UK to enforce diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics December 8, 2021 The UK will enforce a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics next year in response to the country’s litany of human rights abuses. Boris Johnson said today in Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) that “no ministers are expected to attend or officials”. However, the Prime Minister said that he was not in favour of a [...]
Sustainability: ‘Who is ultimately accountable? The board and the CEO’ October 14, 2021 A business’ board and chief executive are the ones ultimately accountable for creating a sustainable company with COP26 on the horizon, according to DS Smith’s sustainability lead. “Sustainability should, as a function, should make itself superfluous,” said Wouter van Tol, head of sustainability at the London listed packaging giant. Speaking at a sustainability roundtable earlier [...]
Tax hikes pull London markets down September 7, 2021 Sliding financial stocks pulled London markets down today after prime minister Boris Johnson announced a hike to dividend taxes and national insurance. The capital’s premier index fell, the FTSE 100, slipped 0.48 per cent to 7,152.75 points, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 had 0.62 per cent shaved off its value to fall to 24,097.48 points. [...]
DS Smith reaps rewards of online shopping boom, but sees costs climb September 7, 2021 Packaging giant DS Smith has reaped the rewards of Europe’s pandemic-induced ecommerce boom, with its box volumes swelling past pre-pandemic levels. In its latest trading update, the European group said growth in box volumes had been recorded both in 2019 and in 2020 in the months to 1 May, driven by the demand in ecommerce [...]
‘Full-blown recycling crisis’ looms over UK, DS Smith boss warns August 27, 2021 A “full-blown recycling crisis” is looming in the UK, the boss of London-listed packaging firm DS Smith has warned. With the UK trying to up its environmental commitments ahead of the UN’s flagship climate conference COP26 in November, DS Smith chief executive Miles Roberts has said the country is “throwing away” opportunities that could help [...]
China crackdown weighs heavily on global markets July 27, 2021 Global stock markets notched losses on Tuesday as investor sentiment soured on concerns that Chinese authorities may over-extend their regulatory crackdown. The US’ main benchmarks dropped during the opening session, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq registering the worst performance, down 1.76 per cent. The blue-chip S&P 500 fell 0.78 per cent, while the Dow Jones lost [...]
UK shoppers sticking with online shops despite restrictions relaxing June 29, 2021 Online e-commerce sales continued to grow in April, despite the reopening of non-essential retail across the UK. Demand for e-commerce packaging, a barometer for industry and sector performance, grew 11.7 per cent in April, despite brick-and-mortar shops reopening in the same month. This followed a 35.6 per cent increase in demand in the year up [...]
Packaging giant DS Smith sees profit tumble but e-commerce boom beckons June 22, 2021 Packaging giant DS Smith saw its profit slide in the last financial year as the boom in online shopping failed to offset the initial impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite record growth in the second half of the year, the cardboard maker said that profit before tax fell 37 per cent to £231m last year. Full-year revenue [...]
Jaguar E-Type Unleashed review: a big cat with claws May 14, 2021 The Jaguar E-Type Unleashed is the equivalent of a remastered classic LP, with a 380hp 6.1-litre V12, uprated chassis and modern luxuries.
Wall Street dips after Fed minutes affirm low interest rates for longer April 7, 2021 Wall Street dropped towards the end of trading, as traders digested the latest update from the Federal Reserve latest’s meeting. The Dow Jones, and Nasdaq indexes are currently down by 0.06 and 0.07 per cent respectively, while the S&P 500 is performing a little better, up 0.6 per cent. The Fed struck a dovish tone [...]