PRESS DIGEST-British Business - October 16

Oct 16 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

The Times

- Norwegian energy company Equinor EQNR.OL, which is seeking permission to drill at Britain's biggest untapped oil field Rosebank, says 249 million tonnes of greenhouse gases would be generated over the oil field's lifetime.

- The Bank of England said on Wednesday senior bankers in Britain would receive their bonuses earlier than previously thought, after confirming a new regime that softens post-financial crisis rules.

The Guardian

- Alphabet's GOOGL.O Waymo plans to launch its fully driverless ride-hailing service in London in 2026, the robotaxi firm said on Wednesday, as it looks to expand its footprint to major international cities.

- Britain's telecom and media regulator on Wednesday fined Royal Mail 21 million pounds ($28.2 million), its largest penalty to date on the post and parcel group, for missing delivery targets for 2024–25.

The Telegraph

- Macquarie Group MQG.AX said on Wednesday its asset management arm will acquire an additional 50% stake in London City Airport, raising its total ownership to 75% as the Australian investment firm deepens its presence in UK infrastructure.

- Britain should not reduce the frequency of its twice-yearly economic forecasts, but a related assessment of the government's compliance against budget rules should only take place once a year, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday.

Sky News

- Britain's finance minister Rachel Reeves said she was looking at both tax rises and spending cuts for her budget on November 26, confirming widely held expectations given her pledges about balancing the country's books.

- Capita CPI.L has been fined 14 million pounds for failing to protect personal data during a 2023 cyber attack, the British outsourcing firm said on Wednesday, as part of a settlement with the UK's privacy watchdog.

($1 = 0.7444 pounds)