Wetherspoon faces backlash over Brexit campaign spending November 7, 2019 Investors have been urged to oppose JD Wetherspoon’s financial report over its failure to get shareholder approval for pro-Brexit spending. Influential shareholder advisory firm Pirc said Wetherspoon had not cleared referendum campaign spending, which included £94,856 on almost 2m pro-leave beer mats ahead of the 2016 vote. Read more: Wetherspoon’s boss Tim Martin slams elite [...]
Ikea shrugs off retail gloom to post sales rise November 7, 2019 Ikea reported an increase in full-year sales as it managed to overcome the challenges facing the UK retail market. Sales in Ikea’s UK business were up eight per cent year on year to £2.1bn, the retailer said in its annual report. Read more: Ikea to face tax repayment order from EU The company reported that [...]
Persimmon blames sales drop on customer satisfaction drive November 7, 2019 Housebuilder Persimmon today blamed a drop in first half sales volumes on the implementation of a new customer care improvement plan. Under the plans Persimmon has restricted the release of new homes for sale until construction has reached a more advanced stage, meaning sales declined six per cent year on year to 7,584 homes. Read [...]
London house prices: How London boroughs’ house prices have changed since the last election November 7, 2019 Prime central London house prices have taken the biggest hit since the last general election, as previously less desirable areas gain popularity. London constituencies further away from the centre were the biggest winners between June 2017 and now as buyers sought cheaper properties. Read more: UK house price growth slows in October House prices made [...]
Auto Trader revs up profit despite car market challenges November 7, 2019 Auto Trader – the UK’s largest new and used cars marketplace – reported a jump in revenue and profit in the first half of the year despite the challenges facing the UK car industry. The figures Shares in Auto Trader jumped as much as five per cent after the online car dealer reported that revenue [...]
UK house prices: Growth slows in October November 7, 2019 Annual UK house price growth slowed last month due to ongoing political and economic uncertainty. House prices were up just 0.9 per cent in October – the lowest growth seen so far this year – as the new uncertainty of a general election and the impending Brexit deadline hit consumer confidence. Read more: Revealed: The [...]
Superdry revenue drops as rescue plan gets underway November 7, 2019 Superdry reported a sharp drop in revenue in the first half of the year as chief executive Julian Dunkerton began his rescue plan to revive the struggling retailer. Revenue declined 11.3 per cent to £367.8m in the six months to 26 October reflecting the beginning of an “expected year of reset”. Read more: Investors back [...]
Plans unveiled for £100m underground development in West End November 6, 2019 Plans have been submitted for a £100m underground development to expand the Harley Street medical area in London’s West End. The 280,000 sq ft development beneath Cavendish Square – one of the capital’s original Georgian squares – will house healthcare facilities as well as retail and leisure spaces. Read more: West End landlord Shaftesbury unaffected [...]
Redrow suffers shareholder revolt over chairman role and executive pay November 6, 2019 Housebuilder Redrow suffered a shareholder revolt at its annual general meeting today as around a third of investors voted against the appointment of its executive chairman and payment plans for senior management. At the meeting in central London today, 31.38 per cent of shareholders voted against the re-appointment of John Tutte as executive chairman, while [...]
Arcadia bolsters senior digital team in online sales push November 6, 2019 Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia has bolstered its digital team with three new senior hires, as the embattled retail group seeks to improve online sales as its physical stores continue to struggle. Arcadia, which owns high street brands such as Topshop and Dorothy Perkins, has created a new role – group chief digital officer – as [...]
