London close: Equities close higher as oil prices rise, BoJ loosens policy
29th Jan 2016 16:11
(ShareCast News) - The UK equity market closed higher on Friday as oil prices rose and the Bank of Japan's latest policy decision was well received. Oil prices gained on hopes of a deal by major exporters to cut production to address the global supply glut. At 1640 GMT, Brent crude rose 1.4% to $34.
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: South Africa rate rise sends Old Mutual surging
29th Jan 2016 14:50
(ShareCast News) - The FTSE 100 was back over the 6,000 mark on Friday, rising 105.69 points (1.78%) to 6,037.47 by mid-afternoon. Old Mutual topped the list after South Africa's central bank raised interest rates for the second time in two months yesterday. The bank also cut its growth forecast as
Read moreBT completes EE acquisition; Openreach still an issue
29th Jan 2016 11:14
(ShareCast News) - BT Group said on Friday that it has completed its £12.5bn acquisition of mobile network operator EE. However, the deal still faces a challenge in the form of industry regulator Ofcom, which is currently investigating whether BT should be made to spin off its Openreach arm on compe
Read moreOfcom launches business broadband code to highlight internet speed misselling
26th Jan 2016 11:25
(ShareCast News) - Businesses were being promised more accurate information on broadband speeds on Tuesday, with Ofcom revealing details of a new code of practice that will allow companies to walk away from contracts free of charge if speeds are not as promised. The regulator said that, under a new
Read moreBT promises 1,000 new call centre jobs in next 15 months
18th Jan 2016 10:34
(ShareCast News) - BT Group plans to double the size of its UK customer services workforce with an extra 1,000 new jobs before April 2017. Regulator Ofcom on Friday released figures that showed BT was rated below average for landline and broadband customer service, while soon-to-be-acquired mobile n
Read moreBT Group gets approval to acquire EE
15th Jan 2016 07:13
(ShareCast News) - The Competition and Markets Authority has approved BT Group's plans to acquire EE, bringing together the UK's largest fixed telecoms business and the UK's largest mobile telecoms business. The approval was granted on Friday unconditionally without remedies, and allows the telco to
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: BHP Billiton, Massive immigration, State pensions
15th Jan 2016 06:59
(ShareCast News) - BHP Billiton has announced a multi-billion-dollar writedown of its US assets as the commodities giant struggles with plummeting prices. The company could be forced to halve its dividend to weather the storm in the commodities sector, blamed "significant volatility and much weaker
Read moreBT said to consider joint ventures with Deutsche Telekom
11th Jan 2016 11:33
(ShareCast News) - BT Group is said to be considering joint ventures with Deutsche Telekom once the acquisition of EE goes through and it becomes its largest shareholder. The group's chairman, Sir Mike Rake, said strategic partnerships and more media deals to boost the television channels shown over
Read moreBT appoints Clive Selley as CEO of Openreach
11th Jan 2016 10:37
(ShareCast News) - BT Group has appointed Clive Selley as the new chief executive officer of its broadband infrastructure unit, Openreach. He will replace Joe Garney, who is leaving to become CEO of Nationwide Building Society and the handover will take place this quarter. Selley is currently CEO o
Read moreBT and TalkTalk broadband pricing appeals to be referred to CMA
6th Jan 2016 12:48
(ShareCast News) - After BT and TalkTalk appealed against telecom regulator Ofcom's ruling on superfast broadband charges, the matter has been referred to the the Competition and Markets Authority. The Competition Appeal Tribunal has referred the matter to the CMA following the appeals made after Of
Read moreThursday newspaper share tips: Fears of BT Openreach split overdone
3rd Dec 2015 11:38
(ShareCast News) - Fears that BT may be forced to sell its infrastructure arm have been overdone, according to The Telegraph's Questor. Sharon White, the head of Ofcom, told the BBC earlier this week that it is looking at four options to for the FTSE 100 telco as it plans to merge with mobile phone
Read moreCMA to probe cloud storage, price comparison sites and local councils
30th Nov 2015 11:51
(ShareCast News) - Probes into the cloud storage industry, price comparison websites and local government authorities will all be launched by the UK competition watchdog in coming few months, with the support of Chancellor George Osborne. An investigation has already begun into cloud storage, the Co
Read moreLondon open: Stocks move higher despite Paris attacks
16th Nov 2015 08:10
(ShareCast News) - 'Meme pas peur', 'not a bit afraid', has been the initial reaction of investors to this weekend's terrorist attacks in Paris. Contrary to pre-market indications, the FTSE 100 quickly moved into the black on Monday morning and as of 0914 GMT, was 0.56% higher at 6,151.07. Meanwhile
Read moreJoe Garner to leave BT and head up Nationwide
16th Nov 2015 07:17
(ShareCast News) - The head of BT Group's local access network division Openreach is leaving to become chief executive of Nationwide. Joe Garner will take up the position at the mortgage and savings provider in spring 2016. BT Group said on Monday that one of Garner's key roles during his 22 month
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Paris reaction, banking fallout, HBOS, Rolls
15th Nov 2015 15:57
(ShareCast News) - Analysts and strategists have predicted European and Asian stock markets will fall sharply but not lead to a major crash on Monday amid fears that the terror attacks in Paris will hurt Europe's economic recovery. European markets are expected to lose 2% when trading begins, with t
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