THE DAILY BRIEFING
■ BREXIT BREAK Medium- sized firms are upbeat about Brexit and want a clean break with the European Union, according to accountant RSM. A survey of 315 firms found that 41pc believe leaving the bloc will be good for the economy over the next five years, versus 40pc who think it will be damaging.
Only 22pc of the companies said they wanted to remain in Brussels’ single market, with the rest favouring looser ties.
■ BACKING BRITAIN French lender BNP Paribas has launched a hiring spree in London to try to break into the top rank of City banks. It follows Deutsche Bank boss John Cryan saying that reports his firm could move 4,000 jobs out of the UK after Brexit are wrong because the figure is ‘much too high’.
■ POACHING BOSSES Japan’s Mitsubishi UFG F inancial Group is plotting to poach senior City bankers from rivals in a ‘loud and clear’ commitment to London, according to senior executive Holly Villiers. ■ BIO BUDDIES AIM-listed biotech
firms Avacta Group and Glythera Limited have agreed to work together to make specialised drugs that use anti-bodies to fight disease. The tie-up could led to treatments that allow drugs to work longer in the blood and penetrate tumours more deeply.
■ FRAUD SHOCK Major frauds cost British business £2.1bn in 2017, a study by accountant BDO shows – the highest level for 15 years. ■ ON BOARD Advertising agency M&C Saatchi has appointed Lorna Tilbian, 60, one of the founders of broker Numis, to its board from January 30.
■ LATE PAYERS British businesses have been hit by a surge in late payments from Continental companies, research by payments company
Marketinvoice shows. The study showed European Union firms coughed up 73pc of bills after deadline last year, up from 40pc in 2016. ■ SLOW SALES Primark owner
Associated British Foods is expected to report sluggish Christmas sales this week. Analysts at Credit Suisse have forecast a 1pc dip in like-forlike sales, with business propped up by its UK arm.
■ FLYING HIGH Aircraft manufacturer Airbus enjoyed a record year for deliveries in 2017, with 718 aircraft delivered to 85 companies, up 4pc a year earlier.