Reuters UK Business

PARIS (Reuters) -Orange, France’s largest telecoms operator, and Britain’s Vodafone discussed a merger of equals between mid-2020 and early 2021 but then abandoned the project due to French opposition, BFM TV reported, quoting sources. The French state, which owns 23% of Orange, was wary of losing some control and seeing the headquarters of the new …

Orange, Vodafone discussed but abandoned merger idea last year, BFM TV says Read More »

LONDON (Reuters) -Growth in Britain’s construction industry hit a four-month high in November, as supply-chain difficulties appeared to have passed their peak and a rise in commercial property work offset a slowdown in house-building, a survey showed on Monday. The monthly purchasing managers’ data also showed an easing in inflation pressures to their lowest since …

UK construction recovers as supply chain pressures ease Read More »

PARIS (Reuters) – French carmaker Renault said on Monday it had revised down its forecast for engineering and support jobs cuts in France between 2022 and 2024 to 1,700 from the 2,000 job losses previously expected. Renault, 15% owned by the French government, said in September it would start talks with unions on plans to …

Renault to cut fewer jobs than initially planned by 2024 Read More »

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain still has an acute shortage of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers but the rate at which people are leaving the sector is at least slowing, an industry group said on Monday. Logistics UK, which represents freight and haulage businesses, estimates the country lacks around 120,000 drivers, shortages that have disrupted supply …

Britain sees ‘green shoots’ of recovery from trucker crisis Read More »

By Shadia Nasralla and Ron Bousso LONDON (Reuters) – Up until a few days ago, the leadership of British North Sea producer Siccar Point was negotiating the sale of a stake in the promising Cambo oil development to another private equity-backed company, NEO, sources told Reuters. But on Thursday Royal Dutch Shell, Siccar Point’s partner …

Analysis: UK North Sea’s oil and gas future darkens after Shell’s Cambo exit Read More »

LONDON (Reuters) -British new car registrations last month were 1.7% higher than a year earlier but almost a third below their average pre-pandemic level due to ongoing computer chip shortages, industry data showed on Monday. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said 115,706 new cars were registered in November, up from 113,781 in …

UK new car sales edge up in November, but chip shortages weigh Read More »

(Reuters) -British fashion chain Ted Baker on Monday said Chairman John Barton had died, and senior independent director Helena Feltham would take on the role of interim chairman with immediate effect. In a brief statement, the London-listed retailer did not specify the cause of Barton’s death, but said it was sudden. Barton, 77, joined Ted …

UK fashion chain Ted Baker Chairman John Barton dies at 77 Read More »