The Times
Pro-Europe CBI poll was rigged, claims ‘no’ lobby: The CBI is facing an embarrassing investigation by the British Polling Council, amid claims that its survey showing that eight out of ten businesses supported staying in the EU was rigged.
Ofcom wants radio silence from pirates: The concept of ‘Pirate Radio’ may be steeped in nostalgia for Radio Caroline but the country’s telecoms regulator has kicked off a clampdown of modern-day pirate DJs that it says put lives at risk.
£8 billion HBOS was valueless, Lloyds Chief warned bank: A main board Director of Lloyds TSB described HBOS as valueless days before Lloyds decided to pay nearly £8 billion for it in what was to prove to be one of the most calamitous deals in banking history, court documents show.
Americans at wheel as U.K. road network changes hands: The management of England’s motorways and main roads is to be handed over to an American infrastructure company and a firm of accountants.
Miner with projects in Spain seeks new listing: The Alternative Investment Market, starved of flotations from the natural resources sector in recent months, will greet an unusual debutant in the new year, a company with two mines in Andalusia, Spain.
Glencore’s Congo oil deal questioned: Glencore has struck a long-term oil deal with the Republic of the Congo in defiance of promises that the African country made to international lenders in return for debt relief.
High street warns extra £14 billion of costs is ‘unsustainable’: High street retailers could have to stump up an extra £14 billion by 2020 to meet a swathe of new tax changes and initiatives introduced by George Osborne.
Global expansion is on the cards for Paperchase: Paperchase has secured a new multimillion-pound funding deal to fuel its expansion in Britain and abroad months after shelving plans to sell the business.
The Independent
Rate cuts fail to rouse China as manufacturing contracts again: Hopes of a revival for China’s slowing economy were dashed after its manufacturing sector shrank for a third successive month in October, as a raft of stimulus measures failed to steer it back on course.
Foreign companies flout rule on registering in U.K. and escape prosecution: Only one overseas company has been prosecuted for failing to register with Companies House after opening a British business in the past five years – despite 90 public complaints in that time.
Third of young women will earn less than they need to live on next year, says Resolution Foundation: Over a third of women in their twenties will earn less than they need to live on next year, according to a study which will dampen the announcement of a rise in the level of the Living Wage.
Financial Times
Investec taps U.K.’s Northern Powerhouse: Investec, the international specialist bank and asset Manager, is to launch an investment banking operation in the north of England, its first in the U.K. outside London.
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/c9cee148-7f1d-11e5-98fb-5a6d4728f74e.html#axzz3qImbGejY
BAE Systems to pay £20.6 million for 20% of space engine group: A revolutionary engine that could propel aircraft into outer space and back at five times the speed of sound came a step closer, after BAE Systems agreed to buy a 20% in Reaction Engines.
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/a25d2798-7f1b-11e5-98fb-5a6d4728f74e.html#axzz3qImbGejY
M&A volumes weaken in October despite megadeals: Dealmakers have just completed the weakest October for almost 20 years as the total number of mergers and acquisitions transactions announced fell about two-fifths from this year’s average.
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/45f8f26c-7f56-11e5-ae43-f6d4a22c5a1a.html#axzz3qImbGejY
Patient capital overtakes VC for U.K. tech groups: Long-term investments funds that provide “patient capital” have overtaken traditional venture capital as a source of investment for the U.K.’s emerging tech start-ups, according to new data.
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/d6420472-7f0f-11e5-a1fe-567b37f80b64.html#axzz3qImbGejY
Company alarm at order to publish gap in male and female pay: A government decision to force employers to disclose the pay difference between male and female staff is sending shivers through the boardrooms of corporate Britain, with some fearful of big lawsuits from female employees.
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/203c318c-8083-11e5-8095-ed1a37d1e096.html#axzz3qImbGejY
Segolene Royal calls on UN summit to raise fossil fuel cost: The UN summit due to finalise a new global climate change agreement in Paris next month should look at raising the cost of burning fossil fuels, says French cabinet Minister, Segolene Royal.
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/a1d14842-7f41-11e5-98fb-5a6d4728f74e.html#axzz3qImbGejY
Commerzbank Chief Martin Blessing to quit next year: Commerzbank’s long-serving Chief Executive will not renew his contract when it expires next year, Germany’s second-biggest bank said.
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/5417c69e-80b8-11e5-a01c-8650859a4767.html#axzz3qImbGejY
India’s Alibaba-backed PayTM plots $755 million 3-year expansion: PayTM, the Indian payments start-up supported by Alibaba of China, plans to invest Rs 50 billion ($764 million) in an aggressive three-year expansion, as it aims to become India’s largest ecommerce group by revenue.
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/18c7bfe2-7ee5-11e5-93c6-bba4b4b36134.html#axzz3qImbGejY
Airbnb faces crunch vote in San Francisco: Airbnb faces a vote that could cripple its business model in its home town of San Francisco, at time when the home rental site is grappling with a growing number of policy and regulatory challenges.
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/c6a9d174-7e98-11e5-a1fe-567b37f80b64.html#axzz3qImbGejY
Lex:
U.S. casinos: bet the house: U.S. gambling companies nearly crapped out during the financial crisis, and were then dealt a supply glut – regional casinos had overbuilt. But a few groups have a card up their sleeves: the real estate beneath their gaming empires.
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/3/79c14cd8-7f02-11e5-98fb-5a6d4728f74e.html#axzz3qImbGejY
The Daily Telegraph
Bank of England and U.S. authorities to simulate cyber-attack: The biggest banks in the U.K. and U.S. will face a simulated major cyber-attack from the Bank of England and its U.S. counterparts this month, as officials probe the industry’s ability to withstand assaults from hackers looking to steal data or cripple the financial sector.
