FTSE 100 close: Markets in the red as Bank of England hikes interest rates to 5.25 per cent August 3, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 stayed in the red through most of Thursday on a day which saw the Bank of England confirm a 14th consecutive interest rate hike of 25 basis points. The capital’s premier index was down 1.27 per cent by midday and closed at -0.51 per cent. The domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which [...]
How do phone booths improve the office? August 3, 2023 | Sponsored What are phone booths and what are the benefits? It is a reality that office workers spent a substantial part of their day making and receiving phone calls and whilst telephone calls are vital for communication in the workspace, it can be difficult to keep calls private and professional with the background noises of the [...]
Are office pods a good investment? August 3, 2023 | Sponsored Office Pods are becoming more popular because while it is true that most corporate environments favour open plan designs, it is also true that this kind of designs pose a big problem when it comes to privacy and silence. Open plan offices have a focus on collaboration, where all workers sit together in a single room [...]
BMW: Shares dip on supply chain warning as carmaker lifts earnings guidance August 3, 2023 BMW’s higher annual earnings forecast failed to chime with investors, as the carmaker warned of a hit from supply chain issues and inflation. The Munich-headquartered firm said it expected an annual EBIT margin of 9-10 per cent, up from 8-10 per cent, as it reported strong demand for vehicles and a doubling of deliveries in [...]
Nintendo: Super Mario movie success helps drive 50 per cent sales surge August 3, 2023 Nintendo has smashed forecasts for its first quarter results as the ever-popular virtual icons Mario and Zelda continue to attract gamers. The Japanese gaming company reported net sales of 461.34bn yen (£2.5bn) for the three months ended 30 June – a 50 per cent increase from the same period of 2022 and ahead of Refinitiv [...]
The negroni isn’t ‘woke’ – it’s a part of British tradition that we must save August 3, 2023 We have been drinking cocktails for a long time. The first recorded use of the word which didn’t refer to a horse’s tail is in 1798 and was mocking the drinking habits of the prime minister, William Pitt the Younger. (Premiers don’t hit the bottle heavily these days: Thatcher liked to unwind with glasses of [...]
Profits wag for Pets at Home as revenues up 10 per cent thanks to Brits splurging on furry friends August 3, 2023 Pets at Home made a profit during the first quarter with revenues rising 10.2 per cent to £568.2m, as the animal care brand was bolstered by new store openings. The pet store, which operates 453 sites across the UK, said that total group revenue reached £436.8m, up 7.9 per cent when compared to last year, [...]
Sports medicine boosts Smith & Nephew results as chief financial officer steps down August 3, 2023 Medical device manufacturer Smith & Nephew has reported revenue and profit increases due to higher demand for sports medicines as the chief financial officer steps down. Strong performance in sports medicine, advanced wound management, and orthopaedics, which together make up 60 per cent of their business, has led to a 7.3 per cent rise in [...]
Wizz Air smashes passenger records as CEO predicts further summer growth August 3, 2023 Wizz Air said it carried a record 15.3 million passengers in the three months to 30 June, up 25.5 per cent on 2022, as the ultra-low cost airline swung into profit on the back of soaring demand for travel. The historic traffic figures helped the carrier report a €79m (£68m) profit, up from a €284.5m [...]
Next: Retail giant does it again with further profit guidance upgrade August 3, 2023 Next is upgrading its full year guidance for group profit before tax by £10m to £845m, following a strong performance in the second quarter helped by summer sales.