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CNN —Denmark’s old stock exchange was engulfed in a massive fire on Tuesday morning, with video from the scene showing flames ripping violently through the historic building in the center of the capital. Footage showed huge plumes of black smoke billowing from the Copenhagen landmark as emergency responders worked below. Ida Marie/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP/Getty ImagesPeople salvage a painting from the old stock exchange after a violent fire broke out on Tuesday morning. Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP/Getty ImagesThe old stock exchange – located only a few minutes walk from Christiansborg Palace – dates back to 1625. The Danish Chamber of Commerce, which is based in the building, described the scene as “a terrible sight.”File photograph of the Old Stock Exchange building.

Persons: CNN —, Ida Marie, Ritzau Scanpix, Ida Marie Odgaard, King Christian IV, Jakob Engel, Schmidt, Luke MacGregor, Frank Trier Mikkelsen, Mikkelsen Organizations: CNN, Getty, Danish, of Commerce, Old Stock Exchange, Bloomberg Locations: Copenhagen, AFP, Palace, Danish

☆ Banksy mural worth over $1.2m lost as building demolished
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Lianne Kolirin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A mural painted by Banksy which first appeared not long after Britain voted to leave the European Union (EU) has been destroyed after the building it was painted on was knocked down. The mural, which adorned the Castle Amusements building, depicted a worker chipping away at one of the 12 yellow stars on the blue EU flag. Then, in 2019, the mural — which had become a tourist landmark in the town, a major gateway into the EU — disappeared overnight after being whitewashed. Now, despite attempts at potentially restoring the work, the building on which it was painted has been demolished as part of a wider regeneration project. Luke MacGregor/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesIn a detailed explanation of the project online, the council said it had not been involved in painting or covering up the mural.

Persons: Banksy, DDC, Luke MacGregor, ” Organizations: CNN, Britain, European Union, EU, Dover City Council, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: Dover, Margate

Despite that, the latest Reuters poll narrowly showed Bank Rate peaking at 5.50%, down from 5.75% predicted in July. All but one of 62 economists in the Aug. 16-23 poll expected Bank Rate to go up 25 basis points to 5.50% next month. The medians showed Bank Rate remaining on hold after September's hike until Q3 next year, though a significant minority - 47% or 29 of 62 economists - estimated a higher peak. That is a flip from a July poll when a slim majority, 51% or 31 of 61 participants, predicted Bank Rate at 5.75% or more by year-end. The wider poll showed inflation averaging 6.8% and 4.7% this quarter and next.

Persons: Luke MacGregor, BoE, James Smith, Simon Wells, Shaloo Shrivastava, Jonathan Cable, Mumal Rathore, Rahul Trivedi, Purujit Arun, Ross Finley, John Stonestreet Organizations: of, REUTERS, Bank of England, Reuters, ING, Reserve, European Central Bank, HSBC, Thomson Locations: of England, London, BRITAIN, BENGALURU, LONDON, Western Europe

☆ NatWest cuts forecast peak for BoE rates to 5.5% from 6%
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Signage at a branch of NatWest Bank pictured in central London, May 21, 2008. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor/File PhotoLONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - NatWest Markets cut its forecast for the peak in Bank of England interest rates to 5.5% after the BoE's announcement of a latest rate hike and new guidance on Thursday, down from 6% it previously forecast. "We are revising our Bank Rate forecast and now look for just one more 25bp hike to 5.5% in September," NatWest Markets' chief UK economist, Ross Walker, wrote in a note to clients. "The apparent rowing-back in the MPC's policy-tightening guidance leaves us comfortable maintaining our negative bias on sterling," NatWest added. Reporting by David Milliken Editing by William SchombergOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Luke MacGregor, Ross Walker, David Milliken, William Schomberg Organizations: NatWest Bank, REUTERS, NatWest, Bank of, NatWest Markets, Thomson Locations: London, Bank, Bank of England

☆ Ex-NatWest banker awarded $115,400 after cancer-related discrimination
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Kirstin Ridley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Signage at a branch of NatWest Bank pictured in central London, May 21, 2008. Cancer is listed as a disability under the UK Equality Act 2010, protecting sufferers from discrimination. NatWest was ordered to pay almost 87,700 pounds, including 35,000 pounds for injury to feelings and aggravated damages for Willis's losses until December 1, 2020. A NatWest spokesperson said the bank was pleased the case had been resolved and apologised for falling short of expected standards. "We recognise the extremely difficult personal circumstances in this case and have taken steps to ensure this cannot happen again," the spokesperson said.

