Utilitywise revenues skyrocket April 29, 2014 Energy consultancy Utilitywise yesterday posted a 105 per cent increase in half-year revenue to £21m and a 135 per cent rise in adjusted earnings to £5.4m, thanks to a growing customer base. It expects full-year performance to be slightly ahead of market expectations. Separately, the Aim-listed firm announced the acquisition of Icon Communication Centres, a [...]
Walker Greenbank riding high April 29, 2014 Interior furnishings company Walker Greenbank has revealed an impressive set of results for the last year, as well as strong first quarter results. For the 12 month period sales were up 3.6 per cent to £78.4m, with adjusted profit before tax up 14.9 per cent at £7.33m. Chairman Terry Stannard said: “With an improving economic [...]
Send money via mobile numbers April 29, 2014 Bank customers can now send money to each other by using their mobile phone numbers, after a new service named Paym launched yesterday. The company said that customers of the Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Cumberland Building Society, Danske Bank, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, Santander and TSB will all be able to send and receive payments. [...]
Winkworth and Foxtons lifted by London market April 29, 2014 LONDON estate agent Foxtons and its smaller rival Winkworth both posted strong results yesterday thanks to the capital’s buoyant property market. Foxtons, which floated in September last year, enjoyed a 19.2 per cent jump in sales to £34.1m in the first three months of 2014, its first fiscal quarter, compared with the same time in [...]
Car insurance premiums fall by £30 a month on average in 2014 April 29, 2014 MOTORISTS are enjoying cheaper car insurance premiums as the trend for discounts continues into 2014. Industry body the Association of British Insurers has revealed the results of its latest market tracker, with comprehensive motoring premiums falling by around £30 per month on average. Prices fell by three per cent compared to the same quarter in [...]
Stagecoach sees bus and train revenue rises down the road April 29, 2014 STAGECOACH’S bus business has been raking in fares, with like-for-like revenues up 4.8 per cent in the last 10 months. The FTSE 250 firm said turnover from commercial services should make up for a tougher time on concessionary fares, building on its growing bus operations in London. Meanwhile the firm’s rail venture is in talks [...]
Client retention helped JLT hit high expectations, bosses say April 29, 2014 SPECIALIST insurer Jardine Lloyd Thompson has met expectations for the year so far, bosses revealed at its annual general meeting yesterday. Investment in client retention boosted the group’s fortunes and helped to stave off the effects of continued reductions in insurance and reinsurance pricing. The group also revealed that it expects recent changes to the [...]
Unibet posts strong first quarter April 29, 2014 Unibet’s first quarter interim report yesterday showed profit from operations grew 33 per cent with revenue up to £67.6m from £59.3m in the first quarter of 2013. Unibet gave credit for the results to the strong development of its mobile channel and the performance of Kambi, its subsidiary. Profit after taxes grew to £15.3m, compared [...]
Events revenue stumbles at UBM April 29, 2014 Global events company UBM yesterday reported a 13.5 per cent fall in first-quarter revenue (to £163m) and a 16.9 per cent decline in first-quarter operating profit to £29.4m, in line with expectations. Finance chief Robert Gray said the results were due to unfavourable foreign exchange, restructuring activities, and phasing impacts of event schedules. UBM said [...]
Redrow buys sites for 1,300 homes April 29, 2014 Redrow said yesterday it has snapped up 11 sites since the start of the year with space for 1,300 homes, as the housebuilder reported another buoyant trading period. Net reservations in the 17 weeks to 25 April were up 17 per cent at 1,280, while its average selling price rose 16 per cent to £289,000. [...]