Treasury mulls over temporary VAT cut to boost economy June 15, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak is considering a temporary VAT cut to help boost consumer demand and confidence. The Treasury is considering either a blanket cut in VAT or a more targeted reduction in a bid to stimulate the faltering economy. The measure would mirror the temporary VAT cut taken by former chancellor Alastair Darling during the [...]
Bermondsey Reach: Wittington Investments to snap up Southwark development with 300 flats March 25, 2022 Some 300 apartments are being planned for a site in Southwark that reportedly has a £135m development value. The 1.3 acre site has received planning consent for 312 residential flats and more than 20,000 sq ft of retail and commercial floorspace. Centerbridge and Argon Capital have appointed advisors from CBRE and KALMARS on the sale [...]
Pound slips on coronavirus trade slump February 28, 2020 GBP / EUR Update It was an up and down week for the pound. At the end of last week, it had made an average gain of 0.3%, but the positivity was short-lived. At the beginning of this week, retail sales showed a 0.9% increase after two months of decline, but the pound was pushed [...]
Boohoo lowers guidance as more shoppers return clothes with shares plunging 22pc December 16, 2021 Online fashion retailer Boohoo has lowered its guidance for the financial year as profits have been hit by higher return rates, supply chain challenges and inflation skyrocketing. Boohoo said that it was expecting net sales growth to be between 12 and 14 per cent, for the financial year ending 28 February. It had previously forecast [...]
Sign-up economy falls apart as Brits ditch costly subscriptions en masse due to fast-shrinking budgets July 7, 2022 New figures out this morning show that the growth of the “subscription economy” is stalling rapidly as living costs squeeze household budgets and people return to pre-coronavirus pandemic routines. More than a third (36%) of people say they have cancelled at least one subscription because their disposable income has fallen as interest rates and inflation [...]
Mark Kleinman’s Column: Walgreens needs different prescription for future of Boots June 1, 2022 As an octogenarian with a literary penchant and more than half a century in business behind him, Stefano Pessina will be as aware as anyone of “time’s winged chariot hurrying near”. But is his sense of the passing of time in danger of impairing the judgement of the notoriously dogged and astute Italian dealmaker? The [...]
Wall Street wilts as yields rise ahead of speech by Federal Reserve chief Powell August 25, 2023 Wall Street has slumped despite a blowout profit report from Nvidia, following some mixed reports on the US economy. The S&P 500 dropped 1.3 per cent for its worst loss in three weeks. It nearly wiped out its gain for the week, which had been a bright spot in what has been a rough August. [...]
Hotel Chocolat secures £25m coronavirus loan as disruption expected until end of 2020 May 4, 2020 Hotel Chocolat announced this morning it has secured a £25m coronavirus large business interruption loan (CLBIL) as it warned that the pandemic could continue to impact trading throughout the rest of 2020. The high street retailer said it had agreed a £35m revolving credit facility with Lloyds Bank, replacing its previous £10m overdraft facility. The [...]
JD Sports lines up administrators for Go Outdoors June 22, 2020 JD Sports has today confirmed to investors that it is weighing up administration for Go Outdoors, after speculation that an official appointment could come within days. JD Sports said this morning that it has “considered a number of strategic options for Go and that Go’s directors have lodged the notice [to appoint administrators] in court”. [...]
Mark Kleinman: Dr Martens boss risks tripping over his own shoelaces December 7, 2023 Mark Kleinman is Sky News’ City Editor and is the man that gets the City talking in his weekly City A.M. column.