07-2017 17:59
  City A.M.
  The number of UK firms experiencing financial distress soared in the second ...
  City A.M.
  I am a journalist for City A.M. reporting on the Industrials sector, including o [..] Show more. Follow Courtney. A supporter of the Sri Lankan Marxist JV. The red flag report found a big increase in firms experiencing "significant" distress in the ...en meer »
  
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• Why bitcoin and its digital cousins are under increasing scrutiny

  31-07-2017 17:54 via theguardian.com
  Cryptocurrencies are still more investments than way to pay, but their mainstream acceptability continues to grow, proper regulation will followCryptocurrencies are under the microscope as never before. Financial regulators in the US are concerned about the emergence of bitcoin and its digital cousins as speculative investments and have hinted that much tougher regulation is in the pipeline.Last week, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which regulates the New York financial markets, i
  
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• Bank of England staff to strike for first time in 50 years after talks fail

  31-07-2017 17:34 via theguardian.com
  Three-day strike by workers, including maintenance and security personnel, over pay to go ahead from TuesdayThe first strike by Bank of England workers in more than 50 years is to go ahead from Tuesday after last-ditch talks broke down. Members of Unite working in departments including maintenance and security will walk out for three days in a dispute over pay.Continue reading...
  
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• House prices: THIS location factor can boost home values by 22 PER CENT

  31-07-2017 16:33 via feedproxy.google.com
  IF YOUR home is position closed to a national park it can fetch tens of thousands of pounds more from buyers, research has revealed.
  
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• Free childcare to DOUBLE for parents from September - Government announce

  31-07-2017 16:13 via feedproxy.google.com
  WORKING parents in England will be able to get double the amount of free childcare from the Government from September 2017.
  
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• Bank account overdraft fees: How big charges for going over your limit could be SCRAPPED

  31-07-2017 16:02 via feedproxy.google.com
  RIP-OFF overdraft fees could soon be axed after the industry regulator today said banks are charging too much.
  
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• UK buyers 'pay 22% premium' to live in national park

  31-07-2017 15:58 via theguardian.com
  Snowdonia has lowest premium, £34,500, and New Forest in Hampshire has highest, £115,000, says Nationwide building societyLiving in one of the UK’s national parks doesn’t just mean easy access to beautiful countryside and breathtaking views – it also typically boosts the price of a property by 22%, research has revealed.
  A home located in a national park typically attracts a “price premium” of about £46,000 in cash terms over an otherwise identical
  
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• Discovery Communications to buy Scripps Networks for close to $12bn

  31-07-2017 15:42 via theguardian.com
  The owner of Animal Planet will buy the owner of Food Network, tying together two powerful stables of TV showsBear Grylls is joining forces with the Barefoot Contessa in the latest of a series of major mergers to shakeup the media landscape.Pay-TV giant Discovery, owner of Animal Planet and maker of Grylls’ Man Vs Wild, Naked and Afraid and other reality shows, will buy Food Network and lifestyle programme giant Scripps Networks for close to $12bn (£9.1bn), tying together two powerfu
  
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• EXTRA: UK Financial Reporting Council Investigates Mitie's Audits - Interactive Investor

  31-07-2017 15:34
  EXTRA: UK Financial Reporting Council Investigates Mitie's Audits
  Interactive Investor
  LONDON (Alliance News) - The UK Financial Reporting Council on Monday said it has opened an investigation into the audit of Mitie Group PLC's financial statements. The investigation will look at whether there have been any breaches of relevant ...en meer »
  
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• These 2 four-baggers could help you achieve financial independence - AOL UK

  31-07-2017 15:31
  AOL UK
  These 2 four-baggers could help you achieve financial independence
  AOL UK
  Every investor loves a multi-bagger, and here are two of my favourites. They may not operate in the most glamorous industries, but their growth rates make them stars nonetheless. Thanks a Bunzl. Shares in global distribution and outsourcing group ...en meer »
  
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• No 10 contradicts Hammond over 'off the shelf' Brexit transition deal

  31-07-2017 14:50 via theguardian.com
  Downing Street spokesman makes announcement at odds with what chancellor is thought to have told business leaders about post-2019 arrangementsDowning Street has said that the UK will not seek an “off-the-shelf” model for a post-Brexit transitional period, contradicting the position Philip Hammond is believed to have expressed to business leaders.The chancellor has been pressing for a simple transition arrangement to maintain trading conditions with Europe for at least two years after
  
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• Business Made Simple events: Edinburgh

  31-07-2017 13:36 via theguardian.com
  Join our tech skills masterclass and startup funding panel debate in Edinburgh on Thursday 28 September, 6pm-9.30pmOur Guardian Business Made Simple events series to guide you and your business through the tech world launches in Edinburgh with an expert masterclass and panel discussion on Thursday, 28 September 2017. Related: The Guardian Business Made Simple event seriesContinue reading...
  
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• Pound v US dollar: GBP close to multi-month high against USD

  31-07-2017 13:05 via feedproxy.google.com
  THE pound advanced to a 10-month high of $1.315 against the US dollar last week despite US growth data rebounding in the second quarter.
  
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• Credit card Britain: £1.5BN of debt racked up in ONE MONTH sparking fresh crisis fears

  31-07-2017 13:05 via feedproxy.google.com
  BRITISH households continued to load up on debt last month, fuelling fears families are risking a repayment crisis if interest rates rise.
  