Greek banking system needs €14.4 billion after ECB finds capital black hole: Greece’s battered banking system will need to plug a €14 billion black hole to get back on its feet, the European Central Bank has found.
Hackers may have accessed 2000 Vodafone customer details: Hackers may have accessed the bank details of nearly 2,000 Vodafone customers, the company has said.
Investors should be wary of ‘click and collect’ interest: Peer-to-peer lending has been hailed as a great new development in financial innovation and is growing at a rapid rate. But it also bears all the hallmarks of a disaster waiting to happen, and there are several reasons why investors should never be putting their money at risk in this industry.
Clothing sales fall leaves M&S revival looking a little ragged: Marks and Spencer is due to report another slump in clothing sales, heaping renewed pressure on Chief Executive Marc Bolland.
The Guardian
U.K. losing millions in VAT from non-EU sellers on Amazon and eBay: The U.K. is expected to lose tens of millions of pounds in VAT avoidance and evasion this Christmas as a growing number of non-EU sellers, including hundreds from China, increasingly dominate sales of popular gifts on Amazon and eBay.
Fresh signs of slowdown will force interest rates rise to be put on hold: Fresh signs the U.K. economy is losing steam amid a global slowdown will force the Bank of England to keep interest rates at their record low this week. Policymakers, however, will likely warn households to prepare for higher borrowing costs next year.
Selfridges reports record annual profits: As retailers gear up for Black Friday and Christmas amid recent signs of a slowdown in spending, the department store group Selfridges has reported record profits for year ending January 2015.
Amazon loses U.K. market share in non-digital entertainment to high street: Amazon has lost market share in non-digital films, video games and music for the first time in at least four years as the high street fights back.
U.K. banks await windfall news from likely £14 billion sale of Visa Europe: Britain’s biggest banks are expected to find out on Monday whether they are in line for a multimillion pound windfall from a £14 billion sale of Visa Europe.
Daily Mail
While James Bond’s latest Aston Martin was stealing show at premiere of Spectre, the manufacturer was locked in talks with unions over planned redundancies: While James Bond’s latest Aston Martin, the DB10, was stealing the show at last week’s premiere of Spectre the car’s manufacturer was locked in talks with unions over planned redundancies.
Sports Direct probed by competition watchdog over allegations it blocked negative reviews: Regulators are investigating Sports Direct over allegations that it blocked negative reviews of products on its website in an apparent attempt to boost sales.
Quarter of small and medium-sized building firms at risk of going out of business because clients do not pay bills promptly: A quarter of small and medium-sized building firms are at risk of going out of business because clients do not pay their bills promptly.
Charitable donation website JustGiving plunged into the red last year: Charitable donation website JustGiving plunged into the red last year.
Daily Express
Drive down car costs after the rise in insurance premium tax: Millions of drivers will have to pay more for their motor insurance as a new tax hike comes into force after Chancellor George Osborne announced in his July Budget that he would increase insurance premium tax (IPT) from 6% to 9.5% from November 1.
Thumbs up for Facebook third-quarter results: Facebook is set to report bumper third quarter results on Wednesday, thanks to its booming advertising business.
Spyhole firm takes peep into the future: Peeple, the John Lewis-backed manufacturer of smart spyholes for front doors, is looking to raise money from venture capital groups to ramp up its expansion.
HSBC profits to hit £3 billion: Pretax profits at HSBC are set to rise 7.4% to $4.7 billion (£3 billion) for the third quarter thanks to “aggressive” cost cutting, analysts predict.
Gordon Ramsay’s £13 million plan for extension comes to the boil: Gordon Ramsay has borrowed £13 million from Barclays to fund the expansion of his restaurant empire.
The Scottish Herald
MacRoberts lifts profits after post-referendum surge: Scottish law firm MacRoberts has reported a modest rise in profits after its workload surged following the independence referendum.
Peanut allergy firm Alfacyte moving to BioCity: Pharmaceutical company Alfacyte is relocating to the BioCity complex in Lanarkshire as it pursues developing of an oral vaccine to treat peanut allergy.
Anderson Strathern adds to litigation team: Law firm Anderson Strathern has beefed up its litigation team with three additions.
The Scotsman
Peoples Group revs up to fourth consecutive record: Peoples Group, one of Scotland’s biggest independent car dealerships, has posted a record‑breaking financial and vehicle sales performance for the fourth consecutive year, and is geared up for further expansion.
Britain ‘outstrips rest of EU in economic performance’: Britain’s economic performance has outstripped all major European Union countries and it is now one of the best places in the world to start up a business, an international survey of wealth and happiness has found.
Small firms’ output hit by strong pound: Output among small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMEs) fell at the fastest pace since January 2013 in the three months to October, a survey out reveals.
Morrisons to launch freshly made sandwich range: Supermarket giant Morrisons is to become the first of the four food retailers to go head‑to‑head with high street “desighner” sandwich chains by launching a freshly made in store range.
City A.M.
Chancellor George Osborne in Berlin to meet German Ministers for talks on non-Eurozone states: Chancellor George Osborne heads to Berlin, where he is expected to make the case for protecting the interests of non-Eurozone states in crunch talks with German government officials.
Italy’s Franklin & Marshall to launch its second London store: Vintage Italian sports retailer Franklin & Marshall is to open its second U.K. store in Wembley Park’s London Designer Outlet (LDO) next month after launching its debut store in Covent Garden last year.
HMV and Game steal entertainment market share from Amazon: HMV, Game Digital and Argos staged a comeback in the last three months after growing sales of video games, CDs and DVDs at the expense of their online rival Amazon.
HSBC third-quarter results: Investors await details on bank’s restructuring and relocation: Investors will be looking for further indications of whether HSBC will relocate from London when Britain’s biggest bank reveals its third-quarter results.
