Royal Mail to cut deliveries under regulator proposals; Shell hikes investor payouts – business live | Business

January 30, 2025

It has started off as a fairly mild trading day across European stock markets. All the major indices have gained ground in early trading. But that has still pushed the Euro Stoxx 600 index to its latest record high.

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The Stoxx 600 reached 535.9 points on Thursday morning. It has risen from below 500 in mid-December as investors expect the European Central Bank to act to support the economy.

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The FTSE 100 is up by 0.1%, or eight points, at 8,566.3. That leaves it 20 points short of its all-time high of 8,586.68 from a week ago. Could the ECB also help it to a new record later?

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Good morning, and welcome to our live coverage of business, economics and financial markets.

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Royal Mail is set to be allowed to deliver second-class letters only on alternate weekdays and not on Saturdays after the industry regulator announced a shake-up of postal service rules.

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Communications regulator Ofcom has proposed that Royal Mail would still be required to deliver first-class letters six days a week and the price cap on second-class stamps would remain, but the company will be allowed to make cost savings by cutting the number of days it goes to every address.

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The changes could save Royal Mail between £250m and £425m each year. The cuts would be a boon to Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský’s EP Group, as it nears a £3.6bn takeover of Royal Mail’s FTSE 250-listed parent company, International Distribution Services.

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Shell profits fall, but investor payouts rise

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Shell has handed its investors a multibillion-dollar windfall despite reporting weaker than expected profits of $23.7bn for last year as global oil and gas prices tumbled.

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Shareholders of Europe’s biggest oil company are in line for a 4% dividend hike alongside share buybacks of $3.5bn for the last three months of the year.

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This marks the thirteenth consecutive quarter in which Shell has handed its investors buy backs of more than $3bn, despite falling earnings from its oil and gas.

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European Central Bank expected to cut interest rates

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The European Central Bank, led by Christine Lagarde, is widely expected to cut interest rates today in an effort to support economic growth.

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We will get a good picture of the economy’s momentum this morning, with Eurozone GDP figures.

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Reuters reported:

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The European Central Bank is all but certain to cut interest rates on Thursday and is likely to keep open the door to further policy easing as concerns over lacklustre economic growth supersede worries about persistent inflation.

\n

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The agenda

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\n
9am GMT: Germany GDP growth (fourth quarter; previous: 0.1% quarter-on-quarter; consensus: -0.1%)

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10am GMT: Eurozone GDP growth (fourth quarter; prev.: 0.4% ; cons.: 0.1%)

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1:15pm GMT: European Central Bank interest rate decision

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1:30pm GMT: US GDP growth (fourth quarter; prev.: 3.1% annualised; cons.: 2.6%)

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1:45pm GMT: ECB press conference

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Important events

German Dachs The stock market index is also the best party for new records, Abex, Spain The benchmark has been the best since 2008 before the euro crisis gained the economy for 10 years.

The Spanish stock market has risen strongly in the past few years, as it has become a surprising leader in the European economy in the past few years.

However, the stock market has been on a long way to exceed that level and is excited by the country's housing bubble.

The Spanish stock market has reached the highest since 2008. Photo: Refinitiv

The biggest winner of FTSE100 is the telecommunications company Airter Africa。 The stock price rose 7.2 % after reporting that the earnings for the first nine months of the fiscal year had increased by 20 %.

It's fighting Place of St. JamesAfter the wealth manager enjoyed a more powerful inflow. Reuters reported:

According to the consensus compiled by the company, it records funds under the control of 190.2.1 billion pounds at the end of 2024, beyond the analysts of analysts of £ 187.4 billion.

European stocks have enhanced new records

It began as a fairly calm trading date throughout Europe's stock market. All major indexes were based on early transactions. But it is still boosting the Euro Stoxx 600 indexes to the latest record high.

STOXX 600 reached 535.9 points on Thursday morning. In the middle of December, investors rose from less than 500 in mid -December, as investors hope that the European Central Bank will act to support the economy.

FTSE 100 has risen 0.1 % for 8,566.3 or 8 points. As a result, the highest 20 points in history of 8,586.68, one week ago, are lacking. Will ECB later useful for new records?

The European stock market was won on Thursday morning. Photo: Refinitiv

Royal email delivered on the alternative date. Shell profits

Good morning, and to live coverage in business, economy, and financial markets.

Royal mail After the industry regulatory authorities have announced the reform of the postal service rules, the second -class letters can be distributed only on alternative weekdays, not on Saturdays.

Communications Regulator ofcom suggests that Royal Mail is still needed to distribute the first -class letter 6 days a week, and the price limit of the second class stamp will remain, but the company will reduce the number of days. This is allowed to reduce costs. It goes to all addresses.

With this change, Royal Mail can save £ 25 billion to £ 425 million each year. The cut is approaching the EP Group of Daniel Kuzetinki, a Czech, Daniel Kuzetinki, a Czech, as it is approaching the acquisition of 3.6 billion pounds of the Royal Mail's FTSE 250 list.

Shell profits will decrease, but investors will increase.

Shell has given billions of dollar storms to investors, despite the fact that the price of world oil and gas has fallen, which is weaker than the $ 23.7 billion of last year.

The largest petroleum company shareholder in Europe is in line with a 4 % reduction in a $ 3.5 billion stock back for the last three months of the year.

This is the quarter of the 13th consecutive year when investors have handed over $ 3 billion over $ 3 billion, despite the decrease in oil and gas.

The European Central Bank was expected to reduce interest rates

The European Central Bank, led by Christine Lagarde, is expected to reduce interest rates today to support economic growth.

With the GDP figures in the euro area, we will take photos with a good economic momentum this morning.

Reuters reported:

The European Central Bank is almost certain to reduce interest rates on Thursday, and concerns about unbeatable economic growth continue to open the door to alleviate further policies due to concerns about sustainable inflation. There is a possibility.

Agenda

9:00 am GMT: German GDP growth (4th quarter, previous: 0.1 % quarter, consensus: -0.1 %)
10:00 am GMT: Euro area GDP growth (4th quarter; before: 0.4 %; weakness: 0.1 %)
1:15 pm GMT: Decision of European Central Bank interest rate
1:30 pm GMT: US GDP growth (4th quarter; before: 3.1 % annual rate; weakness: 2.6 %)
1:45 PM GMT: ECB press conference