13 events that will change the world in 2017: Article 50, Snapchat’s IPO, more Libor trials and a vote on Heathrow January 3, 2017 2017 looks like it's going to be a busy one: we're looking ahead to some of the key business and political events already pencilled in for this year's calendar. 1. Supreme court to rule on Article 50 The Supreme Court is due to deliver its ruling on Gina Miller's case this month (Source: Getty) The Supreme [...]
The Big Bang 30 years on: How the City of London has changed since 1986 October 26, 2016 Nothing stands still in the City. The world's financial services powerhouse has seen it all, from boom and bust to bouncebacks and Brexit. Its skyline has changed almost beyond recognition over the last three decades, as have the markets it serves. As we mark the 30th anniversary of the so-called Big Bang, we cannot help [...]
RAC: Petrol prices to be “kept in check” if oil prices overshoot $50 per barrels May 21, 2016 The RAC assured motorists it expects fuel prices to remain in check, despite a recent uptick in the oil price due to production outages across the world. Supermarkets slashed petrol prices to below £1 per litre in the run-up to Christmas, citing savings from oil prices which had fallen from over $110 per barrel in the middle of [...]
Sports Direct has extended its Debenhams put option May 12, 2016 Sports Direct International has extended its Debenhams put option by a year – meaning shareholders in Mike Ashley's retailer will continue to be concerned with the fate of the department store, whether they like it or not. Sports Direct entered into the original agreement with Goldman Sachs in 2014. The stake was built up to 16.6 [...]
Licence to Tweet: Britain’s top spy agency GCHQ has joined Twitter May 16, 2016 And you thought everything had to be hush hush when it comes to the world of spying, espionage and national security? These days, you'd be wrong – Britain's top intelligence agency GCHQ has joined Twitter. Hello, world. https://t.co/SROtSsE8KB — GCHQ (@GCHQ) May 16, 2016 And got this welcome from its US counterpart. Welcome to Twitter @GCHQ! https://t.co/EmD8hGMRBv — [...]
The tradition of Christmas shopping on the high street could be about to come to an end January 20, 2016 We’ve come to that time in the New Year when retailers and investors alike look back on the data accumulated by shops throughout the Christmas season. Next was the first retailer to release the data and it wasn’t great news – either for them or for other high street retailers, as we had disappointing updates from everyone from [...]
House of Fraser reports strong Christmas trading period after first full year of being owned by Chinese conglomerate Sanpower January 11, 2016 House of Fraser appears to have shrugged off the festive blues plaguing other retailers, with sales up 5.3 per cent for the six weeks to 2 January. The figures The Chinese-owned department store, said it had had a strong Christmas trading period, starting with Black Friday, when sales were up 10 per cent on the previous [...]
Peter Stringfellow on closing Angels, Theresa May, virtual reality clubs and setting up a lingerie range September 5, 2016 The floor of Peter Stringfellow’s office at Angels, his legendary Soho club, was strewn with packing boxes last week. In case anyone imagined his office to be an extension of the club – all leopard print, velvet and disco balls – it isn’t. It’s just a normal office. I visited him on Thursday; on Saturday, [...]
How much tax do you have to pay on a partridge in a pear tree this Christmas? December 22, 2015 It's the question you all wanted to know the answer to. If you were going to give your true love a partridge in a pear tree, and the rest, what are the tax liabilities? How much would the taxman make, and are the gold rings deductible? Well, with the help of the Institute of Chartered [...]
Aldi sold one million turkeys this Christmas January 12, 2016 Traditional retailers might have had a tough Christmas trading period, but Aldi continues to prove it's no turkey. The German grocer today said it experienced its highest ever sales in a single day this festive period – peaking on 23 December – since launching in the UK 25 years ago. The discount retailer welcomed "hundreds of [...]