Persons: Luke MacGregor, Adeline Willis, Willis, Kirstin Ridley, Angus MacSwan Organizations: NatWest Bank, REUTERS, NatWest, Cancer, Thomson Locations: London

☆ Charlie Watts book collection to be offered for sale at auction
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Members of the Rolling Stones (L-R) Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards arrive for the "Exhibitionism" opening night gala at the Saatchi Gallery in London, Britain April 4, 2016. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor/File PhotoLONDON, July 10 (Reuters) - Books and jazz memorabilia belonging to late Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts will go under the hammer in a two-part sale in September, auction house Christie's said on Monday. "Charlie Watts: Gentleman, Collector, Rolling Stone – Literature and Jazz" will feature more than 500 lots, with price estimates ranging from 800 pounds to 300,000 pounds ($1,023 - $383,730). Also on sale are rare editions of books by George Orwell, James Joyce, Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. The flagship auction will take place in London on Sept. 28, while an online sale will run from Sept. 15-29, Christie's said.

Persons: Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Luke MacGregor, Christie's, Scott Fitzgerald, Harold Goldman, George Orwell, James Joyce, Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Watts, Charlie Parker's, Porgy, Bess, George Gershwin, “ Charlie, Marie, Louise Gumuchian, Ed Osmond Organizations: Saatchi, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

☆ UK housing market strains grow as mortgage rates creep higher
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Andy Bruce | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Luke MacGregor/File PhotoLONDON, June 9 (Reuters) - Mortgage rates in Britain rose again on Friday as economists warned that rising borrowing costs would put the housing market under renewed strain. Late on Thursday, HSBC temporarily withdrew mortgage products for customers applying via brokers. HSBC said its mortgage products and interest rates remained available for existing customers. Rival lender Nationwide Building Society also raised its mortgage rates on Friday, having already revised them up twice since last month's Bank of England interest rate hike. On Friday, consultancy Oxford Economics predicted a 10% peak-to-trough drop in house prices, based on the BoE raising interest rates to 5%.

Persons: Luke MacGregor, Moneyfacts, BoE, Andrew Goodwin, we're, David Milliken, Frances Kerry, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Bank of England, HSBC, Society, Bank of, Oxford Economics, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Bank of England, British

☆ Prudential says CFO leaves after conduct falls short of standards
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] People walk past a Prudential sign outside offices in the City of London March 27, 2013. REUTERS/Luke MacGregorSYDNEY/HONG KONG, May 31 (Reuters) - Prudential Plc (PRU.L) said on Wednesday its chief financial officer, James Turner, would leave the company after a code of conduct investigation into a recent recruitment showed he had fallen short of its standards. "The group sets itself high standards and Mr Turner fell short on this occasion," Prudential said in a statement, without detailing the issue. The incident was identified as part of internal processes, and the recruitment in question was not completed, a company spokesperson said, without stating the nature of the misconduct. Reporting by Scott Murdoch in Sydney and Selena Li in Hong Kong; Editing by Clarence FernandezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Luke MacGregor SYDNEY, James Turner, Turner, Ben Bulmer, Mr Turner, Anil Wadhwani, Bulmer, Scott Murdoch, Selena Li, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Prudential, REUTERS, Prudential Plc, HK, Thomson Locations: City of London, HONG KONG, Asia, Sydney, Hong Kong

☆ Where the royal family goes in London, from Indian restaurants to theme parks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Well, they’re not, obviously – but sometimes they do put down their tiaras, leave their palaces and join the hoi polloi at restaurants, bars and even theme parks. He once called Brilliant Restaurant in Southall, west London his favorite Indian restaurant – and Gordon Ramsay is also a fan. Stuart C. Wilson/Getty ImagesBack in the noughties, party Prince Harry was a regular at Mahiki, a Tiki-themed bar-club-restaurant in Mayfair. Simon Dack/AlamyIn his memoir “Spare,” Prince Harry wrote about popping out to shop for clothes at T.K. Toby Melville/Getty ImagesThe-then Meghan Markle was apparently spied In the heart of Chelsea while she was engaged to Prince Harry, getting a facial from Sarah Chapman.

