Business

A stricken financial services group that has had its shares suspended amid apparent accounting irregularities will this week disclose that it has received takeover approaches for parts of its business. Sky News has learnt that MJ Hudson, which floated on London’s junior stock market on the day of the 2019 general election, will announce on

Land Securities Group, the FTSE-100 property owner, is lining up one of Britain’s most prominent boardroom figures as its next chairman. Sky News has learnt that Sir Ian Cheshire, the chairman of Channel 4 and Spire, the private hospital operator, has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Cressida Hogg as Landsec’s chairman. People close

Among Ian King’s guests are: Sky’s economics and data editor Ed Conway and chief economic strategist at Netwealth, Gerard Lyons, who’ve been crunching the latest GDP numbers; former trade and investment minister Lord Price talks about WorkL, a platform which aims to make people happier at work; and there’s Michael Ward, MD at Harrods, discussing

Attempts to settle public sector pay disputes have been undermined by “spiteful” anti-strike legislation tabled by the government this week, the UK’s senior union official has told Sky News. Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), vowed to fight the proposed laws “tooth and nail”, and questioned whether ministers negotiating with public

Good news has been in such rare supply in economics recently that it’s worth dwelling on it when it arrives. This morning, on Friday 13th of all days, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) announced that the economy had grown by 0.1% in November. This is hardly especially strong gross domestic product growth, but it’s

The economy grew by 0.1% in November, partly aided by the football World Cup, according to official figures which call into question predictions the UK is already in recession. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed pressure on demand from the effects of high inflation but a boost from people packing pubs and

The RMT union has announced it is working with train operators “towards a revised offer” following more talks to end strike action. After today’s negotiations with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), the RMT said: “We have had detailed discussions and we are working jointly towards a revised offer. “Both parties have agreed to continue discussions

Tesco’s boss says he “thinks and hopes” food inflation, which stood at a record high in December, will start to ease in the second half of the year. Ken Murphy was speaking after the UK’s largest retailer claimed it was the only one of the major supermarket chains to have grown its market share versus

The Transport Select Committee heard from two sides in the national rail dispute, but the most important voice – the third rail – was not even in the room. Mick Whelan, of drivers’ unions Aslef, put the chances of resolution at zero (on a scale of one to 10) while Mick Lynch, of the RMT,

Up to 3,200 jobs are to go at Goldman Sachs as part of the biggest restructuring efforts at the company since the global financial crash. The US-based multinational financial services company and investment bank is embarking on a series of cost-saving measures after the deal making and market boom of the COVID-19 pandemic dried up

Amazon has revealed plans to shut three UK warehouses, a decision that will affect 1,200 jobs, but open two new major fulfilment centres. Sites in Hemel Hempstead, Doncaster and Gourock, in the west of Scotland, have been proposed for closure. A spokesman said all the workers would be offered roles at other existing Amazon locations.

Consumer spending failed to keep pace with inflation in December, figures suggest, likely bolstering the view among economists that the UK is in recession. Closely watched data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Barclaycard showed spending rose by 6.9% and 4.4% in value terms respectively in December compared to a year ago. Both readings

Businesses are set to secure £5.5bn in scaled back government support to help them with their energy bills from the start of April, after the current scheme ends. The new Energy Bill Discount Scheme will reduce rather than cap energy costs for businesses and will last for 12 months. The latest measure replaces the Energy

All businesses are set to secure further taxpayer support for their energy bills when the current scheme ends in March but at a reduced cost to the taxpayer. The government is set to confirm later on Monday that it has decided on applying a discount to wholesale prices, for up to a year, following talks

Richard Branson has revealed a bizarre story about finding Elon Musk in the kitchen of his New Mexico house in the middle of the night before his first space flight. In an interview this weekend, Mr Branson said the Twitter and Tesla owner was completely barefoot, holding his fast-asleep baby X Æ A-12, and had

The UK’s flag carrier airline has rolled out its first uniform change in 20 years, offering its 30,000 workers a choice of jumpsuits, hijabs, three-piece suits, and tunics. From spring this year, engineers and ground handling agents will be dressed in the designs of fashion designer, Ozwald Boateng, with cabin crew, pilots and check-in agents

Rail minister Huw Merriman will meet union leaders including Mick Lynch of the RMT on Monday after three weeks of unseasonal disruption left the two sides apparently as far apart as ever. While both say they are ready to talk, unions remain committed to further strikes if required and the government is legislating to limit

Windfall tax payments are to hit Shell by around $2bn (£1.7bn), the oil and gas company has estimated. The cost of the UK’s energy profits levy and the EU’s recently announced solidarity contribution will reach $2bn (£1.7bn) in tax liabilities in the final three months of its financial year, the firm said in a fourth

House prices have dropped for the fourth month in a row as cost of living pressures and higher borrowing costs dampen demand. The average house price fell to £281,272 in December, according to data from Halifax. It was a 1.5% decrease from November prices, which had already fallen more than 2%, representing the fastest decrease

Rail passengers are facing a fourth day of travel disruption as thousands of workers continue to strike over jobs, pay and conditions. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at Network Rail and 14 other train operators will walk out on Friday in action that is set to last 48 hours. Only around