UK business confidence lowest since 2012 as output drops for first time in 2019, says BDO May 13, 2019 Business optimism in the UK fell to its lowest rate since 2012 in April, according to a report released today, in a sign that the Brexit extension has done little to cheer up the country’s gloomy businesses. Read more: UK economy bounces back, but is growth just a ‘flash in the pan’? UK business output [...]
Pub operator Ei Group’s profits rise thanks to drinks sales boost May 14, 2019 Pub chain Ei Group has posted a modest rise in pre-tax profit for the half year thanks to continued growth in drinks sales. Ei, which is the largest owner and operator of pubs in the UK, posted pre-tax profits of £59m in the six months to the end of March, up from £57m in the [...]
Mr Kipling owner Premier Foods increases profit November 12, 2019 Shares in Mr Kipling owner Premier Foods soared this morning after the company reported an increase in profit and revenue in the first half of the year. Premier Foods’ stock was up 8.28 per cent to 36.11p as it announced the relaunch of Mr Kipling cakes and sales of Nissin noodles had helped it post [...]
Bad debt insurance claims at highest since 2009 June 14, 2019 The number of insurance claims made this year by UK businesses facing bad debts has reached its highest level in ten years, figures published today show. In the first quarter 57 firms every day were helped by trade credit insurers, data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) show. The high volume of claims is [...]
Can you Brexit-proof your investment portfolio? September 16, 2019 The future of Brexit is unknown, but investors and traders need to be proactive if they are to avoid any sudden shocks. Here’s how you might Brexit-proof your investment portfolio. The UK hasn’t left the EU yet, but Brexit is already wielding its influence over the financial markets. For the past three years, investors and traders [...]
Online clothes shopping helps UK retail sales beat economists’ expectations in April May 24, 2019 Online clothes purchases and warm weather helped UK retail sales beat economists' expectations in April, official statistics showed today. Read more: Bank of England upgrades UK economy growth forecast Britons bought 5.2 per cent more goods in April than in the same month a year earlier, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, released today, [...]
Carpetright shares: Undervalued or overexcited? July 1, 2019 By Graeme Evans from interactive investor. Carpetright’s peak trading period straddles the next Brexit deadline, but speculators are not put off. Carpetright (LSE:CPR) and its threadbare share price drew interest from speculative investors last week amid signs that the drastic measures needed for its survival are starting to pay off. While early days in the turnaround, the floor covering [...]
Flybe ‘near collapse’: What do we know so far? January 13, 2020 Flybe, the biggest regional airline in Europe, is said to be on the brink of collapse. Sky News reports the carrier is engaged in a frantic bid for emergency funding, and the government is also said to be involved in the talks – which come just four months after Thomas Cook went bust in late [...]
Ladbrokes Coral-owner GVC hit with £5.9m fine over safeguarding failures July 31, 2019 Ladbrokes Coral’s owner GVC has been fined £5.9m by the Gambling Commission after it found the bookmaker failed to put in measures to prevent money laundering and customers coming to harm between 2014 and 2017. GVC, which acquired the bookmaker in 2018, has been ordered to make a series of changes to its business and [...]
Royal Mail shares bleed red as strike threat puts profit in doubt November 21, 2019 Shares in Royal Mail plunged almost 18 per cent today after the postal service warned the threat of industrial action could lead to it posting a loss or breaking even next year. Despite reporting an increase in pre-tax profit for the first half, the company said its turnaround plan is “behind schedule”, denting investor confidence [...]