The Notebook: Andy Silvester on the dearth of leadership at the BBC and Met Police October 24, 2023 Where the City’s movers and shakers get a few things off their chest. Today, it’s our editor Andy Silvester with the pen Strong leadership is needed to fix the Met and BBC’s vast failings Some time towards the end of the last millennium, I remember watching my football team – Wimbledon – being torn apart [...]
UK coronavirus lockdown: Sports Direct asks if staff count as key workers March 24, 2020 Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct and Evans Cycles stores will now remain closed unless the government gives them permission to stay open during the UK coronavirus lockdown. Bosses earlier claimed the stores are vital to the health of the nation, giving staff so-called key worker status. Under new measures announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last [...]
FTSE 100 close: Wizz Air nosedives while JD Sports and 3i shine in London January 26, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 jumped today, led higher by private equity firm 3i soaring after it dropped a strong crop of results, prompting traders to pile into its shares. The capital’s premier index climbed 0.22 per cent to 7,761.55 points, while the domestically-focused FTSE 250 index, which better reflects the health of the UK economy, leapt [...]
Sports Direct hikes prices after store closures amid coronavirus crisis March 24, 2020 Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct has reportedly hiked the price of some sports equipment by as much as 50 per cent amid the coronavirus crisis. The retailer has increased the price of exercise equipment such as skipping ropes and weights, according to documents seen by the Press Association. It comes on the same day Sports Direct [...]
Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct and House of Fraser empire kicks off £70m share buyback plan December 13, 2021 Retail baron Miek Ashley has announced the start of a £70m share buyback plan for Frasers in an attempt to boost the company’s share price. Bosses at the group, which includes department store House of Fraser and retail chains Sports Direct and Game, said the plan is to reduce the number of shares in circulation. [...]
Ocado losses swell as shoppers add less items to their baskets amid cost of living crunch July 21, 2022 Ocado has posted swelling losses after shoppers have added less items to their shopping baskets following the cost of living crunch and easing of lockdown restrictions. Losses widened to £211m, from £27.9m the year prior, for the six month period to 29 May, as customers tightened their purse strings as inflation surged past new 40-year [...]
Mike Ashley in talks to sell Newcastle United for £340m January 26, 2020 Retail tycoon Mike Ashley is in talks to sell Newcastle United football club to a consortium including Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund for £340m. The billionaire owner of Sports Direct – recently renamed Frasers Group – bought Newcastle United in 2007 but is now in talks with a group led by British financier Amanda Staveley [...]
Selfridges’ new chief faces an uphill battle August 13, 2024 Selfridges’ new CEO, André Maeder, has his work cut out for him. The company has managed to survive the gruelling pandemic years – largely by cutting jobs and moving online – a tough cost-of-living crisis and an acquisition in 2022. But seasoned retailer Maeder, who was officially announced two weeks ago and starts in November, [...]
Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct resolves chunk of €674m Belgian tax bill January 30, 2020 Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct has resolved a large chunk of a €674m (£570.2m) tax dispute with the Belgian authorities. The retailer – which recently rebranded as Frasers Group – said €491m of the disputed VAT had been accounted for and authorities in Belgium had withdrawn the claim. Ashley’s company said it would “continue to fully engage [...]
Exclusive: City fund managers on pandemic volatility, inflation and value vs growth March 24, 2021 It has been a surreal year for fund managers in the City, with unprecedented volatility descending on practically every investment vehicle, asset manager or investor operating out of the Square Mile. The unpredictability of the ongoing pandemic is one of the reasons why the age-old investment-driven debate about ‘cheap’ value stocks versus ‘expensive’ growth equities [...]