Friday newspaper round-up: Energy customers, Apple, copper prices

(Sharecast News) - Almost 2 million energy bill payers could be owed a share of �240m from old accounts that were closed while still in credit, according to the regulator. The latest figures from Ofgem show that about 1.9m energy accounts were closed over the past five years, with outstanding credit balances totalling �240m left unclaimed. - Guardian

Apple reported its first quarterly earnings since the release of its new lineup of iPhones on Thursday, beating Wall Street analysts' expectations. The company showed steady financial growth and a strong bottom line despite slow progress on artificial intelligence. The report comes just days after the company hit a $4tn market value for the first time. "Today, Apple is very proud to report a September quarter revenue record of $102.5 billion, including a September quarter revenue record for iPhone and an all-time revenue record for Services," Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, said in a statement. Despite high overall iPhone sales, the company's revenue in China from the smartphone came in below Wall Street estimates. - Guardian

Record-setting copper prices have sparked turmoil for wind and solar farm developers who face rising costs to build green energy projects. Commodity analysts have warned that the cost of manufacturing renewable technologies - which rely heavily on copper - will surge after the industrial metal hit a record high on the London Metal Exchange. - Telegraph

When the Malaysian owners of Battersea Power Station bought the site out of administration in 2012, London was on the up. International money was pouring into the city's property market, which was seen as a safe haven for global capital. It is a far cry from the situation in 2025. Rising taxes, red tape for developers, inflation and a stagnant economy mean the rich who once flocked to London are now more likely to leave than remain. - Telegraph

The flotation of Shawbrook Group, the biggest initial public offering in London this year, got off to an encouraging start as grey-market share dealings sent the price more than 7 per cent above the issue price in the first hours of trading. Shares trading on a conditional basis rose to 397p, which was 7.3 per cent up on the issue price of 370p. They closed up 25p, or 6.8 per cent, at 395p, with 11.4 million shares changing hands. - The Times

Getting a mobile signal in Britain's remoter regions could become easier after the owner of O2 struck a deal to use Elon Musk's Starlink satellites, in an effort to tackle gaps in coverage. O2 Satellite will allow VirginMedia O2's customers to benefit from Starlink's 650 "Direct to Cell" satellites to send text messages and access the internet in so-called "not spots", where there is no mobile phone service. - The Times