Jeremy Selwyn/WPA Pool/Getty Images Camilla stands next to Queen Elizabeth II during a Diamond Jubilee pageant on the River Thames in June 2012. Chris Jackson/Getty Images From left, Camilla, Charles, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attend the state opening of Parliament in May 2013. From left are Camilla, Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Louis, Duchess Catherine, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince William. Frank Augstein/WPA Pool/Getty Images In pictures: Britain's Queen Camilla Prev NextShe reportedly met Prince Charles at a polo match in Windsor in 1970 and they became friends. From left are Camilla, Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Louis, Duchess Catherine, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince William.

☆ JPMorgan just killed Wall Street's WFH dreams
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But do you think execs will be OK with their subordinates working remote while they are stuck in the office? Plenty of others, most notably Goldman Sachs' David Solomon, have touted the importance of being in the office (blah blah mentorship model blah blah). Now JPMorgan just laid the blueprint for everyone else to force their own employees back in. Here are more details, including the internal memo, on JPMorgan forcing MDs back into the office. Salt Labs wants to help low- and medium-income workers build wealth via an app that operates like a frequent-flyer program.

☆ Heathrow Airport says return to pre-pandemic demand years away
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] A British Airways passenger plane prepares to land at Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport in London, Britain, March 28, 2008. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor/File PhotoLONDON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Britain's biggest airport Heathrow reported a nine-month loss of 442 million pounds ($507 million) and warned it was unlikely to return to pre-pandemic demand for several years. "Headwinds of a global economic crisis, war in Ukraine and the impact of COVID-19 mean we are unlikely to return to pre-pandemic demand for a number of years, except at peak times," it said on Wednesday. Heathrow said to be able to meet demand at peak times businesses across the airport needed to recruit and train up to 25,000 security cleared people. "We...are working with airlines and their ground handlers to get back to full capacity at peak times as soon as possible," said CEO John Holland-Kaye.

☆ Rising premiums, more restricted cyber insurance coverage poses big risk for companies
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Bob Violino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Luke MacGregor | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesAmong the many consequences of the rising number of costly data breaches, ransomware, and other security attacks are pricier premiums for cyber security insurance. The high demand for cyber coverage is in part fueled by greater awareness among companies of the threat cyber risk poses for businesses of all sizes, it said. The study said the cost of cyber insurance is based in part on the frequency, severity, and cost of cyber attacks, "all of which have been increasing. "But now, carriers are becoming less likely to include it, and are instead offering cyber coverage separately. "Also, companies that go bare on cyber liability may see an impact on revenue, as customers and suppliers increasingly make cyber coverage a requirement of doing business."

An employee is seen walking over a mosaic of pound sterling symbols set in the floor of the front hall of the Bank of England in London, in this March 25, 2008 file photograph. Yet the rapid rise in yields investors now receive for owning UK bonds hasn't helped sterling much. Pound slumps and UK borrowing costs surgePredicting the short-term direction of currencies is notoriously hard. Against the euro the pound is only at two-year lows, although it is down 3% since Friday. "People will look at the UK and think that that's not a market that is stable," said Payne at Janus Henderson.

☆ Bank of Ireland returns to full private ownership
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A man passes a logo for the Bank of Ireland as he leaves the bank in Dublin May 28, 2007. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor (IRELAND)DUBLIN, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Bank of Ireland (BIRG.I) became the first Irish lender to return to full private ownership since the aftermath of the 2008-09 global financial crisis after the government said on Friday that it had sold the last of its shares. Bank of Ireland, the country's largest bank by assets, was the only lender to avoid majority state ownership and the only one on which the government has made a profit on its investment so far. It earned approximately 841 million euros since it began the gradual sale of the state's residual 13.9% shareholding in Bank of Ireland in August 2021. "The gradual disposal of the state's investment in Bank of Ireland into a rising market has been successful in delivering on this objective for our citizens."

☆ Iran's hardline newspapers praise Salman Rushdie's attacker
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Author Salman Rushdie arrives at the High Court to settle a libel action brought against Ron Evans local media reported, in London August 26, 2008. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor/File PhotoAug 13 (Reuters) - Several hardline Iranian newspapers heaped praise on Saturday on the person who attacked and seriously wounded author Salman Rushdie, whose novel "The Satanic Verses" had drawn death threats from Iran since 1989. In 2019, Twitter suspended Khamenei’s account over a tweet that said Khomeini’s fatwa against Rushdie was “solid and irrevocable”. The headline of the hardline Vatan Emrooz newspaper read: “Knife in Salman Rushdie’s neck”. read moreRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register<a href="mailto:dubai.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com" target="_blank">dubai.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com</a> Editing by Frances KerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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