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Important information: The value of investments can go down as well as up so you may get back less than you invest. Investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. This is a third-party news feed and may not reflect Fidelity’s views.

Wednesday newspaper round-up: BT Group, Water bills, CAB Payments

(Sharecast News) - The telecoms regulator has issued a warning to the chief executive of BT over his comments that the group's Openreach network expansion would "end in tears" for rivals and has opened an investigation into its performance. Ofcom said Philip Jansen's comments were of "significant concern" and that it "would be extremely concerned to see similar comments in future and will be keeping this under close review". - The Times Water companies are drawing up plans to increase household bills by up to 40 per cent to pay for the cost of tackling the sewage crisis and the consequences of climate change. In a move that has alarmed ministers, England's privatised utilities said that they needed the extra money to meet strict pollution targets. - The Times

Britain's financial technology sector received a double boost as payments firm Wise said its profits have more than trebled, while another confirmed plans to list on the London Stock Exchange next week. Wise, which specialises in international money transfers, posted a profit of £146.5million for the year to the end of March, up from £43.9million in 2022. And CAB Payments revealed that its shares would list on the London market next Thursday with a projected value of around £851million. - Daily Mail

Britain risks missing out on more than £100bn worth of electric car production, unless ministers use "every policy, every fiscal and regulatory lever" to compete with the EU, automotive chiefs have said. Industry leaders warned over the cliff-edge faced by looming post-Brexit tariffs on electric vehicles, saying ministers needed to urgently improve science education and secure tax-free deals to avoid a drop-off. - Daily Telegraph

Boots, Britain's biggest high street chemist, is to pull down the shutters on 300 shops over the next year as part of a cost-cutting drive by its American owner. The company will reduce its estate from 2,200 to about 1,900 stores amid speculation that the business could be put up for sale. - The Times

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Thursday newspaper round-up: Thames Water, mortgage costs, UK car production
(Sharecast News) - Thames Water has breached its licence to supply water to nearly 16 million people after some of its debt was downgraded to junk status. The regulator Ofwat could now fine Thames, the country's largest water monopoly, up to 10% of its annual turnover, equating to hundreds of millions of pounds. However, since the company is already teetering close to temporary renationalisation, Ofwat is likely to hold off on any immediate large fines. - Guardian
Wednesday newspaper round-up: Reckitt, Tesla, Virgin Atlantic...
(Sharecast News) - Reckitt is under pressure from top shareholders to revisit a sale of its nutrition business, following litigation and a series of other setbacks at the division that have sent the company's share price to decade lows. The FTSE 100 consumer giant acquired the Mead Johnson infant formula business in 2017 for $17bn - its largest-ever acquisition - and it has been plagued by mishaps ever since. Meanwhile, the wider group, which makes Lysol detergent and Durex condoms, has underwhelmed investors as it struggles to build back sales volumes following a period of high inflation and suppressed consumer demand. - Financial Times
Tuesday newspaper round-up: Kamala Harris, Crowdstrike, Vivendi...
(Sharecast News) - Kamala Harris has secured enough delegates from her party to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination, as she pledged to offer Americans a "brighter future" compared to the "chaos, fear and hate" proposed by Donald Trump. The US vice-president was speaking in Wilmington, Delaware, on Monday, the first full day since President Joe Biden dropped his re-election bid and endorsed her for the Democratic presidential nomination, shaking up the 2024 race for the White House. - Financial Times
Monday newspaper round-up: Biden, gambling levy, UK economy...
(Sharecast News) - Kamala Harris, the vice-president, has emerged as the frontrunner to replace President Biden as the Democratic nominee for the election against Donald Trump in November. Biden, 81, announced yesterday afternoon that he would drop out of the race. In the hours that followed, Harris, 59, was endorsed by leading Democrats, prospective rivals and the chairs of all 50 state parties. - The Times

Important information: This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice. When you are thinking about investing in shares, it’s generally a good idea to consider holding them alongside other investments in a diversified portfolio of assets. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

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