Experian posts 2019 profit rise helped by global growth May 15, 2019 Credit reporting company Experian’s profit grew in 2019 thanks to global expansion, with its North America and Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific divisions seeing double digit revenue growth. Read more: Experian abandons £275m Clearscore merger after competition watchdog probe The figures Experian’s profit before tax rose at an actual rate of one per cent, [...]
Firms forced to tell customers about cheapest mobile and broadband deals under new Ofcom rules May 15, 2019 Broadband, phone and TV firms will be forced to tell customers about their best deals under new rules unveiled today by Ofcom. The new regulations mean telecoms firms will have to notify customers when their contracts are coming to an end and lay out the best tariffs available. Read more: UK average broadband speeds rise by a [...]
William Hill boosts revenue after international expansion campaign May 15, 2019 Bookmaker William Hill said today it had increased its revenue after a campaign of international expansion. In a trading update for the 17 weeks to 30 April, William Hill said net revenue grew two per cent, which it said reflected a “year of transition in retail and online”. Online net revenue grew eight per cent, [...]
Speedy Hire profits jacked up as small business strategy pays off May 15, 2019 A slow uptake of its newly launched app was a rare downside over the past year for tools rental business Speedy Hire as profits shot up. The figures Revenue ticked up nicely by 5.8 per cent to £394.7m as the company spent around £31m on two acquisitions, bringing in expertise in training and powered access. [...]
FTSE 100-listed Compass results point north as revenue and profits rise May 15, 2019 Food services business Compass bolstered its top and bottom lines in the first half of its financial year as one analyst dubbed the company’s reliable growth as “brilliantly boring”. Read more: Compass shares near all-time high after strong revenue growth The figures Operating profit rose almost seven per cent to £913m year on year for [...]
Cineworld maintains guidance as it looks ahead to bumper slate of films May 15, 2019 Cineworld has said it is on track to deliver full-year revenue in line with expectations, as it looks ahead to a string of hit releases later in the year. The London-based cinema chain posted a 9.4 per cent drop in revenue over the first quarter, which it blamed on the timing of major releases such [...]
Clydesdale Bank owner CYBG shares jump as it hits profit after £1.7bn Virgin Money merger May 15, 2019 Clydesdale Bank owner CYBG reported a profit boost in its first set of results since combining with Virgin Money after a “resilient” performance in tough market conditions. Read more: CYBG raises business banking fees weeks after RBS competition fund snub Shares in the bank rose more than seven per cent in early trading after the results [...]
Business risks ‘Corbygeddon’ if it doesn’t learn to speak up May 15, 2019 The headline in the Sunday Times was stark: “Rich prepare to flee Corbyn’s Britain as Tories desert PM”. The country’s millionaires and billionaires were, according to the compilers of the paper’s annual rich list, preparing for “Corbygeddon” – the prospect of a hard-left Labour government making an irreparable dent in both their own finances and the [...]
While the US and China sneeze, London too risks catching a cold May 15, 2019 The trade dispute between China and the US has escalated. After Donald Trump tweeted that he was imposing higher tariffs on $200bn of Chinese imports to the US, China predictably retaliated, announcing on Monday that it would impose a further $60bn of tariffs on US goods coming into the country. Much attention has been paid [...]
DEBATE: Is the Tesco boss right to call for slashed business rates and an online tax to save the high street? May 15, 2019 Is the Tesco boss right to call for slashed business rates and an online tax to save the high street? Robert Palmer, executive director of Tax Justice UK, says YES. Tesco’s Dave Lewis is right: the way we tax high street shops and online firms isn’t working. The tax system benefits companies like Amazon and Google, [...]