Kingfisher maintains strong sales after lockdown boom in DIY and home improvements November 19, 2021 Kingfisher continues to enjoy strong sales despite the easing of pandemic restrictions and increased interest in DIY and home improvements.
Consumer confidence edges up despite inflation and supply chain woes November 19, 2021 Shoppers put aside concerns about soaring inflation and supply chain woes and spend in the run-up to Black Friday and Christmas, leading consumer confidence to edge up, according to new data published this morning. GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index increased three points to minus 14 in November following a three-month downturn. A seven-point jump in [...]
Rush to buy Christmas presents lifts Brits’ optimism November 19, 2021 A rush to buy Christmas presents early to avoid being stung by potential shortages has lifted Brits’ confidence. Shoppers are ready to pounce on big ticket purchases at Black Friday and over the festive period, research by GfK has found. Intention to splurge on expensive products jumped seven percentage points over the last month, climbing [...]
Exclusive: Deloitte reveals the UK’s fastest growing tech companies November 19, 2021 London firms came out on top in Deloitte’s annual ranking of the UK’s 50 fastest growing technology companies. The country’s top 50 tech firms achieved an average growth of 3,337 per cent and saw combined revenues of £2.92bn this year, up 33 per cent compared to last year’s total of £2.2bn. The final score sheet [...]
GB Group to snap up Acuant in $736m deal November 18, 2021 Aim-listed GB Group has plans to snap up US identity verification company Acuant in a $736m (£547m) deal. Identity software provider GB Group, which has a market cap of £1.7bn, will merge with Acuant to create a “global-leader” in identity verification services and identity fraud prevention. According to GB Group the companies have a combined [...]
Alibaba shares slide five per cent as earnings fall short of forecasts November 18, 2021 Alibaba shares tumbled five per cent after the company’s third quarter financials disappointed investors. In results released today, Chinese tech giant Alibaba revealed that revenue for the three months to October 2021 was $31.1bn (£23bn), up by 29 per cent compared to a year prior, but a far cry from analyst predictions of $32.1bn Net [...]
Shipping crisis could push global inflation up, UN warns November 18, 2021 The current global shipping crisis could push global inflation rates up 1.5 per cent, hindering the economic recovery. A UN conference on trade and development (UNCTAD) report published today highlighted how the increased costs in container shipping have become a main issue for small suppliers, usually less equipped for absorbing additional expenses. If the current [...]
Oil prices slump to six-week lows as US and China join forces to release reserves November 18, 2021 Oil prices slide six-week lows as US and China pledge to release their reserves to counter high prices.
Soaring inflation and tax hikes to squeeze UK economy November 18, 2021 TAX hikes, soaring inflation and an end to pandemic-related government support is souring the UK economy’s prospects, according to City analysts. Brits’ spending power will be eroded by the intensifying cost of living crisis, restricting their ability to splash the cash and drive the economy, analysts at Deutsche Bank warned today. Inflation is accelerating at [...]
Environmental Agency and Ofwat team up to investigate potential sewage-dumping by water companies November 18, 2021 Ofwat and Environment Agency join forces to investigate reports water companies are dumping unpermitted sewage in UK rivers.