David Blair's Blog, page 124

JD Sports hit by 'adverse retail environment'

The fashion and sports wear retailer reported a rise in pre-tax profits despite a sales slowdown but that underlying margins had fallen

Doubts raised over lofty energy investment goal

The government's aim of £200bn investment in energy infrastructure by 2020 would mean higher bills and depend on the finances of utilities

EDF backs gas and power market probe

EDF Energy has become the latest utility to raise household bills but has also backed a Competition Commission probe of the energy market

IEA cuts global oil demand forecast

Energy policy adviser to industrial economies says market is likely to 'moderate in the short term'

Call to abolish carbon floor price

Ministers should abandon a central pillar of their energy policy that amounts to a "tax" on British industry, according to the head of the manufacturers' association

Tullow finds 'potentially transformational' oil

Discovery suggests that more oil is waiting to be found along the South American coastline in the waters of a string of neighbouring countries

US finds 'world-class' phosphate in Iraq

Two of these deposits, in the western desert province of Anbar, are big enough to rank among the largest 10 per cent in the world

Search for UK shale gas resources begins

Cuadrilla is drilling into the Bowland rock formation in Lancashire, which it believes could provide a significant boost to British energy supplies

Small supplier wary of Labour utilities policy

Co-operative Energy says Ofgem strategy to force 'big six' to auction electricity will suffice

Political climate turns against 'big six' utilities

Analysts fear policy being considered by Labour party would break up gas and electricity providers