Mobile provider Three taps Cityfibre for 5G rollout February 18, 2020 Mobile operator Three today announced that it has chosen challenger broadband firm Cityfibre to help build its 5G network. The deal means Cityfibre will be Three’s preferred provider of digital infrastructure for its network outside London. The first phase of the agreement will connect the mobile company’s 5G network in 23 cities where the broadband [...]
Halfords’ revenue and profit dip as it snaps up garage chain November 7, 2019 Revenue and profit at Halfords fell in the first half of the year, the bicycle and car maintenance retailer said today. Halfords also announced today it had acquired independent garage chain McConechy’s Tyre Service in a £9.3m deal. Profit before tax slipped 2.5 per cent to £27.5m in the six months to 27 September from [...]
FTSE 100 quarterly review highlights the economy’s winners and losers June 4, 2020 Home-repairs company Homeserve, cybersecurity firm Avast, DIY group Kingfisher and gambling giant GVC were the four companies announced yesterday as being promoted to the FTSE 100 – the index of the 100 biggest UK companies.Cruise giant Carnival, airline easyJet, aerospace components firm Meggitt and British Gas-owner Centrica are all making way. The FTSE reshuffles its [...]
Pound rallies as UK employment hits record high and wages beat 2008 peak February 18, 2020 Wages beat their pre-financial crisis peak for the first time at the end of 2019, as the level of UK employment rose to a record high of 32.9m people. A total of 180,000 people entered the workforce between October and December 2019, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said today. That took the number of [...]
Coronavirus: Asian stocks turn green on Bank of Japan stimulus pledge March 2, 2020 Asian stocks stemmed their losses overnight as shares rose in response to the Bank of Japan’s move to inject stimulus to save its economy from the worst impact of the coronavirus outbreak. The Nikkei and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng both climbed after Bank of Japan governor Haruhiko Kuroda pledged to help protect markets from exposure [...]
‘Worst year on record’ for retailers in 2019 January 9, 2020 Last year was the worst 12 months on record for UK retailers, as overall annual sales dipped for the first time since 1995, according to the latest data. Total sales in 2019 fell 0.1 per cent, marking the worst year for retailers since records began 25 years ago, due to a year of political uncertainty [...]
Moss Bros’ transformation plan progresses despite sales slump January 16, 2020 Suit retailer Moss Bros said this morning that it is making headway with its transformation plan, despite reporting a dip in sales. The menswear store said it has made “good progress overall” in its bid to elevate the brand and improve long-term performance. Moss Bros said it has improved its retail gross margin rates in [...]
Open Banking can rebalance the market and put consumers in control January 21, 2020 Two years since its inception, Open Banking has begun to transform the banking world. While understanding may still be low among those outside of the financial sector, do not underestimate this phenomenon. In fact, low awareness is to be expected — Open Banking is a technology that exists behind the scenes, and customers will only [...]
PZ Cussons chief executive quits as ‘challenging market conditions’ hit UK profit December 12, 2019 The chief executive of PZ Cussons has called time on his 13-year reign at the consumer healthcare manufacturer, as the company blamed “challenging market conditions” for a decline in first-half profit. Alex Kanellis said he would retire from the role on 31 January after being with the firm since 1993, and chief executive since 2006. [...]
Amazon’s Deliveroo investment could cause higher prices, says CMA December 27, 2019 Amazon and Deliveroo are the subject of an in-depth probe by competition authorities into the e-commerce giant’s investment in the food delivery firm. Neither company offered undertakings in response to concerns aired by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Read more: CMA puts brakes on Amazon’s Deliveroo investment The CMA said earlier this month that [...]