AO World world shares jump as sales heat up July 21, 2016 AO World became the FTSE 250's highest riser this morning after it posted figures showing sales had leaped in the first quarter. The figures In a statement posted ahead of its annual general meeting today, online white goods retailer AO World said AO branded UK sales had risen 29 per cent in the three months between 1 April [...]
Turn that frown upside down: Seven reasons Brexit is a good news story July 20, 2016 Brexit is not going to be a bed of roses but I’m not entirely convinced by the doom-mongers. In my view, and that of many others, Brexit came just in time. Europe is going down – fast Since the result, I’ve spoken to a number of economists and City figures. A growing number believe a [...]
Pound jumps as unemployment falls to 2005 low – but economists warn on Brexit effects July 20, 2016 Finally, some relief for currency traders, after the pound jumped this morning on new figures showing unemployment has reached its lowest since 2005. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the unemployment rate ell to 4.9 per cent in the three months between February and May this year, down from 5.6 per cent a year [...]
UK house prices: This map shows every house price at nearly every railway station in England, Scotland and Wales July 20, 2016 For many first-time buyers, the path to property ownership is moving out London. But when you have a job in the capital, that's easier said than done. Step forward, online estate agent Emoov, which has produced a map of the average house price in the area surrounding almost every train station in the UK – [...]
Going for gold: Fresnillo ramps up gold production in the face of Brexit jitters July 20, 2016 Fresnillo is making hay while the sun shines: the precious metals miner said today it is hiking gold production, as investors flee to safe havens following the Brexit vote. The figures In a quarterly update this morning, Fresnillo said it expected full-year silver production to increase six per cent compared with 2016. It produced 13m ounces of silver during the [...]
Here’s how much of a house €200,000 will buy you in countries across Europe July 19, 2016 It's hardly big news UK house prices are among the most expensive in Europe – but what does that actually mean, practically speaking? This chart from Statista, using data from Deloitte, lays out exactly what you can expect to get with in different countries with the same amount of cash – €200,000 (£167,690). And while London is [...]
Turkish lira crashes following Ministry of Education purge – as powerful explosion is reported in Ankara July 19, 2016 The Turkish lira was already down more than two per cent against the dollar today, before a large explosion was reported in the Altındağ district of Ankara late this afternoon. The currency was down 2.2 per cent against the dollar at $0.32850, its lowest since Saturday night when an attempted coup sent the currency plummeting. However, [...]
Sterling edges off session lows as inflation beats expectations July 19, 2016 The pound reversed some of its losses against the dollar this morning, after new figures showed inflation beat expectations in June. Prices rose 0.5 per cent in the year to June, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said – up from 0.3 per cent in May, and beating economists' expectations of 0.4 per cent. The [...]
Even those EU referendum mail campaigns failed to push up Royal Mail’s letter volumes – but parcels rose July 19, 2016 It's a sign of the times that even one of the most controversial direct mail campaigns of recent years couldn't push up Royal Mail's letter volumes. Good job parcels were looking healthier… The figures In a trading statement today, Royal Mail said group revenue was up one per cent in the three months to the end of [...]
Sir Martin Sorrell and wife Cristiana Falcone are about to diversify July 18, 2016 WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell wooed wife Cristiana Falcone by requesting a "strategic partnership" – but now it seems the pair have taken their synergies a step further, after it emerged Falcone is pregnant with their first child. World Economic Forum adviser Falcone – who is also on the boards of Viacom and Revlon – is due in November, according to [...]
