Newspaper round-up: BoJ, RBS, BHP Billiton, Hinkley contract bonanza

Royal Bank of Scotland’s attempts to spin off 315 branches have received another setback after one of the highest-profile bidders pulled out. Santander, which originally had an agreement to buy the branches in 2012, has withdrawn from talks again in a blow to the latest efforts by the bailed-out bank to dispose of the branches. - Guardian

British companies are lining up bids for contracts worth up to £11.5 billion after the government’s decision to press ahead with construction of EDF’s new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset. Up to 64 per cent of the project’s £18 billion value will be open to UK companies, according to David Eccles, EDF’s head of stakeholder engagement for the Hinkley Point C project. - The Times

BHP Billiton is contesting a A$1bn (US$755m) bill from Australia’s tax authorities related to its use of a marketing hub based in Singapore to sell commodities across Asia. The tax bill follows audits by the Australian Taxation Office, which is investigating at least 15 multinational companies that it alleges use the low tax regime to avoid tax. - Financial Times

The telecoms regulator has ruled that Sky has a case to answer over complaints by subscribers that the satellite television and broadband provider had made it too difficult for them to cancel their services or switch providers. Ofcom has been looking into complaints made last summer by customers of Sky’s fixed-line and broadband services. They do not relate to its satellite TV operation. - The Times

B&Q owner Kingfisher has thousands of lightbulbs, heating products and hand tools stuck at sea on ships owned by bankrupt South Korean shipping giant Hanjin. The retail giant said 52 containers of its DIY products are stuck aboard a fleet of tankers. - Daily Mail

The family behind River Island has chosen not to take a multi-million pound dividend in favour of pumping investment into the fashion retailer’s online and IT systems instead.Ben Lewis, chief executive, told The Daily Telegraph that the board has decided to focus on investing profits back into the business amid a challenging time for the retail sector. - Telegraph

ExxonMobil is being investigated by America’s US financial watchdog over the way it values its oil and gas reserves, according to reports. The Securities and Exchange Commission is believed to have concerns about Exxon’s model for pricing assets, under which it does not write down their value after energy prices slump. - The Times

Three months since the first fatal crash involving a Tesla driving in autopilot mode, hackers have taken remote control of a Tesla Model S from a distance of 12 miles, interfering with the car’s brakes, door locks, dashboard computer screen and other electronically controlled features in the high-tech car. A team of Chinese security researchers – Samuel LV, Sen Nie, Ling Liu and Wen Lu from Keen Security Lab – were able to target the car wirelessly and remotely in an attack that could cause havoc for any Tesla driver. - Guardian

Amazon has been found guilty of shipping dangerous goods by air. The items included lithium-ion batteries and flammable aerosols, which were flown in and out of the UK between January 2014 and June 2015. A jury at Southwark crown court in south London found the online retailer guilty on four counts of causing dangerous goods to be delivered for carriage in an aircraft in breach of air navigation rules, the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said. - Guardian

Microsoft has unveiled plans to buy back $40bn of its own stock as part of a long-running programme by the cash-rich firm to support its share price and bolster its earnings. The technology giant said it will buy up to 9pc of its outstanding shares, while also increasing its dividend payment by 8pc to $0.39 a share. The firm's stock has increased 30pc over the past year. - Telegraph

Stamp duty should be paid by the seller of a home rather than the buyer to give a boost to those trying to get on to the property ladder, the Yorkshire Building Society has suggested. The mortgage lender said that the move would make first-time buyers entirely exempt from the tax burden, saving an average of £3,791 in England and £13,171 in London. - The Times

The Co-operative Group will embark on the latest stage in its turnaround plan by rolling out a new phase of its loyalty scheme intended to revitalise its relationship with its owner members. Its management team – led by group chief executive Richard Pennycook – is aiming to encourage its 5 million members to become more engaged with the business, which plunged to a £2.5bn loss in 2013 as a result of a scandal in its banking arm that also raised questions about the way the rest of business operated. - Guardian

They have become as normal as wristwatches for millions of people, yet wearing a fitness tracker could result in less weight being lost than if you exercised tech-free, a study has found. Having every step counted by an electronic device does not improve the chances of losing weight and may even make some people fatter than going without, scientists concluded. - The Times