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• Luxury railway carriage in garden – in pictures

  31-07-2017 11:58 via theguardian.com
  This two-bedroom house in the Italian town of Mombaruzzo, Piedmont, has a gorgeously colourful interior, and its guest accommodation is just the ticket Continue reading...
  
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• Should I renegotiate my offer price after survey points to problems?

  31-07-2017 10:51 via theguardian.com
  I’m thinking of asking the vendor to rectify the faulty damp-proofing or perhaps I can get an allowance from my mortgage lenderQ My girlfriend and I are in the process of buying a flat. We have had an offer agreed on the property and our survey has been conducted which has shown up a few worrying problems:
  •the damp proof injection course has failed by the back entrance leading to a 100% saturation reading;
  •the electrics are faulty and need a rewire and there are also sockets in
  
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• POUND LIVE: Pound could be about to surge amid Bank of England's interest rate decision

  31-07-2017 09:48 via feedproxy.google.com
  THE pound opened flat on Monday morning but could be in for an exciting few days ahead of the Bank of England's August interest rate decision, according to experts.
  
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• HSBC chief sounds alarm over financial regulation and Brexit

  31-07-2017 09:02 via theguardian.com
  Bank reports big rise in half-year profits to $10.2bn as chairman Douglas Flint calls for global regulation to keep markets safeThe outgoing chairman of Britain’s biggest bank, HSBC, has called for an overhaul of financial crime detection as he sounded the alarm over the impact of Brexit and attempts to fragment global financial regulation.Douglas Flint’s warning came as HSBC reported a 5% rise in first half profits to $10.2bn (£7.8bn) and announced a $2bn share buy-back &ndash
  
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• TOP NEWS: UK Financial Reporting Council Investigates Mitie's Audits - Interactive Investor

  31-07-2017 08:56
  TOP NEWS: UK Financial Reporting Council Investigates Mitie's Audits
  Interactive Investor
  LONDON (Alliance News) - The UK Financial Reporting Council on Monday said it has opened an investigation into the audit of Mitie Group PLC's financial statements. The investigation will look at whether there have been any breaches of relevant ...en meer »
  
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• UK's Financial Conduct Authority Sets Out Agenda And Priorities For Consumer ... - Exchange News Direct

  31-07-2017 08:54
  UK's Financial Conduct Authority Sets Out Agenda And Priorities For Consumer ...
  Exchange News Direct
  The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has today published the outcome of its review into high-cost credit, which includes its assessment of the effectiveness of the payday loan price cap. The review provides clear evidence that FCA regulation of high ...en meer »
  
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• Is financial independence a myth? - AOL UK Money - AOL.co.uk - AOL UK

  31-07-2017 08:17
  AOL UK
  Is financial independence a myth? - AOL UK Money - AOL.co.uk
  AOL UK
  Financial independence is a goal to which many people aspire. The idea that it is possible to be independent of the wider economy and for a portfolio to deliver ...en meer »
  
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• Is financial independence a myth? - AOL UK

  31-07-2017 08:17
  AOL UK
  Is financial independence a myth?
  AOL UK
  Financial independence is a goal to which many people aspire. The idea that it is possible to be independent of the wider economy and for a portfolio to deliver rising returns no matter how the macro outlook appears is clearly highly attractive. After ...en meer »
  
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• Podcasts were guys talking about tech, then along came Serial

  31-07-2017 08:00 via theguardian.com
  Acast’s founders took a punt on a fledgling industry with their podcast platform that provides targeted ads – then the medium went mainstreamIn 2013, podcasts were not an attractive prospect for advertisers. Audio content was largely amateur, niche and unprofitable. But the industry was on the cusp of change, and two Swedish entrepreneurs saw its potential.Måns Ulvestam and Karl Rosander, founders of Acast, spotted that more and more people were listening to podcasts. “We
  
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• Owners of ex-local authority homes face horror of bills running into thousands

  31-07-2017 08:00 via theguardian.com
  Leaseholders find themselves caught up in council drives to improve the condition of their housing stock, often at great costWhen Cat Whitehouse and her partner James Wooldridge bought their ex-local authority flat on the Roupell Park estate in Lambeth four years ago, they were told there were no major works planned on the block. Then lumps of concrete started to fall off it, prompting health and safety fears.Lambeth council initially told leaseholders that repairs to the estate would cost &poun
  
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• I offered to pay to reserve an aisle seat … but Thomson still says ‘no’

  31-07-2017 08:00 via theguardian.com
  I have medical needs but its ‘welfare’ department wouldn’t look after my welfareI booked return flights for my husband and myself to Funchal in Madeira with Thomson Airways, departing mid-July. As I suffer from a health condition that can mean frequent trips to the toilet, we prefer to have one aisle and the centre seat next to it so that I do not have to keep asking a stranger to move. I always pay extra to allow us to have our preferred choice of seats .However, I discovered
  
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• One in five high-street estate agents risk going bust, study claims

  31-07-2017 07:00 via theguardian.com
  Up to 5,000 traditional agents are struggling to survive amid growing threat from low-cost, fixed-fee online firms and larger rivals, say accountantsOne in five UK estate agents are at risk of going out of business amid a growth in online companies, new research shows.Almost 5,000 estate agents are showing signs of “financial distress”, said accountancy firm Moore Stephens. Continue reading...
  
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• Tax raid on YOUR pensions: Shock as savers overcharged £26million in THREE months

  31-07-2017 01:00 via feedproxy.google.com
  WORKERS cashing in their hard-earned pension pots early are being overtaxed to the tune of millions of pounds, it emerged yesterday.
  
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