Rate of workless UK homes falls to a record low August 28, 2013 INDUSTRIOUS Britons are defying the global economic slump, with the proportion of homes in which no one works falling to its lowest rate since records began in 1996. Official data released yesterday showed that, when surveying homes in which at least one person is aged between 16 and 64 years old, 17.1 per cent of [...]
Dearth of competition in private hospitals drives up patient costs August 28, 2013 PRIVATE hospitals are charging patients more due to a lack of competition in the system, according to a report published yesterday by the Competition Commission. The chairman of the inquiry which produced the report, Roger Witcomb, said: “The lack of competition in the healthcare market at a local level means that most private patients are [...]
Sainsbury’s sales boost retailer to a larger share of the market August 28, 2013 SAINSBURY’S has successfully raised its share of the market through 2013, with sales growing as other retailers slip behind. In the 12 weeks to 18 August, Sainsbury’s saw a 49 per cent hike in sales, when compared to the same period last year, rising from £3.86bn to £4.05bn. According to the figures, collected from 30,000 [...]
Eurozone bank lending keeps on contracting August 28, 2013 THOUGH the Eurozone’s 18-month recession officially ended in the second quarter of this year, bank lending is still shrinking, down 1.9 per cent in the year to July. The decline in lending is the fastest in the Eurozone since the beginning of the single currency. Yesterday’s figures, released by the European Central Bank (ECB) also [...]
Retail sales smash expectations August 28, 2013 THE RETAIL sector is returning to a better state of health according to a widely-regarded business survey published yesterday. Sales in the year to August grew at their fastest rate since November last year, smashing the expectations of economists, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said. Nearly half (49 per cent) of the 125 firms surveyed by [...]
Modelzone to vanish from high street August 28, 2013 Modelzone administrators Deloitte yesterday confirmed that all of the model and toy retailer’s stores are set to close after failing to find a buyer for the business. The business advisory firm will close the remaining 18 shops next month, resulting in 126 job losses. Modelzone, which opened its first store in Brighton in the 1930s, [...]
Former M&S exec joins hotel group August 28, 2013 Former Marks & Spencer finance head Ian Dyson has added a new non-executive role to his portfolio by joining the board of Intercontinental Hotels. Dyson, who is a non-executive at Punch Taverns and is joining the Asos board in October, spent several years as the financial controller of Hilton Group.
Chime bullish despite sports slump August 28, 2013 Communications & sports marketing group Chime Communications yesterday reported a two per cent rise in pre-tax profit to £11.2m for the six months to 30 June. However, profits at its sports division slumped 40 per cent after a bumper Olympic summer last year proved a tough comparative. But the division, chaired by Lord Coe, is [...]
Randall & Quilter sees profit slide August 28, 2013 Insurance investment specialist Randall & Quilter saw pre-tax profit slide to £3m in the six months to 30 June. Chairman Ken Randall said the results were adversely affected by a decline in the values of investment assets. He said the outlook was “promising” and the full year would meet management expectations.
Smartphone gambling lifts bookies’ profits August 28, 2013 THE RISE of mobile and online gambling lifted the profits of two online gaming companies yesterday. Irish bookmaker Paddy Power reported a rise in pre-tax profits of 12 per cent for the first half of the year on the back of its online business. The group’s profits reached €77m (£66.4m), up from €68.7m in 2012, [...]
