Lookers warns on confidence May 12, 2011 New and used car dealer, Lookers, said trading in the first quarter was ahead of budget but poor consumer confidence was hitting business. It warned new car sales were well down on last year, when the scrappage scheme was in its last month. Lookers said the UK new car retail market was down by 18 [...]
CRUNCH TIME FOR THE HIGH STREET June 26, 2011 FASHION retailer Jane Norman was on the brink of collapse this weekend, after all of its stores across the UK were closed for business, signalling imminent insolvency. Zolfo Cooper, the US accounting firm, has been lined up to put the distressed fashion retailer into a pre-pack administration, which could be approved in court as soon [...]
From the UK to Silicon Valley and back again February 5, 2012 GLOBALISATION throws up some interesting associations. The western world’s need to stay awake supports the coffee industries of Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa; the desires of Japanese, Indians and Chinese consumers to imbibe is helping the UK’s Scotch whisky industry flourish. No less interesting is the case of WANdisco – a tech company that [...]
Interest rates to stay at 0.5 per cent in June June 9, 2011 Interest rates in the UK will remain on hold at 0.5 per cent for another month, the Bank of England has said. Its decision to hold the ultra-low rate for a 27th month comes after renewed fears over fragility in the UK economy, while concerns over growing inflation have subsided. The decision to hold rates [...]
Interest rates to stay at 0.5 per cent in June June 9, 2011 Interest rates in the UK will remain on hold at 0.5 per cent for another month, the Bank of England has said. Its decision to hold the ultra-low rate for a 27th month comes after renewed fears over fragility in the UK economy, while concerns over growing inflation have subsided. The decision to hold rates [...]
THE WEEK AHEAD in association with GFT June 12, 2011 COMPANIES ● Today, the recently listed Glencore will release its first quarter trading statement to 31 March. On the same day, Majestic Wine and Advanced Computer Software will announce for the year. ● Carphone Warehouse and Oxford Instruments will announce on Tuesday. The latter was the first commercial spin-out company from Oxford University. Investors will [...]
Consumer confidence dips with age August 15, 2010 RESEARCH has shown a yawning gap in the effect of the recent austerity Budget on confidence levels among young and old people. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) found 30 per cent of 18-24 year-olds think they will be better off in 12 months’ time. Confidence then dips on a declining scale, turning negative among 35-44 year-olds and bottoming [...]
US rallies on hopes of Greek debt plan May 31, 2011 WALL St bulls took the upper hand with a one per cent rally yesterday as hopes for a new plan to deal with Greece’s debt crisis relieved some investor worry, but grim economic data suggested more hurdles ahead as the S&P 500 closed out its worth month since August. Stocks rebounded late in the session, [...]
Focus on: small businesses under the microscope August 7, 2011 WHEN T-Mobile called and asked if we wanted to sit in on one of their small business focus groups, we couldn’t say no. This year has been huge for entrepreneurs. The Prime Minister David Cameron passed them the gauntlet, asking them to revive our economy. So important he felt this responsibility, he dedicated his keynote [...]
Focus on: small businesses under the microscope August 7, 2011 WHEN T-Mobile called and asked if we wanted to sit in on one of their small business focus groups, we couldn’t say no. This year has been huge for entrepreneurs. The Prime Minister David Cameron passed them the gauntlet, asking them to revive our economy. So important he felt this responsibility, he dedicated his keynote [...]