THE DAILY BRIEFING

NET NEUTRALITY

The US Senate has voted to protect ‘net neutrality’ rules that stop internet service providers from favouring some customers. It could see a decision by the Federal Communications Commission to scrap the rules overturned, if also approved by the House of Representatives.

BARRELS BONANZA

Troubled oil producer Genel Energy is on track to hit by summer its target of producing 30,000 barrels of oil a day from its oilfield in Kurdistan.

NEW BOSS

esports firm Gfinity has appointed Garry Cook, 56, as executive chairman. He was chief executive of Manchester City FC.

SALES RISE

supply chain firm Wincanton made £1.1bn in sales last year, up 4.8pc on the previous year. Profit fell 16.5pc to £37.9m.

DIRECTOR ROLE

Retirement housebuilder McCarthy and Stone has appointed arun Nagwaney, 47, as a non-executive director.

MUSIC LAUNCH

Google-owned video website You Tube has launched a music service to rival spotify. Users can listen to music for free with adverts or pay about $10 (£7.40) a month to have them removed.

CHECKOUT CHANGE

Fashion chain Zara has refurbished its store in stratford, east london, with selfcheckout systems and automated order collection points.

PENSION TRANSFER

High street retailer Marks & Spencer has transferred around £1.4bn in pension liabilities as it tries to offload risk. aviva is said to have taken on £925m of liabilities, while Phoenix life has done a £470m bulk annuity deal.

GOING UP

Profits at anglosouth african lender Investec are up 1.4pc to £607.5m in the year to March despite a hit from an accounting scandal at retailer steinhoff, which owns Poundland in the UK.

LOAN GROWTH

Mortgage firm Together F inancial Services has grown its total loan book to £2.8bn, up 31pc on a year earlier.

CASHING IN

Investment service AJ Bell saw customer numbers rise 12pc to 183,482 in the six months to september 30. It now looks after £41.8bn of savers’ cash.