M&S shakes off cyber chaos with strong Christmas sales Marks & Spencer (M&S) has delivered a steadier than feared Christmas trading update, offering some festive cheer for investors after a year, overshadowed by a costly cyber attack and months of disrupted online sales. The retailer reported group sales of £5bn for the 13 weeks to 27 December, up 3.3 per cent excluding Ocado Retail, [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Shell and BP lead index near 10,000 amid oil tensions Markets Good morning and welcome back to the City AM morning liveblog. The FTSE 100 kicked off the new year on the front foot marking an intraday high of 10,046.25p on Friday in the first trading session of 2026. Whilst it slipped back in later trading, strong performances across blue-chip heavyweights including Rolls-Royce and Fresnillo, led [...]
Ocado eyes global tech push after US setback Retail Shares in Ocado slipped two per cent on Tuesday as the online grocery group outlined plans to sell its AI-driven warehouse tech globally, following a turbulent year for its international operations. Most of Ocado’s exclusivity deals with global partners, including US retail giant Kroger, have now expired, freeing the company to pitch its evolved robotic [...]
Cyber roles demand soars as UK firms scramble to plug skills gap November 13, 2025 Demand for cybersecurity training across UK businesses has surged following a wave of cyberattacks on major firms and public bodies, as employers scramble to strengthen defences ahead of new government rules. The rise in attacks, including one that crippled Jaguar Land Rover’s operations earlier this year, has coincided with a sharp rise in firms seeking [...]
Labour tightens cyber rules after JLR and M&S breaches November 12, 2025 The government has introduced its long-awaited cyber security and resilience bill to parliament, promising to toughen the UK’s defences against the growing wave of cyberattacks on businesses and public services. Ministers say the new legislation represents a ‘step change’ in national security, with the aim of protecting vital services such as energy, water and healthcare [...]
Labour trails plans to fight cyberattacks October 30, 2025 The UK government is set to take further action to bolster national cyber resilience, City AM understands, as cybercrime continues to surge across the country. High-profile attacks on businesses, from smaller firms to major supply chains, have unveiled deep cracks and vulnerabilities in the economy. Tech secretary Liz Kendall told City AM: “We’re working really [...]
‘Exceptional’ M&S chair Archie Norman cleared for three more years in role October 14, 2025 Marks and Spencer’s board has unanimously extended Archie Norman’s tenure as chair in light of his “exceptional” performance over the last nine years. While it is uncommon for chairs to stay longer than nine years, the board of M&S agreed that Norman’s “deep knowledge of the business, drive and unique experience” were invaluable to the [...]
Greencore: Strawberry sandwich maker’s shares rise amid M&S cyber fallout October 8, 2025 Shares in Greencore, one of the UK’s major convenience food manufacturers, have risen six per cent following Wednesday’s trading update which highlighted another strong quarter and a robust full-year performance. The FTSE 250-listed group, which supplies sandwiches, rolls and wraps – and notably, the viral Japanese sando-inspired strawberry and cream sandwich – to Marks & [...]
Renault warns UK customers after cyberattack exposes data October 3, 2025 Renault and its sister brand Dacia have warned UK customers to be vigilant after hackers stole personal information in a cyber attack on one of the carmaker’s third-party data providers. The French-owned group confirmed that details including names, addresses, dates of birth, gender, phone numbers, vehicle identification numbers and vehicle registration details may have been [...]
Government guarantees Jaguar Land Rover £1.5bn loan September 28, 2025 The UK government will underwrite a £1.5bn loan guarantee to Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) in a bid to support its suppliers as cyber-attacks continue to halt production. Business Secretary, Peter Kyle said the loan, from a commercial bank, would project jobs across the UK, in particular in the West Midlands and Merseyside. The manufacturer has [...]