Vistry ‘significantly outperforms’ housing market September 5, 2024 British housebuilder Vistry has reported a rise in revenue and said it is on track to build close to 20,000 homes this year, bucking the trend in a struggling industry. Revenue rose by 11 per cent to £1.97m in the half-year ended 30 June 2024, while operating profit rose 10 per cent to £227.3m. Profit before [...]
Currys: AI push drives laptop sales surge as retailer nabs nearly 50 per cent of UK market September 5, 2024 Tech retailer Currys has reported a strong start to the year, crediting its “early adoption” of AI products for taking almost half of the UK’s laptop market. The London-listed company, headquartered in Acton, saw its like for like sales in the UK and Ireland grow by five per cent in the 17 weeks ending August [...]
Enquest ‘disappointed’ with windfall tax plans as revenue dips September 5, 2024 North Sea energy firm Enquest has said it was “disappointed” with the ongoing application of the Energy Profit Energy as it reported falls in production and revenue. Enquest, which is one of the largest operators in the North Sea and is currently drilling the single largest oil field in the area, reported a 19.8 per [...]
Alfa Financial raises guidance as shift to subscription model delivers September 5, 2024 Asset finance software company Alfa Financial Software has said it expects full-year revenue to be £1m ahead of previous expectations, as the shift to a subscription model has started to pay off. In the first half of 2024, the company posted record total contract value (TCV) of £193m, a 40 per cent year on year jump, driven by [...]
Asos sells Topshop and Topman into new joint venture with Heartland September 5, 2024 Online clothing retailer Asos has launched a joint venture with Heartland, whereby Heartland will buy the Topshop and Topman brands from the firm. Asos bought the two brands, along with Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT, in 2021 from Philip Green’s collapsed Arcadia group for £265m (excluding stock). The joint venture will grant Asos “certain design [...]
Funding Circle shares soar as lender swings to unexpected profit September 5, 2024 Funding Circle swung to an unexpected profit in the first half of 2024 and raised its guidance for the full year as the small business lender looks to boost its flagging share price.
Ashmore: Mixed results as emerging market withdrawals remain sky-high September 5, 2024 Emerging markets investment manager Ashmore reported a 12 per cent drop in adjusted profit before tax for the year to 30 June 2024. The group reported an adjusted profit before tax of £105.4m, below expectations of £113m and 2023’s figure of £119.4m. Ashmore has experienced years of withdrawals from investors, and the trend has shown [...]
RM Funds poaches Brooks Macdonald fund mandate September 5, 2024 RM Funds, best known for its shareholding in embattled investment trust Home REIT, has won the mandate for the £146.6m Brooks Macdonald Defensive Capital fund. The Defensive Capital fund, which will be renamed as the RM Defence Capital fund, was launched in 2010. It is built as an all-weather return fund with low volatility through [...]
M&S hail fresh start as turnaround bears fruit but still ‘potential for growth’ September 5, 2024 Marks and Spencer‘s bosses have hailed the start of a new era for the multi-market firm as the turnaround plan it began in 2022 shows signs of having created long-term, sustainable growth potential. M&S clothing and home managing director Richard Price said that perception of the brand has improved in recent years, but there are [...]
Pension giants risk snubbing smaller stock markets in Mansion House investment drive September 5, 2024 Top pension fund managers risk neglecting London's junior stock markets and have made only sluggish progress on a landmark pledge to inject some £75bn into growth companies by 2030, a London business body has said.