Asos hires Capquest boss Helen Ashton as new chief financial officer April 14, 2015 The chief financial officer merry-go-round continues. Today, it's the turn of Asos, which has hired Helen Ashton to take on the role being vacated by Nick Beighton. Ashton, who is currently chief executive of debt management business Capquest, will join in September. She will join the board at the same time. Beighton has already moved [...]
UK inflation: Last time it was at zero in 1989, it was measured by the prices of swiss roll, tracksuits and luncheon meat April 14, 2015 The last time inflation was this low, shoppers' baskets were overflowing with Swiss rolls, shell suits and tins of luncheon meat. Yum. Prices fell 0.01 per cent in March, figures published today by the Office for National Statistics revealed. Although that figure means inflation is still technically zero per cent, it's nevertheless the lowest since records began [...]
General Election 2015: Uncertainty hangs over UK mortgage lending data April 14, 2015 The uncertainty surrounding the General Election hit mortgages in February, as lending dropped, with the total number of loans falling one per cent on January’s figure and 16 per cent compared to last year. The figures According to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML),a total of 40,600 loans valued at £6.8bn were granted in February, meaning the [...]
Inflation is zero, but retailers and manufacturers are charging you more for less April 14, 2015 Consumer price inflation may be at zero for the second month in a row, but new research suggests the goods we buy are getting smaller while prices are edging up. Take your Tetley's Blend of Both tea, for example. If you bought that in Sainsbury's a few months back it would have been £2.55 for [...]
British Land splashes £210m on Paddington Central site ahead of Crossrail arrival April 14, 2015 British Land has snapped up a site in Paddington where Crossrail is set to push up property and rental prices in a £210m deal. The property giant, which already owns part of the massive Paddington Central scheme, has bought One Sheldon Square, a 200,000 sq ft, nine-storey office building, currently home to Visa Europe, from a [...]
Pound falls as UK inflation stays flat at zero in March April 14, 2015 The pound weakened 0.5 per cent against the dollar to $1.4614 after figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed consumer price inflation stayed flat at zero per cent in March. Although it means the UK has missed slipping into deflation for now, a sustained period of stagnant growth is nevertheless a concern. [...]
Sports marketing company TLA Worldwide records profit and revenue growth in 2014 April 14, 2015 The figures Athlete representation and sports marketing business TLA Worldwide recorded a grand slam set of results for 2014, with growth scored in revenue, profit and earnings per share. The Aim-listed company, which manages leading athletes, events and leagues in sports including baseball, golf, rugby, American football, cricket and football, reported a 12 per [...]
Quindell lines up Mark Williams as finance chief after Slater & Gordon sale April 14, 2015 Quindell has lined up a new chief to take the reigns of its finances after the sale of its legal services arm to Slater & Gordon. Mark Williams, part of the consultancy which was brought in to review Quindell's business in January following the departure of chairman Rob Terry, will join the firm when the [...]
Poundland’s quids in: Sales surpass £1bn at discount retailer for the first time April 14, 2015 Sales at Poundland have smashed past the £1bn mark for the first time. The figures Sales at Poundland for the full year to the end of March were £1.1bn, up almost 12 per cent on the previous year's sales of £997m on a constant currency basis. It expects pre-tax profits to be in line with [...]
Nina Ricci heiress Arlette found guilty in HSBC Swiss tax fraud leaks case April 13, 2015 Arlette Ricci, heiress to the Nina Ricci perfume and fashion fortune, has been found guilty of tax fraud in a case prompted by a leaked list of people who used the services of HSBC in Switzerland. A Paris court sentenced Ricci, the 73-year-old granddaughter of co-founder Nina Ricci, to three years in jail with two [...]