George Osborne vying for top role at IMF July 4, 2019 George Osborne is mulling a bid to become the next head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to reports, after its current managing director Christine Lagarde was tapped for the top job at the European Central Bank (ECB). Read more: IMF chief Christine Lagarde among surprise picks for EU top job Currently editor of [...]
Superdry taps two top finance bosses after boardroom exodus July 4, 2019 Superdry has appointed two retail finance heavyweights to its board as it looks to restore order after an exodus of board members. The fashion chain has appointed Helen Weir and Alastair Miller as directors, with the appointments set to take effect from 11 July. Read more: Superdry delays results after issuing profit warning Weir was [...]
MJ Gleeson records 25 per cent jump in new home numbers July 4, 2019 Shares rose at housebuilder MJ Gleeson today as it recorded a 25 per cent jump in the number of completed homes for this financial year. Read more: MJ Gleeson CEO: Our customers don’t give a damn about Brexit The affordable homes builder told investors it has built 1,529 homes for the year ending 30 June, [...]
Deloitte fined £6.5m for role in Serco tagging scandal July 4, 2019 Big-Four auditor Deloitte was today fined £6.5m and “severely reprimanded” for its role in Serco’s electronic tag scandal. The Financial Reporting Council fine was reduced to £4.2m after the auditor admitted misconduct in connection to the scandal Serco yesterday agreed a deferred prosecution agreement with the Serious Fraud Office over three offences of fraud and [...]
DEBATE: Is Christine Lagarde a smart pick to take over from Mario Draghi at the European Central Bank? July 4, 2019 Is Christine Lagarde a smart pick to take over from Mario Draghi at the European Central Bank? Yes, says Pierre Ortlieb, an economist at OMFIF Christine Lagarde’s tentative appointment reflects the challenges that the ECB will face in its third decade. Post-crisis unconventional monetary policy and the Bank’s prominence in the continent’s capital markets have [...]
The NHS needs to plan for today, not 10 years into the future July 4, 2019 The NHS was built with one key purpose: to address social inequality by making the best healthcare available to everyone. For years, that aim has driven technological innovations that power better provision of care. However, as we mark 71 years from when it was founded, the NHS is operating in a very different world – [...]
Primark owner blames sales drop on ‘unseasonable’ weather July 4, 2019 Primark sales rose four per cent above last year’s level for the year to date, owner Associated British Foods (ABF) said today. Read more: Primark sales soar but sugar sales drop at owner ABF However, like-for-like sales actually fell in the 40 weeks to 22 June, with the sales boost coming largely from new stores. [...]
Persimmon revenues drop as fewer homes completed July 4, 2019 Higher house prices were not enough to boost Persimmon’s top line in the first six months of the year as fewer homes stood ready in the half. Revenues at the company dropped 4.5 per cent year-on-year to £1.75bn. Read more: UK house prices – Growth falls to four-month low in June A higher average selling [...]
Fintech champions face an uphill climb if they want to expand into America July 4, 2019 When did you last pay with a cheque? I’d be willing to bet that many of you don’t even know where your cheque book is, and if you do, that it’s probably gathering dust. If you’re living and working in a UK city, you’re totally accustomed to new ways of banking – from Apple Pay [...]
Corporate reputation is too valuable to leave to chance July 4, 2019 Corporate reputation is a ubiquitous phrase today. Companies spend enormous sums trying to burnish their reputations. An army of corporate governance experts, politicians, regulators and, dare I say, journalists queue up to judge those efforts – and often find them wanting. Shakespeare, as you might expect, has the best lines on the subject. “I have [...]