Shawbrook profits soar, almost doubling to £34.8m July 28, 2015 Shawbrook has reported a 94 per cent rise in underlying pre-tax profit after its recent IPO and amid ongoing concerns of a bank surcharge. The figures Shawbrook, the challenger bank founded in 2011 to fill the gap left by high street lenders when they tightened restrictions on lending to small firms, has performed strongly in [...]
Supermarket wars: Growth at Co-op Food for first time in a year, as Tesco and Asda decline yet again July 28, 2015 The Co-Operative supermarket is back in growth for the first time in a year, as Sainsbury's reclaims its second place position in the sector. The sector experienced slight growth for the 12 weeks to 19 July, with sales up 0.8 per cent year on year – though this was generally experienced by the smaller [...]
ITV audience numbers fall to lowest in 15 years while profits climb July 28, 2015 ITV audience numbers may have fallen to lowest in 15 years, but the broadcaster is continuing to grow revenues from advertising as well as its production arm ITV Studios. The broadcasters share price was trading 2.6 per cent up in mid morning trading after the announcement. The figures The broadcaster posted a pre-tax profit of [...]
Royal Mail’s share price plummets after Ofcom claims it “breached competition law” over delivery service changes July 28, 2015 Royal Mail's share price plummeted three per cent in early trading after Ofcom claimed it had “breached competition law” by behaving in a way that “amounted to unlawful discrimination” against competitors. The communications watchdog has issued a strongly worded “statement of objections” as part of an ongoing investigation prompted by complaints against Royal Mail [...]
Next’s share price jumps as it raises profit forecast after better than expected first half July 28, 2015 Next's share price jumped 1.4 per cent this morning, after raising its profit guidance for the full year following better than expected sales in the first half of this year. The high street chain is really showing Marks & Spencer how to do it. While its high street rival is struggling to get its [...]
BP profits tumble 50 per cent on lower oil prices and Deepwater Horizon charge July 28, 2015 BP shares are trading 1.19 per cent up in mid morning trading after it reported a 50 per cent drop in underlying profits during the second quarter of 2015, as lower oil prices and the Gulf of Mexico disaster continues to weigh on the company. The figure hit $1.31bn, undershooting analysts’ expectations of $1.6bn. Read more: One [...]
Leaked Yanis Varoufakis parallel currency plan to hack government databases sparks Greek backlash July 27, 2015 Greek politicians demanded answers from Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras yesterday after a leaked recording revealed former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis was planning to hack into government databases to help start a parallel currency. Yesterday, the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum released a recording of the conversation held between him and investors. “We [...]
China runs down currency reserves as economy cools July 27, 2015 Capital is flooding out of China’s economy as it continues to cool. Analysts at Goldman Sachs have estimated capital outflows reached $224bn (£144bn) in the second quarter. The Chinese central bank is also reportedly running down its foreign currency reserves to keep the renminbi stable. “As it stands reserves are being liquidated to support the [...]
Moscow Mule trend lifts profits at UK drinks maker Fever-Tree July 27, 2015 Upmarket carbonated drinks producer Fever-Tree is toasting a fizzing set of financial results that have seen revenues climb 62 per cent since the firm floated in November. The firm, which produces soda mixers for alcoholic drinks, said yesterday that its revenue in the first six months of the year climbed to £24.1m, up 62 per [...]
Zegona swoops for Telecable de Asturias: Former Virgin Media execs buy Spanish outfit July 27, 2015 Two former Virgin Media executives yesterday struck a €640m agreement to buy a Spanish telecoms firm, the maiden investment for their newly launched takeover vehicle. Eamonn O’Hare, former chief financial officer at Virgin Media, and its ex-chief operating officer Robert Samuelson floated Zegona in March with the backing of blue chip fund mangers like Neil [...]