THE DAILY BRIEFING
AIRPORT SOARS Heathrow has recorded its busiest November on record, welcoming 5.72m passengers last month, up 2.5pc year-on-year.
The airport, which is the Government’s preferred location for boosting runway capacity in south- east England, said growth was driven by the use of larger aircraft such as Airbus A380s, A350s and Boeing 787s.
Emerging markets performed strongly in terms of passenger numbers, with Mexico, China and the Middle East all up 8pc. MORTGAGE PROBE The financial watchdog is to probe the mortgage market as part of efforts to improve competition for consumers and ensure borrowers receive value for money.
The Financial Conduct Authority has launched a market study to consider if consumers have enough information to choose products, and if they are in a position to understand whether they are cost effective.
The review will also explore if commercial arrangements between lenders, brokers and other players lead to conflicts of interest.
FRENCH SALE Barclays is to sell its French retail banking business to AnaCap Financial Partners as it continues a drive to undergo a restructuring.
The deal – for an undisclosed sum – will see the lender shed 74 retail branches and a life insurance business, as well as wealth, investment management and brokerage operations in the country.
It means Barclays has completed its exit from consumer-facing banking in continental Europe. However, it will retain its corporate and investment banking businesses in France.
CLEANERS STRIKE Cleaners on Great Western Railway are to stage two 24-hour strikes in a dispute over pay and conditions.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union employed by contractors Servest UK will walk out from 6am on Friday, December 16 and from the same time a week later.
The dispute, involving almost 200 workers, is over a number of issues including pay, annual leave and the use of agency workers.
The union is calling for agency workers to be made members of GWR staff to end the current situation of a ‘two tier’ workforce. RIGHT NOTE British banknote manufacturer De La Rue is set to buy the authentication unit of DuPont Electronics and Communications in an all-cash deal worth $25m (£19.8m).
De La Rue said the acquisition of the Utah-based business is in line with its five-year strategic plan, helping to ‘transform the group into a technology-led security product and service provider’.
DuPont Authentication produces holographic films and software, while its technology is used to verify products such as identification documents and consumer electronics.