Ted Baker in style with shoppers abroad as profits take a big leap March 19, 2015 TED BAKER posted bumper full-year profits yesterday thanks to a strong performance in the US and its rapid expansion into new markets overseas. The quirky fashion retailer, which was founded in Glasgow 27 years ago by its chief executive Ray Kelvin, said profits before tax and exceptional items rose 23.7 per cent to £49.5m for [...]
Jimmy Choo’s sales rise as it strides into Asia March 19, 2015 LUXURY shoemaker Jimmy Choo said it more than halved its losses last year, thanks to its expanding footprint in Asia, despite shouldering £7.8m of initial public offering (IPO) costs. The company, which floated on the London stock market in October, reported a 7.2 per cent rise in earnings before tax, interest, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) [...]
DIY group Homebase shops at Tesco to pick new boss Echo Lu March 19, 2015 HOMEBASE has poached Tesco director Echo Lu to be its new managing director and lead a turnaround at the retailer that will see it close a quarter of its shops. Lu, who was previously head of group business planning and insight at Tesco, will join on 20 April, replacing its longstanding boss Paul Loft, the [...]
Short supply of homes fuels rocketing UK rents and house prices March 19, 2015 A short supply of housing and a recovery in economic fortunes is pushing up rents and house prices. Average monthly rates stood at £766 in February, up 3.1 per cent on last year, according to figures released today by estate agents Your Move and Reeds Rains. London saw the second greatest annual rise in the [...]
Europe’s recovery and stamp duty reform lifts Savills March 19, 2015 LONDON-listed property adviser Savills said revenues jumped 19 per cent to £1.1bn last year thanks to record sales in the UK and recovering market conditions in continental Europe. The government’s overhaul of stamp duty thresholds triggered a surge in the sale of expensive homes at the end of last year and prompting Savills to hike [...]
Tourists splash the cash on UK visits March 19, 2015 BRITAIN drew in the crowds last year, with official figures showing 34.7m trips to the UK by overseas residents in the 12 months to January – a five per cent rise on the year. When they were here, they spent £21.6bn, a rise of two per cent.
Jezza needs be hungry no more March 19, 2015 JEREMY Clarkson was suspended from BBC 2’s hit lads’ – sorry, motoring – programme Top Gear for allegedly whacking (or being involved in a fracas with) a producer for not getting the great man a steak after a hard day’s driving a very fast car. The hapless producer reportedly had the temerity to offer him [...]
One long row for women-kind March 19, 2015 CAMBRIDGE and Oxford University women rowers will get to put the oar in on 11 April when they use the same course on the same day as their male counterparts. It’s nearly 90 years since the first women’s Cambridge v Oxford University Boat Race and for the first time they will have equal TV coverage [...]
Electronic parts distributor loses spark in results March 19, 2015 PREMIER Farnell yesterday reported that its profit before tax fell 7.6 per cent to £69.1m for the financial year ending 1 February, down from £74.8m the year before. Total revenue declined 0.8 per cent to £960.1m and earnings per share were also down 7.9 per cent to 12.9p, from 2013’s 14p. However, the board decided [...]
Watchdog PRA puts up banks’ fees to pay for tough new regulations March 19, 2015 The Bank of England’s financial regulator is putting up its fees to the industry this year to cover the cost of a swathe of new rules. The prudential regulation authority (PRA) yesterday proposed a four per cent increase in its charges to £257.8m, up from the £246.8m it charged in the financial year 2014-15. The [...]
