Business

An initial decline was to be expected, said analysts, as certain investment funds were restricted to French-listed stocks. ADVERTISEMENT The French media company Canal+ saw its share price drop by more than 20% on Monday as the firm made its debut on the London Stock Exchange. From an opening price of 290p, shares had fallen to around 221p at around …

Parent company IDS agreed to the takeover in May, although both sides have been awaiting UK government approval. ADVERTISEMENT The sale of Royal Mail’s parent company to Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský has been approved by the UK government, the involved firms have announced. The £3.6bn (€4.3bn) takeover of International Distribution Services (IDS) was given the green light after Křetínský’s EP …

Eurozone services rebounded in December, lifting overall activity despite a manufacturing slump and job cuts. Germany and France remain in contraction, weighed by political uncertainty. Inflationary pressures persist, keeping the ECB’s interest rate path uncertain. ADVERTISEMENT The eurozone’s private sector ended 2024 on a mixed note, with December’s data showing a surprising revival in the services sector amid a persistent …

China reported disappointing retail sales data for November, underscoring ongoing challenges with sluggish consumer demands. The data will likely weigh on the European stock markets, particularly in consumer, energy, and mining sectors. ADVERTISEMENT After ending last week on a negative note, European stock markets are expected to remain under pressure following disappointing Chinese retail sales figures released on Monday. Retail …

Seasonal job postings and searches on Indeed in the UK show a clear trend, peaking in November. In 2024, searches hit a record high, while postings remained low. ADVERTISEMENT Christmas markets are buzzing across Europe, drawing in crowds with their cozy lights, mulled wine, and festive treats. But behind the scenes, these winter wonderlands need plenty of helping hands to …

“If our competitiveness hinges on having the cheapest energy prices in the world, we have a problem,” E.ON’s CEO tells The Big Question. ADVERTISEMENT Imagine your local roads and how they can just about handle the amount of cars using them daily.  Now add 20 million more cars. Traffic jams, break downs and delays – problematic, right? That’s basically what …

Market movements this week will hinge on eurozone business activity data and key interest rate decisions by major central banks, including the Fed, Bank of England, and Bank of Japan. ADVERTISEMENT The financial markets face a busy final week before Christmas. Three major central banks, including the Federal Reserve (Fed),  the Bank of England, and the Band of Japan are …

The ECB cut rates by 25 basis points to 3%, dropping its commitment to keep policy “sufficiently restrictive” and signalling confidence in achieving its 2% inflation target. Economists expect gradual cuts to continue, with risks from trade tensions and geopolitical uncertainties looming. ADVERTISEMENT The European Central Bank (ECB) delivered its fourth rate cut of the year on Thursday, lowering the …

Major tech companies are seeking to improve their relationship with the incoming president. ADVERTISEMENT Amazon is planning to donate $1 million (€950,000) to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration fund, a company spokesperson confirmed on Thursday evening. The e-commerce giant will also stream Trump’s inauguration on its Prime Video service, which is viewed as a separate in-kind donation – worth another $1 …

“It’s an absolutely sh*t situation,” said Norway’s energy minister Terje Aasland cited by FT, reacting to electricity prices in the country that are six times that of the EU average these days. ADVERTISEMENT The two ruling parties in Norway are pledging to campaign to cut the two power interconnectors that link the country with Denmark, when they come up for …