Throw the cyber skills rulebook in the bin and teach trainees to think like hackers January 15, 2019 How should businesses train the nation’s next generation of digital defenders? With the national cyber security strategy due to be updated this year, this should be a pressing issue for the UK government. As the cyber threat grows, so too must our capabilities to defend against it. But at the moment, the industry is fighting a [...]
Eager for a house price fall? It’s time for a lesson in economics January 15, 2019 Would it be a good thing if house prices in the UK fell? The British public, a host of commentators on Twitter, and even some economists seem to think so. A recent YouGov poll asked Britons whether a 30 per cent fall in property values after Brexit would be a “bad thing”. Just 32 per [...]
Persimmon’s profits to beat expectations despite boss bonus scandal January 15, 2019 Housebuilder Persimmon today said it expects its full-year profits to be “modestly” ahead of market consensus thanks to a string of new developments. The company reported a four per cent rise in total revenues to £3.74bn for the year to the end of December, with legal completion volumes up three per cent to 16,449 new [...]
A year on from Carillion: 12 months that brought outsourcing to its knees January 15, 2019 On the anniversary of Carillion’s dramatic collapse, two more public sector outsourcing giants, Interserve and Kier Group, are up against the ropes. In the intervening 12 months, outsourcers have lurched from one crisis to another, with profit warnings, massive project failures and revelations of systemic late payment of suppliers. City A.M. charts a year which [...]
Boohoo shares drop despite retailer lifting 2019 guidance after strong sales growth January 15, 2019 Boohoo had no cause for tears this morning as it revealed rocketing revenue helped it end 2018 on a high, raising guidance for its full-year sales. Sales grew 44 per cent year on year to £328.2m in the four months to the end of December, up from £228.2m in the same period in 2017. Read [...]
Profiting from the retail revolution: What’s hot and what’s not? January 15, 2019 It turns out that so-called Super Thursday wasn’t so super after all. Despite being lauded as a day when retailers boast strong figures from the festive period, last Thursday proved to be a mixed basket of results. With consumers feeling the pinch and Brexit-sized uncertainty looming large over the high street, it’s not surprising that [...]
Brexit high noon spells danger for currency traders January 15, 2019 Theresa May’s ultimate showdown has finally arrived. The high-stakes parliamentary vote on her Brexit plans is due later today, and the outcomes vary wildly – from soaring success to complete political collapse. Currency traders lie in wait, hoping not to be caught on the wrong side of a sterling trade, which could whip wildly in [...]
City moves for 15 January – who’s switching jobs at Leathwaite, Blend Network and Quantexa? January 15, 2019 Who’s on the move? Leathwaite Leathwaite, the global human capital specialist firm, announces that Dena Brumpton is to join its board as a non-executive director. With over 30 years’ experience as a senior financial services professional, most recently as chief executive for Barclays savings, investments and wealth management, Dena Brumpton is regarded as one of the [...]
Carillion one year on: Government outsourcers are still struggling with growing debt piles January 15, 2019 On the anniversary of Carillion’s collapse, government outsourcers are still reporting ballooning debt levels as they try to balance the books. Kier Group, Interserve, Serco, Sodexo and Sopra Steria, who are all on the government’s list of strategic suppliers for 2019, have taken on hundreds of millions of pounds worth of debt in the last [...]
Lululemon ups fourth quarter forecasts on strong online and China demand January 14, 2019 Clothing retailer Lululemon Athletica boosted its profit and revenue forecasts for the last quarter of its financial year today, driven by online growth and demand from China. The Canadian retailer, which is known for its upscale yoga and athletic wear, said its upgrade was based on a strong holiday season and success “around the globe”. [...]