Domino’s Pizza delivers hot half year results as it opens 29 new stores August 1, 2023 Domino’s Pizza Group has benefited from a bleak winter with UK and Ireland stuffed-crust lovers staying in and ordering cheesy slices, as the chain adds more stores around the country. The pizza delivery company has reported a 19.6 per cent rise in revenue to £332.9m, up from £278.3m in the first half year ended 25 [...]
Toyota doubles profits as EV push ramps up August 1, 2023 Toyota Motor Corp nearly doubled its profits in its first quarter results, on the back of strong sales and an improved supply of semi-conductors. The Japanese automaker saw operating profits for the period between April and June rise 94 per cent to 1.2trn yen (£6.12bn), up from 578.66bn yen (£3.15bn) year-on-year. Sales revenues jumped 24.2 [...]
The 90s called: Flip phones forecast to be worth near $50bn by 2027 as analysts watch for an Apple model August 1, 2023 Foldable smartphones are sparking a renaissance of the iconic flip phone from the 90s, with the market forecast to be worth nearly £50bn in the next four years. According to Expert Market Research, the foldable smartphone market reached almost $16.5bn (£12.8bn) in 2022 and is expected to soar to $60bn (£46.6bn) by 2028. Global foldable [...]
Aston Martin to launch £210m share placing to reduce debt August 1, 2023 Luxury carmaker Aston Martin aid on Monday it will launch a £210m share placing to speed up its aim to reduce net leverage. Shareholders, who are represented on board, have committed to subscribe £184m, of which £115m worth of shares will be bought by Yew Tree Overseas, Public Investment Fund, Geely International and Mercedes-Benz AG. The [...]
Tighter interest rates and inflation clobber UK business confidence August 1, 2023 Higher interest rates and elevated prices have thrown a wet blanket over UK business optimism, according to surveys out today. Confidence as measured by the lobby group the Institute of Directors (IoD) was largely unchanged last month at minus 30 points, up marginally from June’s minus 31 point reading. It solidifies signs that pessimism is [...]
Food inflation slumps to lowest level this year but experts caution against declaring victory yet August 1, 2023 Food inflation has slipped to its lowest level this year and has fallen for the third month in a row, an encouraging signal that suggests the UK is through the worst of the cost of living crisis, a new survey out today shows. The cost of groceries climbed 13.4 per cent over the year to [...]
The Notebook: Ian Whittaker on S4’s bad luck, a surprising election forecast and the unbeatable pull of strong brands August 1, 2023 Where the City’s movers and shakers get some things off their chest. Today it’s Ian Whittaker, founder of Liberty Sky Advisors S4’s latest woes are down to bad luck, not bad judgement The Q2 results season is in full swing and, so far, it is fair to describe the season as better than expected. The [...]
The tide is finally turning on working from home – and so is the evidence August 1, 2023 It’s an open secret. We all work a little less hard when we work from home. Anecdotally, we’ve all heard someone quip, “it’s alright, I’m working from home tomorrow”, as they make a beeline for the bar to order the fourth round of drinks during a midweek evening pub session. But now there’s a new [...]
Banks and watchdog exploring expanding open banking to savings accounts to boost competition August 1, 2023 Banks have committed to explore the expansion of open banking into the savings market, the City watchdog revealed yesterday. In its report on the savings market, the regulator confirmed that banks and building societies have committed to explore how investment in open banking can be used to support savings customers. This includes carrying out a [...]
London commuters are our ‘most important’ e-bike users, says Lime boss July 31, 2023 London’s commuters are our “most important” riders, the CEO of the e-bike operator Lime has said. Speaking to City A.M. Wayne Ting, Lime’s chief said that “commuting is the most important use case” for the popular vehicles as demand soars in the capital. Lime has seen a 10 per cent monthly increase in riders in [...]