Skip Header
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.

Friday newspaper round-up: Wise, Royal Mail, Shell

(Sharecast News) - One of the UK's fintech darlings, Wise, could face a regulatory investigation after a rival startup accused the money transfer firm of stifling competition. London-headquartered Atlantic Money has written to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to raise concerns over potential conflicts of interest and anti-competitive behaviour after Wise blocked the firm from a swathe of its own price comparison sites. - Guardian Royal Mail has been accused of "letting people down" after delays delivering post meant millions missed doctors appointments and received important legal documents late. More than 30 million people were struck by delays to their letters this Christmas, according to research from Citizens Advice. Many people had to resort to pricier services such as Special Delivery to guarantee their post would arrive on time, the charity said. - Telegraph

Tens of billions of pounds in additional funding will be required to keep public services running this year because of a collapse in productivity that experts blamed on weak management and working from home. Public sector productivity fell 1.3pc in the three months to September compared with the previous quarter, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This compares with a 0.1pc increase in output per hour across the economy over the same period. - Telegraph

Shell is considering quitting Britain's household energy supply market, putting 2,000 jobs at risk, after incurring hundreds of millions of pounds in losses over five years. The giant oil group cited "tough market conditions" as it told staff that it had begun a "strategic review" of Shell Energy Retail. The subsidiary provides energy to about 1.4 million homes, ranking as Britain's seventh biggest household supplier, and also supplies broadband to about 500,000 households. - The Times

Rents throughout Britain have reached record highs and are expected to rise still further this year, putting additional pressure on household finances amid the cost of living crisis. The average rent outside London has reached £1,172 per calendar month, up almost 10 per cent since the start of last year, according to Rightmove, the online property portal. - The Times

Share this article

Related Sharecast Articles

Sunday newspaper round-up: Panama Canal, Warhammer, Thames Water
(Sharecast News) - Donald Trump is asking that the Panama Canal be returned to the US unless Panama addresses his criticism of how the waterway is managed. In a post on social media platform Truth Social, Trump described the current arrangement as a complete 'rip-off' which will "immediately stop". He also warned against that the key interoceanic route would not be allowed to fall into the "wrong hands". He also appeared to caution against possible Chinese influence in the canal. - Guardian
Friday newspaper round-up: Aldi, Richard Desmond, Collateral
(Sharecast News) - The grocery industry watchdog is to make a rare intervention in a Yorkshire sprout grower's £3.7m legal case against Aldi over the discount chain's decision to terminate a long-term supply deal. In papers filed at the high court, W Clappison Ltd, which produced sprouts for Aldi's UK arm for 13 years, said its supply agreement was ended in February last year at planting time without reasonable notice so it was unable to find new clients immediately. It said it was forced to cease sprout production and sell off its machinery. - Guardian
Friday newspaper round-up: Aldi, Richard Desmond, Collateral
(Sharecast News) - The grocery industry watchdog is to make a rare intervention in a Yorkshire sprout grower's £3.7m legal case against Aldi over the discount chain's decision to terminate a long-term supply deal. In papers filed at the high court, W Clappison Ltd, which produced sprouts for Aldi's UK arm for 13 years, said its supply agreement was ended in February last year at planting time without reasonable notice so it was unable to find new clients immediately. It said it was forced to cease sprout production and sell off its machinery. - Guardian
Thursday newspaper round-up: Water bills, Brexit, Imperial Brands
(Sharecast News) - Households in England and Wales will see their water bills rise by an average of £31 a year, as suppliers pay to fix leaky pipes and cut pollution. The industry regulator Ofwat said on Thursday it would allow companies to raise average bills will rise by £157 over five years to an average of £597 by 2030 to help pay for investment. - Guardian

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.

Award-winning online share dealing

Search, compare and select from thousands of shares.

Expert insights into investing your money

Our team of experts explore the world of share dealing.