Wednesday newspaper round-up: Ukraine, Floats, M&S...

19th Feb 2014 07:13

Violent clashes in Kiev continued for a second day on Wednesday as Ukrainian riot police battled anti-government protesters occupying a central square in the capital amid the worst crisis the country has faced since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. More than 20 people were reported killed and hundreds injured in Tuesday's violence - the deadliest clashes in three months of anti-government protests. - Financial Times Hopes that stock markets have finally reopened as a conduit for corporate cash have lifted after banks announced plans to float companies with a combined value of more than $10bn. In one of the busiest days for financial markets since the credit crunch Poundland, the discount retailer, ISS the cleaning company, and King, the maker of Candy Crush Saga, all announced their intention to become public companies. - The TimesMarks & Spencer, Britain's biggest clothing retailer, has launched a new website platform, a key plank of its strategy to reverse nearly a decade of market share decline in its most profitable business. The 130-year old group, which has reported 10 straight quarters of declining underlying sales in its general merchandise division including clothing, said on Tuesday its new site had gone live after more than three years of development. - The Daily TelegraphThe Government has granted Scotland permission to issue its own bonds - but with a warning that it is "unlikely to be a cost effective form of borrowing". The Treasury said Scotland will be able to issue up to £2.2bn on the international bond markets for capital investment in road, hospitals, schools and flood defences. The bonds will not be guaranteed by the UK Government. - The Daily TelegraphPower giant Drax wants compensation if the Treasury freezes the carbon tax, arguing it would lose out on expected earnings from burning biomass. Dorothy Thompson, chief executive, said a freeze of the UK's unilateral, rising levy - widely expected to be announced at the Budget next month - would help keep the lights on and offer consumers cheaper energy. - The Daily TelegraphSpanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial is looking to land Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports in a potential £800m deal. The three airports are owned by Heathrow Airport Holdings (HAH), previously BAA, in which Ferrovial holds a 25% share although its HAH partners are keen to move their sole focus to Heathrow airport. Ferrovial wants to diversify its business away from Spain's struggling construction sector and the three airports would be better placed than Heathrow to benefit from aviation traffic growth because they have more spare capacity. - Daily ExpressAB