Lloyds bank says it is cutting 650 jobs
"Significant progress has been made in mitigating the total number of potential job losses through relocation, redeployment and the release of contractors and temporary staff," Lloyds said in a statement.(AFP)
Another 650 jobs axed at Lloyds
Lloyds Banking Group said that it would axe another 650 jobs and shut a site in Nottingham as part of a raft of changes. The part-nationalised group also revealed plans to close a 265-strong network of Halifax-branded counters based within firms such as solicitors and estate agencies in a move expected to hit a further swathe of workers, although not directly employed by Lloyds. Lloyds said it had struck a deal with the Post Office to allow Halifax customers to pay in cash and cheques at the 12,000 PO branches.(press association)
Man remanded over murder charge
A man appeared before magistrates on Wednesday charged with the murder of an Army sergeant 18 years ago, police said. Sergeant Michael Newman, 34, was shot in the head as he walked from an Army careers office to his car in Derby in April 1992. The Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) was believed to be responsible for the killing. In 2004 Joseph Magee was jailed for 25 years after pleading guilty to Sgt Newman's murder on the understanding that he would be released soon afterwards under the Good Friday Agreement. Derbyshire Police confirmed Declan Duffy appeared before magistrates in Chesterfield charged with Mr Newman's murder. Police initially said it was a closed hearing, but later revealed it had been heard in open court. A spokesman said: "Declan Duffy, 36, appeared before magistrates in Chesterfield charged with the murder of Michael Newman in Derby in 1992 outside an Army recruitment office.(press association)
Banks bolster FTSE
Top shares gained in midday trade on Wednesday, boosted by banks after the ECB released figures showing a relatively low take-up of funding, and AstraZeneca surged after a U.S. drug patent was upheld. By 12:08 p.m., the FTSE 100 was up 27.23 points, or 0.6 percent at 4,941.45, having closed down 3.1 percent on Tuesday at its lowest close since September 4, 2009. "Yesterday's retest of levels at 4,898 may have formed a double bottom which could help the FTSE to bounce higher from here," said Joshua Raymond, market strategist at City Index. "Any move higher, however, would need to clear through resistance at 5,050 and if support levels of 4,898 fail to hold, further selling pressure may open the doors for the FTSE to fall lower towards the 4,630 support level." Banks rose after the European Central Bank said it lent banks 131.9 billion euros in three-month funds on Wednesday, below expectations, which eased money market tensions and cooled talk of stresses in the European banking sector.(reuters)
Harman warns of job market 'misery'
Harriet Harman has warned of "abject misery" in the jobs market after leaked Treasury documents suggested last week's Budget could drive up unemployment by as much as 1.3 million. At Commons question time, the acting Labour leader seized on the "secret Treasury analysis" to attack the Government's strategy of cuts to public services. But Prime Minister David Cameron accused her of scoring a "spectacular own goal", insisting unemployment was forecast to fall "every year under this Government". He said that, under Labour's plans, there would have been 70,000 fewer public sector jobs next year. Ms Harman said: "We were very concerned this morning to read reports that, as a result of your Budget, 1.3 million jobs will be lost.(press association)
"Significant progress has been made in mitigating the total number of potential job losses through relocation, redeployment and the release of contractors and temporary staff," Lloyds said in a statement.(AFP)
Another 650 jobs axed at Lloyds
Lloyds Banking Group said that it would axe another 650 jobs and shut a site in Nottingham as part of a raft of changes. The part-nationalised group also revealed plans to close a 265-strong network of Halifax-branded counters based within firms such as solicitors and estate agencies in a move expected to hit a further swathe of workers, although not directly employed by Lloyds. Lloyds said it had struck a deal with the Post Office to allow Halifax customers to pay in cash and cheques at the 12,000 PO branches.(press association)
Man remanded over murder charge
A man appeared before magistrates on Wednesday charged with the murder of an Army sergeant 18 years ago, police said. Sergeant Michael Newman, 34, was shot in the head as he walked from an Army careers office to his car in Derby in April 1992. The Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) was believed to be responsible for the killing. In 2004 Joseph Magee was jailed for 25 years after pleading guilty to Sgt Newman's murder on the understanding that he would be released soon afterwards under the Good Friday Agreement. Derbyshire Police confirmed Declan Duffy appeared before magistrates in Chesterfield charged with Mr Newman's murder. Police initially said it was a closed hearing, but later revealed it had been heard in open court. A spokesman said: "Declan Duffy, 36, appeared before magistrates in Chesterfield charged with the murder of Michael Newman in Derby in 1992 outside an Army recruitment office.(press association)
Banks bolster FTSE
Top shares gained in midday trade on Wednesday, boosted by banks after the ECB released figures showing a relatively low take-up of funding, and AstraZeneca surged after a U.S. drug patent was upheld. By 12:08 p.m., the FTSE 100 was up 27.23 points, or 0.6 percent at 4,941.45, having closed down 3.1 percent on Tuesday at its lowest close since September 4, 2009. "Yesterday's retest of levels at 4,898 may have formed a double bottom which could help the FTSE to bounce higher from here," said Joshua Raymond, market strategist at City Index. "Any move higher, however, would need to clear through resistance at 5,050 and if support levels of 4,898 fail to hold, further selling pressure may open the doors for the FTSE to fall lower towards the 4,630 support level." Banks rose after the European Central Bank said it lent banks 131.9 billion euros in three-month funds on Wednesday, below expectations, which eased money market tensions and cooled talk of stresses in the European banking sector.(reuters)
Harman warns of job market 'misery'
Harriet Harman has warned of "abject misery" in the jobs market after leaked Treasury documents suggested last week's Budget could drive up unemployment by as much as 1.3 million. At Commons question time, the acting Labour leader seized on the "secret Treasury analysis" to attack the Government's strategy of cuts to public services. But Prime Minister David Cameron accused her of scoring a "spectacular own goal", insisting unemployment was forecast to fall "every year under this Government". He said that, under Labour's plans, there would have been 70,000 fewer public sector jobs next year. Ms Harman said: "We were very concerned this morning to read reports that, as a result of your Budget, 1.3 million jobs will be lost.(press association)