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 [...]
UK GDP: London leads the way when it comes to economic growth July 28, 2015 Official data released today has shown that the UK economy bounced back in the second quarter of this year, growing by 0.7 per cent, up from 0.4 per cent in the first quarter and in line with economists' expectations. But which cities are the main drivers of this, and who reaps the rewards? Londoners lead [...]
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 [...]
IMF tells Eurozone: Learn how to hire and fire July 27, 2015 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a stark warning to Eurozone leaders, saying the economy is at risk of tipping back into stagnation unless it gets on with reforms to promote competition and make hiring and firing easier. “A moderate shock to confidence—whether from lower expected future growth or heightened geopolitical tensions —could tip [...]
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 [...]
“Catastrophic failure”: Careworkers’ warning to George Osborne on minimum wage July 27, 2015 The government has been warned that George Osborne’s new minimum wage for carers could prove to be a “catastrophic failure” if all costs are not fully funded. In a letter to parliament, the UK Homecare Association (UHA) said it welcomed the government’s commitment to low-paid workers, but said it estimates that “to address the existing [...]
David Cameron promises new crackdown on corrupt London home buyers driving up house prices July 27, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron will today vow to stop the UK from becoming a haven for “dirty money”. He promises to reveal corrupt offshore organisations that purchase high-end London properties using “laundered cash”, which increase prices, exacerbating the capital’s affordability crisis. “I want Britain to be the most open country in the world [...]