Sharon White: John Lewis will be profitable in three years June 8, 2023 John Lewis boss Sharon White has reportedly not ruled out tapping up outside investment to bring the struggling upmarket retailer back to profitably by 2026, however vowed that the would remain business employee owned. White told members of the Employee Owned Association – which represents UK organisations which are employee owned- that the plan to [...]
MPs pile pressure on banks as savings offers lag interest rate hikes June 8, 2023 MPs said that lenders must “up their game” and pass on higher rates to savers as bank bosses responded to an inquiry on the “measly” rates on offer. The influential Treasury Committee pointed to low rates on offer for easy access accounts across the UK’s ‘scale challengers’, Nationwide, TSB, Virgin Money and Santander. According to [...]
Hitachi billion-pound deal to buy UK signalling could hurt TfL: regulator June 8, 2023 The UK’s competition watchdog has provisionally ruled that Hitachi’s 1.7 billion euro (£1.36 billion) proposed purchase of Thales’s rail infrastructure could drive up prices and reduce service quality for passengers. The findings could lead to the merger being blocked. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the deal involves two of the leading suppliers of [...]
London beats New York (and everywhere else) on decade of tech investment June 8, 2023 London has beaten its rivals to take the top spot for global tech investment over the past decade after raking in cash across more than 1,700 separate investment projects, according to new figures.
Blackrock snaps up London-based venture debt firm Kreos Capital June 8, 2023 Blackrock has snapped up London-based venture debt specialist Kreos Capital today in a deal which extends the US behemoth’s reach into the credit asset management market. In a statement today, the world’s biggest asset manager said the deal would see it acquire full control of Kreos and its clients would now have access to the [...]
FTSE 100 close: London indexes close lower over fears of further rate hikes and fragile housing market June 8, 2023 London’s main indexes closed lower on Thursday as investors feared further rate hikes and yet another report pointed to a gloomy future for the UKs’ housing market. The capital’s premier index fell 0.32 per cent to 7,599.74 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK [...]
FirstGroup beats profit forecasts on the back of strong demand June 8, 2023 FirstGroup saw group adjusted profit more than double this morning to £82.1m in its full year results, ahead of expectations, as increased passenger demand helped the train operator resist the impacts of industrial action. FirstGroup, who ran Transpennine Express, said its adjusted operating profit for the year ending in March came in at £161m, up [...]
Capita to offload software businesses in efforts to strengthen its balance sheet June 8, 2023 Outsourcing firm Capita has agreed to sell its five software businesses for an enterprise value of £33m, as the group looks to strengthen its balance sheet and focus on its two core public service and experience divisions. The London listed firm said it hopes to receive cash proceeds of £44m on completion of the sale [...]
Jet fuel costs keep Wizz Air loss making – but optimism for the year ahead June 8, 2023 Wizz Air saw its operating losses remain flat at €466.8m (£401.6m) in its full year results this morning, as last year’s soaring jet fuel costs pummelled the budget carrier. Total net losses were at €535.1m (£460.4m). Despite this, Wizz Air was confident about swinging to a profit later in the year, and saw a record [...]
In pictures: West Ham fans celebrate first European trophy in 50 years June 8, 2023 Thousands of West Ham fans poured into the streets of Prague as the football club won its first trophy in more than 40 years. Fans danced on tables and kissed each other in pubs across the Czech capital as they watched the Hammers lift the Europa Conference League trophy on Wednesday night. Supporters chanted “2-1 to the cockney boys” as [...]