WH Smith shares jump on buyback plan after pension buy-out frees up cash September 11, 2024 WH Smith has announced strong revenue growth, driven by a boost in its airport and train station stores and a £50m share buyback programme. It also announced a £85m cash benefit as the result of its pension fund buy-out. Shares in WH Smith rose more than 12 per cent in early trades. Revenue at the [...]
Barratt: Profit halves at housebuilder but firm optimistic after Redrow deal September 4, 2024 Housebuilder Barratt reported a halving in profit and drop in completions amid a challenging housing market, but has said it is optimistic about the future. Barratt said its total home completions in the year ended 30 June reached 14,004, down 18.6 per cent from 17,206 in 2023 but at the upper end of the company’s [...]
Hays results ‘lay bare’ UK recruitment crisis August 22, 2024 Recent results from the UK’s leading recruitment firms have been, quite frankly, dismal: profit has collapsed across the board as firms struggle to stay afloat amid a sharp downturn in the market. The sector boomed in 2020 after the tech sector led to a surge in hiring, and increases in wage offers helped attract new [...]
Hays: Recruiter’s profit crashes as ‘low confidence levels’ hit hiring August 22, 2024 Global recruitment giant Hays has become the latest industry player to report a dismal set of results, citing cost-cutting at previously high-spending firms and cautious hiring. The FTSE-250 company had already warned it was set for a “subdued summer” due to expenses related to its cost-cutting drive designed to boost long-term profitability in a tough [...]
Natwest to ‘suffer significant shortfall’ with a 90 per cent loss after Island Poke collapse August 8, 2024 Natwest is on course to “suffer a significant shortfall” following the collapse of London-based Hawaiian food chain Island Poke, it has been revealed. The bank is one of the major creditors to the business which was sold in a pre-pack administration to a subsidiary of hospitality incubator White Rabbit Fund in July. The food business [...]
Deliveroo: Delivery group posts profit, launches buyback amid ‘encouraging’ signs in consumer behaviour August 8, 2024 Deliveroo posted a profit of £1m in the first half of 2024, rebounding from a loss of £83m in the same period last year. Shares rose over six per cent on Friday morning as gross transaction value (GTV) came in just under £3.7bn, up five per cent year on year from £3.5bn. The food delivery [...]
Another one? Next hikes profit guidance again as sales soar ahead of expectations August 1, 2024 Department store Next has increased its profit guidance for the year as sales soared in its first half of its financial year.
The Notebook: Falling fares spell trouble for airlines while Big Tech set for monster quarter July 24, 2024 Where the City’s movers and shakers get a few things off their chest. Today, it’s Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, with the pen, talking airline stocks, Big Tech earnings season and her summer listening picks Turbulence at Ryanair, BA and Easyjet Airline stocks are having a turbulent time. Just on Monday, shares [...]
Financial distress soars in ‘extremely testing’ UK business environment July 22, 2024 Although consumer facing firms were hit the worst, levels of distress increased across 20 of the 22 sectors covered in the Red Flag Alert.
JD Wetherspoon: Tim Martin on a ‘gradual recovery’ and Reeves’ plans for pubs July 10, 2024 Labour costs have increased by £164m in this financial year compared to 2019, while energy, repairs and interest costs have risen by £28m, £38m and £16m respectively.