Time for a super-ministry to lead the fourth industrial revolution January 8, 2019 When I was elected to parliament, one of the first things that I campaigned on was the need to develop a comprehensive industrial strategy. The future of the country depends on a strong industrial base – not least because this is the starting point for the innovation that will maintain the UK’s position as a [...]
DEBATE: Should we celebrate the fact that car sales are down for the second year running? January 8, 2019 Should we celebrate the fact that car sales are down for the second year running? Benedict Spence, a freelance writer, says YES. For all the talk of a fall in car sales in the UK, well over two million new vehicles were registered in Britain last year. It’s a staggering number, and it was only a [...]
Footasylum shares slide as it warns discounting will squeeze profit margin January 8, 2019 Shares in Footasylum slumped 15 per cent this morning after the shoe shop warned that its full-year profit margin will be squeezed due to increased discounting across the retail sector. The share price slipped to 27.6p from yesterday's closing price of 32.5p on the news that the retailer will also implement a cost-cutting measures across the business that could result in [...]
Morrisons increases sales for a fourth consecutive Christmas but shares fall as it loses market share January 8, 2019 Morrisons posted its fourth consecutive Christmas of growth today, crediting competitive pricing of key festive foods and customer service for its strong performance. Excluding fuel, total sales at the supermarket rose by four per cent in the nine weeks to 6 January, while like-for-like sales grew by 3.6 per cent, with retail contributing 0.6 per [...]
From Carillion to Connaught, here are four clues that a company is tipped for disaster January 8, 2019 It is said that we learn as much from failure as we do from success. This is just as true in investing as in life: we can learn from the struggles of companies that have gone bust, as well as those that have survived. While there are tell-tale signs that a company’s share price is [...]
Apple analysts have let us down yet again January 8, 2019 Apple analysts, huh, what are they good for? Absolutely nothing. Say it again… Yep, that’s right, I just butchered one of the most powerful lyrics of the past 50 years. Lyrics immortalised by Edwin Starr in the 1970 Vietnam protest song, but for me it kind of grabs your attention and makes the point rather [...]
City Moves for 8 January – who’s switching jobs at Grosvenor Group, Alvarez and Marsal and Redburn? January 8, 2019 Who’s switching jobs? Grosvenor Group Grosvenor Group , the privately-owned international property group, announces the appointment of Matthew Barzun as non-executive director. Joining the Group Board with effect from 21 March, he brings a wealth of international experience in politics, diplomacy and business. Matthew is a former US Ambassador to the United Kingdom (between 2013 [...]
Amazon becomes most valuable company after overtaking Microsoft January 7, 2019 Amazon reclaimed its crown as Wall Street’s stock market darling this evening, passing Microsoft to take the lead in a three-horse race which has seen fellow tech giant Apple fall behind in recent weeks. Microsoft’s six-week run as the largest global company by market value was ended when the bell closed on Wall Street today [...]
Barclays activist investor calls for vote on boardroom shake-up January 7, 2019 Edward Bramson’s ongoing feud with Barclays escalated this evening after the activist investor said he would seek shareholder approval for a bid to make changes on the board of Britain’s third biggest bank. In a letter to investors through his Sherborne investment arm, which controls a 5.5 per cent stake in the bank, Bramson said [...]
World Bank President Jim Yong Kim in shock resignation January 7, 2019 The global development community was left stunned this evening after World Bank President Jim Yong Kim unexpectedly resigned. The abrupt announcement means that Kim, who was not due to leave the role until 2022, will be leaving his post at the start of next month for a role in the private sector. In a statement [...]