Brexit vote boosts Hugo Boss January 16, 2017 Hugo Boss has staged a partial recovery thanks to a sales boost in Britain and China. The German fashion house said its operating profit for 2016 will fall less than expected due to a 20 per cent increase in like-for-like sales in China in the fourth quarter, and a two per cent increase in Europe, which was [...]
Here are 29 reasons to be cheerful on Blue Monday January 16, 2017 It's Blue Monday, the day officially designated as the most miserable day of the year. Yes, it's raining and yes, you may well be off to see the divorce lawyers today – but that's no reason to be sad, daddy-o. Here are 50 reasons to turn that frown upside-down… 1. The FTSE 100 is on [...]
Here’s how much house prices have increased so far this year January 16, 2017 The housing market has had a robust start to 2017, with house prices increasing 0.4 per cent in January as compared to December. House prices grew 3.2 per cent year-on-year, according to figures from Rightmove. Read more: This is how far house prices will fall in 2017 In London, asking prices increased 1.4 per cent [...]
Brickmaker Ibstock boosted by increased housebuilder demand and weak sterling January 16, 2017 Ibstock shares opened broadly flat this morning after announcing earnings would be in line with forecasts, with sales supported by strong second half demand the company said in its annual trading update. The figures The hard data is to come but the firm's trading update for the year to the December, today trailed the headlines. Group [...]
Burberry confirmed its new chief executive Marco Gobbetti is set to head the company from July January 16, 2017 Burberry today confirmed Marco Gobbetti is set to become the boss of the company this summer as part of the company's ongoing restructuring drive. Gobbetti is slated to join the luxury brand as executive chairman of Asia Pacific and Middle East on 27 January until 4 July. From 5 July, he will join the board and take on his role [...]
Time to move: Prime rents fell in the Home Counties last year as property owners get spooked from selling and turn to rental market January 16, 2017 Prime rents in the Home Counties fell 0.8 per cent last year, as a higher amount of housing available at the top end of the market drove down prices, according to the latest Knight Frank rental index. The increase in stock levels in higher price brackets has been fuelled by greater uncertainty in the sales [...]
Better Capital boss Jon Moulton on Brexit, his firm’s exit and why he still hasn’t forgiven Liam Fox January 16, 2017 Bald, bold and bespectacled, private equity veteran Jon Moulton has had more than his fair share of knocks as well as high points during a long career. He was branded the Christmas Scrooge in December 2014 when City Link collapsed into administration leaving nearly 2,700 jobs at risk. “We made a very bad decision to [...]
Burberry leads another week of key retail updates January 15, 2017 British fashion house Burberry is widely expected to report an uplift in sales this week after the fall in the value of the pound made its products more attractive to foreign buyers. Burberry posts its third quarter trading update on Wednesday, and Barclays analysts have predicted the company will announce a like-for-like sales increase of two per [...]
Why banks could actually prove a less stressful part of your portfolio January 13, 2017 Market consensus tells us the banking sector remains a risky place for investors to put their money. After all, the prevailing wisdom runs, banks are cyclical, poorly capitalised and in lousy shape for the next downturn, as and when it comes. Of course, as contrarian investors, we believe market consensus and prevailing wisdom primarily [...]
Interiors: Laura Ivill tours Beau House, the St James’s scheme promoting British art and design January 13, 2017 As London Fashion Week Men’s drew to a close last week, with its global celebration of Savile Row and Jermyn Street style, all eyes were on St James’s. This historic quarter, based around St James’s Square and bordering Green Park and St James’s Park, is undergoing a £500m redevelopment by The Crown Estate, joined by [...]