Cheap energy and low interest rates lift Eurozone consumers March 23, 2015 EUROZONE consumer confidence has reached a 92-month high. The European Commission’s consumer confidence index climbed to a score of minus three in March from minus 6.7 in February, according to official figures released yesterday. It marks a recovery from the nine-month low of minus 11.6 in November. Despite being a negative figure, the index score [...]
Spanish borrowing costs edge up after Podemos win seats March 23, 2015 SPANISH government debt interest rebounded yesterday after anti-austerity party Podemos gained its first seats since starting up a year ago. Podemos won 15 per cent of the vote in a regional election in Andalucia. Analysts at JP Morgan have also noted that a greater share of 10-year bonds has been issued in response to the [...]
James Dyson criticises Tory push for tougher immigration rules March 23, 2015 Sir James Dyson made a barely concealed attack on Tory party policy yesterday, while announcing a £12m grant to a design engineering school with chancellor George Osborne. The pair were visiting the new Dyson School of Design Engineering when the inventor said: “I think it’s important that people who have chosen to come and read [...]
Manufacturers’ optimism strong despite subdued March growth March 23, 2015 UK FACTORIES saw slower growth in March, according to data released yesterday by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Greater output volumes were reported by 32 per cent of firms in March, compared to 22 per cent that said output was down. The balance of 11 per cent remains above its long-term value of three per [...]
Fever-Tree toasts fizzing first set of results since its float March 23, 2015 UPMARKET drinks firm Fever-Tree raised its glass yesterday to a 49 per cent jump in revenue in its debut set of results since floating on the London stock market in November. The 10-year old business reported sales of £24.7m, which in turn lifted adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) by 48 per [...]
House of Fraser cannot cushion sofa chain’s fall March 23, 2015 SCS GROUP, the sofa chain that listed on the London stock market last month, reported widening losses in the first half of the year blaming costs relating to the launch of its House of Fraser concessions. Pre-tax losses for the 26 weeks to 24 January rose to £13.1m from a £2.54m loss the same time [...]
Finsbury Foods doubles profit as Britons gobble up Disney cakes March 23, 2015 Finsbury Food said yesterday its profit nearly doubled in the first half of the year thanks to its recent acquisition of rival baker Fletchers and soaring demand for Disney’s Frozen celebration cakes. The sponge cake, featuring Olaf the snowman, flew off the shelves at Chistmas, helping to lift sales by 24 per cent to £107.6m. [...]
Dairy Crest sale of milk business to Muller referred back to UK watchdog March 23, 2015 Dairy Crest Group said yesterday that it was still on track to sell its dairy operations after being referred back to the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) yesterday by the European Commission for review. The company behind Cathedral City cheese and Frijj milkshakes is in the process of selling its loss-making liquid milk business [...]
FirstGroup’s Great Western contract win puts transport giant back on track March 23, 2015 After a string of disappointments, rail operator FirstGroup has at last had a bit of good news. Light appeared at the end of the tunnel for rail operator FirstGroup yesterday, with shares jumping 4.16 per cent after the company announced that its First Great Western franchise has been extended for another four years. Shareholders [...]
McDonald’s UK chief exec quits to join Halfords March 23, 2015 MCDONALD’S UK chief executive Jill McDonald is to leave her namesake after taking the top job at Halfords, the bikes-to-car parts retailer. McDonald joined the American fast food chain in 2006 as chief marketing officer before being promoted to UK chief executive and president of its Northern Europe region in 2010. Her departure comes less [...]
