Greene King revenues top £2bn as pub chain hopes inflation fears will be drowned out by a boozy Coronation May 2, 2023 Greene King said revenues continued to soar however the chief executive of the group warned that inflation and the cost of living crisis would prove a “tough backdrop” for the hospitality sector. The pub operator, which has over 2,000 sites across the UK, reported a revenue hike of 62.2 per cent for the 52 weeks [...]
Currys shrugs off lack of takeover offer by raising profit forecast for the year March 18, 2024 Tech retailer Currys has officially ended its period for considering takeover bids without securing any offers.
London pension fintech Smart gears up for deals after $95m funding injection May 15, 2023 London-based pensions fintech firm Smart said it was gearing up for a flurry of dealmaking today as it bagged a $95m funding round from a host of big name backers including New York based outfit Aquiline.
Black Friday: Cash-strapped shoppers look to snap up Christmas bargains before cutting back November 25, 2022 Cash-strapped shoppers will take advantage of Black Friday discounts this weekend as they try to make Christmas special, before tightening their belts as the UK enters into a recession. While retailers may see a temporary boost in sales this weekend, shoppers will pull forward Christmas spending rather than “buying twice” as in previous years, Hargreaves [...]
Number of company administrations set to rise this year, analysts predict August 16, 2022 More UK companies are set to enter administration this year than last year, analysts have warned. Risk consultancy Kroll said yesterday that it predicted that the UK could face up to 895 company administrations in 2022, compared to just 659 in 2021. So far there have been 522 administrations this year, with an average of [...]
FTSE 100 close: London ends down ahead of Google and Microsoft results as Primark owner slumps April 25, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 was dragged lower today as investors fretted over the state of a batch of big tech results on Wall Street rolling in over the coming days. The capital’s premier index shed 0.27 per cent to drop to 7,891.13 points, while the domestically-focus mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the [...]
Post SVB reforms to UK banking regulation leaves sector divided April 19, 2023 Figures in the banking sector are divided over suggested reform to deposit protection, with regulators reported to be mulling raising the deposit insurance threshold in the wake of the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) last month. According to a report from the Financial Times, regulators are considering updating the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) [...]
Steep losses looming: Made.com warns job cuts are coming to slash costs after dive in consumer spending July 19, 2022 Made.com said this morning it has launched a review its workforce amid efforts to slash costs as a slump in consumer spending is set to send it tumbling to steep losses. The group said it is looking at its operational structure and headcount, as well as improvements to stock buying and warehousing to try to [...]
Q&A: Fintech boss Janine Hirt on how London can stay ahead of EU rivals January 26, 2023 Fintech is an increasingly vital part of the UK’s financial ecosystem – so it’s high time to chat with Janine Hirt, the CEO of industry body Innovate Finance, on the challenges that come with keeping the UK out in front of Europe While the UK has historically been a global leader in FinTech – receiving [...]
Make or break: Struggling small firms hope holiday season will bring vital boost November 13, 2023 As small businesses power through the economic headwinds of the year and look towards a more positive 2024, the holiday season might just be what makes or breaks it for some. Laura Timm, the Federation of Small Businesses London policy chair, referred to the next few months as the “golden quarter” for small businesses looking [...]