Google: AI investment pays off as cloud drives revenue growth October 30, 2024 Google’s parent company, Alphabet, reported increased revenue in the third quarter due to its strong performance in its Google Cloud division. In its third-quarter trading update, the company posted revenue of $88.3bn (£67.8bn), a 15 per cent increase from the second-quarter. However, growth at the firm’s core advertising business lagged the wider group. The total [...]
Hellofresh puts 900 UK jobs at risk as major site set to be closed October 30, 2024 Hellofresh has revealed plans to close one of its major UK sites in a move which has put 900 jobs at risk. The recipe box delivery company has said the Nuneaton distribution centre would remain operational until the middle of 2025 if the proposals are approved. The 237,000 sqft building was Hellofresh’s second site when [...]
Virgin Media O2 sells Cornerstone Towers stake as revenue dips October 30, 2024 Virgin Media O2 has announced the sale of a stake in its mobile towers joint venture, Cornerstone, to infrastructure investor Equitix, bagging £186m in cash. The deal, which leaves the telco with just over 25 per cent of Cornerstone after selling 8.33 per cent, involves a 16.66 per cent stake in a holding company that [...]
Next predicts £1bn profit after cold weather boosts sales October 30, 2024 Next has upgraded its profit forecast for the year to over £1bn after better-than-expected sales in its third quarter. The FTSE 100 retail giant, which is headquartered in Leicester, has upgraded its guidance from £995m to £1.005bn. In an update to the London Stock Exchange, Next said full price sales in the three months to 30 October [...]
Why Rachel Reeves’s Budget is making businesses nervous | Bonds & Ballots October 30, 2024 City AM’s City Editor Charlie Conchie takes a look at all the alarms in the run-up to Labour’s first budget.
CAB Payments engages with US firm on possible takeover offer October 30, 2024 Fintech CAB Payments has said it is engaging in discussions with US payments firm StoneX about a possible takeover offer after its disastrous London float last summer.
Aston Martin slashes loss by over £100m October 30, 2024 Aston Martin slashed its pre-tax loss by 90 per cent during its latest financial period after being boosted by a rise in its wholesale volumes. The Warwickshire-headquartered luxury car maker has reported a pre-tax loss of £12.2m for its third quarter, down from the £117.6m loss it posted during the same three-month period in 2022. [...]
Eckoh: Another AIM exit as private equity firm launches bid October 30, 2024 Payments software firm Eckoh is set to leave the London Stock Exchange’s AIM after it received an offer from private equity firm Bridgepoint. The bid values Eckoh at 54p per share or £169.3m. The price is offered is 15.9 times Eckoh’s adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the year ending March [...]
GSK: Zantac settlements hit profit but guidance unchanged October 30, 2024 Pharmaceutical giant GSK has reported a drop in profit due to charges related to the Zantac lawsuits but has reaffirmed guidance and said its core outlook remained unchanged. Operating profit fell by 86 per cent, and earnings per share slumped due to a settlement charge of £1.8bn related to the Zantac lawsuits. The lawsuits arose [...]
Standard Chartered to double down on wealth management as profit beats forecasts October 30, 2024 Standard Chartered is to double investment in its wealth management arm as the bank beat estimates for its third-quarter profit and boosted plans for shareholder returns.