One of the largest banks in Japan, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, is considering buying into Barclays Bank as they seek to raise GBP4 billion capital.
Sumitomo Mitsui is considering a 100 billion Yen investment, which would be around GBP500 million. Barclays also have serious interest from some other investors too and if everything goes as planned then the GBP4 billion needed will be achieved with money to spare.
An announcement is expected from Barclays Bank in the next week or so, though existing Barclays investors have to give their final approval before the deals can go ahead. Sumitomo Mitsui are certainly very keen on the deal since they have been finding it difficult to locate good investment opportunities in China.
A study by Natwest Bank has found that more workers than ever before are doing jobs in countries other than the UK.
The study found that more than 200,000 brits went to work in other countries, the Natwest Bank data based on 2006 figures, the most recent available. Over 40 percent of these workers were at a managerial or professional level, taking their skills and knowledge to develop businesses abroad.
When asked about the reasons for moving these overseas workers said that they were lured by a better job and better pay. The average salary for these expat workers is GBP67,000, and when combined with a lower cost of living and better living standards generally it is clear to see how attractive such a proposition can be said a Natwest Bank spokesman.
A survey carried out by Tesco Finance has found that nearly half of the people talked to are taking steps to be more eco-friendly, though it is saving money rather than saving the planet that is the motivator.
As the cost of gas, electric and petrol soars ever upwards so about two thirds of people in the Tesco Finance survey say they make sure electrical items are switched off rather than left on standby. Three quarters of people now use low energy lightbulbs too.
A smaller percentage, around 20 percent of people surveyed, told Tesco Finance that going green was just too expensive. There are aspects of this that are true, but it is in the practical aspects that consumers can save money by thinking green.
