Investors ignore disruptive weather at their peril March 5, 2018 The "Beast from the East" closed schools, kept trains in their sidings and hit Britain's productivity. But can inclement weather move the stock market by affecting investors' minds? Findings of a research project published in the Journal of Accounting Research in 2015 concluded that financial analysts respond more slowly to the implications of earnings announcements [...]
Sir Stuart Rose, chairman of Dressipi: The next revolution in retail is data-based, personalised services, and the UK is at the vanguard November 14, 2016 THE DEMISE of BHS and Austin Reed, as well as gyrating retail sales figures, has again highlighted the variety of headwinds facing the retail sector, particularly on the high street. These include: the threat from companies such as Amazon, increasing costs, squeezed margins, keeping brands fresh or even the good, old-fashioned unpredictable British weather. The [...]
Fever-Tree founder Tim Warrillow’s day behind the bar gives the mixer maker a boost April 28, 2016 To Broadgate, for a well-chilled gin and tonic with mixer maker Fever-Tree's founders. Tim Warrillow, the chief executive of the AIM-listed drinks firm, took it upon himself to dish out G&Ts to thirsty City folk last night to mark World Malaria Day 2016. As any gin-lover will know, tonic water contains the chemical quinine, famously [...]
£40m promised for flood defences by David Cameron after storm Eva and Frank January 3, 2016 A package of £40m has been promised by the government to fix Britain's flood defences in areas devastated by storm Eva over Christmas. “I have seen at first-hand the devastation caused by flooding. And that’s why this work to repair and improve flood defences is so vital," said Prime Minister David Cameron. “We are already spending [...]
UK retailers enjoy best September in three years with sales up 2.8 per cent – BDO October 8, 2015 Shoppers flocked back to the high street last month after a weak August as retailers enjoyed their best September performance in three years. UK retail sales rose by 2.8 per cent year-on-year – the best figures for the month of September since 2012 and the highest monthly rise since April last year, BDO’s monthly High [...]
Decline in Brits abroad as holidaymakers opt to stay home this summer August 8, 2015 The UK economy is recovering and consumer confidence is increasing – but not enough to encourage the majority of people to holiday abroad this summer. Read more: Why taking a holiday is vital to productivity Less than half of people in the UK will travel to other countries this year, a reduction on the 56 per [...]
From floods and snowstorms to balmy December days: Why UK winter weather is about to get even more extreme September 10, 2014 If you thought British winters were bad, get ready for even more unpredictable weather. Conditions will swing from very mild and wet to extremely cold and snowy in the decades to come, according to a new report. By looking at the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), a seasonal measurement of barometric pressure variations over the [...]
Golf Comment: Rory answered doubts before and can again July 17, 2014 IT’S A case of so far, so good for Rory McIlroy, but this is a player who has developed an unfortunate habit of starting brilliantly only to scupper his chances on the second day. If the problem is psychological, then the backdrop of a Major, and a British one at that, is not going to [...]
Golf Comment: You can’t overpower strategic Hoylake, it’s like a game of chess July 14, 2014 ACCOLADES for British golf courses do not come much higher than a place on the Open Championship rota, so that speaks volumes for the quality of Hoylake, where the year’s third Major begins on Thursday. Like Royal Aberdeen, which staged the latest instalment of the Scottish Open last week, it is a class act. It [...]
Innovation Diary: Why food innovators have broken out of the development kitchen October 13, 2013 THINK of food innovation and the cronut (a croissant/doughnut) or the duffin (its doughnut/muffin cousin) may come to mind. Such foody portmanteaus – while reflecting the vibrancy of an industry that has weathered the last five years well – can have unpredictable results. Frappuccinos and banoffee pie now barely raise an eyebrow. The pluot (a [...]