How to end the American choke-hold on British tech? Stop ‘acting like an incubator’ August 19, 2024 As tech companies flee London in droves, serial entrepreneur William Reeve—whose leadership credits include Lovefilm, a trailblazer in online movie streaming, and Zoopla, a leading real estate portal —has warned the City risks becoming nothing more than an incubator for the US unless it can shift its focus beyond short-term profit. Since 2019, at least [...]
FTSE 250 giant JTC snaps up employer services firm in latest takeover deal August 19, 2024 FTSE 250 corporate solutions firm JTC has struck a deal to expand its employer services division with a new acquisition – the latest in a string of recent takeovers. The London-listed firm, headquartered in Jersey, revealed plans today to acquire the Buck UK and European Share Plan Administration and Trustee Businesses from Arthur J. Gallagher & Co [...]
Burberry shares plunge to a 14-year low, but what’s behind the collapse? August 16, 2024 Once a beacon of British heritage and craftsmanship, Burberry’s recent decline has been striking. Shoppers and investors seem to have fallen out of love with the retailer. Sales have plunged, and Burberry shares have fallen 70 per cent over the past year. Earlier this week, the stock touched a 14-year low before rebounding. While the [...]
Gooch and Housego: Profit to be £1.5m lower than expected after delivery delays August 15, 2024 Photonics engineering and manufacturing firm Gooch and Housego (G&H) said it expects its profit for the year to be lower than previously predicted as delivery delays hit its revenue. The London-listed company, which saw its revenue fall in the first half of the year, said that it was likely to see its pre-tax profit come in at [...]
Mecca Bingo owner The Rank Group surges back to profit as people return to casinos August 15, 2024 The owner of Mecca Bingo, The Rank Group, has surged back into the black with profit that outstripped previous expectations. The London-listed group, which is headquartered in Maidenhead, saw its net gaming revenue grow by nine per cent year on year to £734.4m in the 12 months ending June 30, 2024, up from £671.4m in [...]
How Astrazeneca became the London Stock Exchange’s newest £200bn firm August 14, 2024 Astrazeneca has become the most recent UK-listed company to achieve a market valuation of £200bn, a landmark achievement for both the pharmaceutical giant and the London Stock Exchange, as investors have been won over by its ambition and success with cancer treatments. The company’s shares rose by 1.1 per cent on Tuesday, propelling its market [...]
Synthomer rebounds to profit as £13m cost cuts offset sluggish demand August 13, 2024 Chemicals group Synthomer has surged back into the black, defying sluggish demand by banking £13m through cost-cutting measures. The London-listed firm, which is headquartered in Essex, made an underlying profit of £2.5m in the first six months of 2024, up from an underlying loss of £6.7m in the same period of 2023. Its shares jumped [...]
Gem Diamonds reports revenue jump despite plummeting demand for mined stones August 13, 2024 Mining company Gem Diamonds has reported a strong start to its financial year after uncovering eight diamonds over 100 carats in the first six months of 2024. The London-listed firm, which mines in the Maluti Mountains of Lesotho, said the high-carat finds had helped its revenue soar to $77.9m (£60.8m) compared to $71.6m (£55.9m) in [...]
Safestay: Hostel group continues European expansion with new Budapest property August 13, 2024 Hostel group Safestay has acquired a new property in Budapest as part of its continued expansion into mainland Europe. The London-listed company, which is headquartered in the city, said the five-storey site, located near the Danube River and Budapest’s shopping district, will allow it to add an additional 150 beds to its network, bringing its [...]
JD Sports shares slump after stockbroker downgrade August 12, 2024 Shares in JD Sports slumped more than four per cent on Monday morning after analysts at stockbroker Deutsche Numis questioned the retailer’s ability to generate cash. Analysts downgraded the stock from a ‘buy’ to a ‘sell’ and lowered the share price target from 115p to 110p. Deutchse’s forecast was 6.5 per cent below the fashion [...]