Ocado strikes factory deal with Australian grocer Coles a month after £1.5bn Marks & Spencer tie-up March 26, 2019 Ocado has agreed a deal to provide two robot-operated fulfillment centres for Australian grocer Coles Online, as it doubles down on its growing role as a retail technology supplier. Read more: Ocado shares burn after 48-hour blaze at robotics centre The online supermarket will build and operate the customer fulfillment centres in Sydney and Melbourne, [...]
Commuters suffer rush hour chaos as Tube lines hit by severe delays March 26, 2019 Commuters were left to contend with a nightmare journey this morning as a signal failure struck multiple Tube lines down with delays. Read more: This London Tube map shows the busiest times at stations in the morning Severe delays hit the Circle Line, Hammersmith & City Line and the Metropolitan Line after a signal systems [...]
Autonomy founder Mike Lynch inflated sales before £8.4bn HP deal, court hears March 25, 2019 The biggest civil fraud trial in UK history kicked off on Monday with Hewlett-Packard (HP) accusing entrepreneur Mike Lynch of inflating his software company’s revenues ahead of its £8.4bn sale to the US tech giant in 2011. Lynch “committed a deliberate fraud” to bump up Autonomy’s revenue, the High Court was told. HP is suing [...]
Watchdog slams Co-op’s treatment of suppliers after breaking industry code March 25, 2019 The Co-op has come under fire today after a year-long investigation from Britain’s groceries watchdog has found "widespread" failings in its relationship with suppliers. The Grocers Code Adjucator (GCA) Christine Tacon has demanded that the retail giant makes major changes after breaching several supermarket codes of practices. Co-op failed to provide reasonable notice to suppliers of [...]
Boris Johnson accuses Theresa May of ‘bottling’ Brexit in rallying cry for no deal March 25, 2019 Boris Johnson has called on Theresa May to “channel the spirit of Moses” and urge the EU to “let her people go” as he advocated for a no-deal Brexit. Read more: Brexit live: Ministers deny May under pressure to resign The politician accused the Prime Minister of having “bottled it completely” after she chose to [...]
Inmarsat prepares to leave stock market in $3.4bn private equity deal March 25, 2019 Private equity firms have sealed a $3.4bn (£2.58bn) deal for UK satellite operator Inmarsat, sending its shares up seven per cent in early morning trading. The agreement will see the successful bidders pay $7.21 (546p) per share for the firm, a premium on its Friday close price of 506.2p. Read more: Inmarsat shares jump 16 [...]
Asian stocks slump amid fears of global economic slowdown March 25, 2019 Fears of a global economic slowdown took its toll on Asian markets overnight, as stocks slumped amid growing investor caution. Read more: Fed slows balance sheet reduction and holds line on rates Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index tumbled 3.1 per cent, as trading opened on Monday after a week of unrest across global markets. Hong [...]
Brexit alarm bells: City optimism tanks at fastest rate since financial crisis March 25, 2019 Britain’s biggest business group today warns that the “alarm bells have reached deafening levels” as the political crisis surrounding Brexit threatens to force the Prime Minister from office. Read more: Brexit secretary admits indicative votes 'could be ignored' The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) declared Brexit a “national emergency” as it revealed that financial services [...]
World Water Day: Awareness isn’t enough to save the planet’s water supply March 22, 2019 Water is taken for granted. When my great-great-grandfather, Daniel Swarovski, set up his company in the Austrian Alps in 1895, he chose the area because of the abundance of water, which he needed for creating crystal. Read more: Ofwat pours cold water on providers' business plans Water was, and still is, the essential resource for [...]
Asda and Sainsbury’s propose selling 150 stores to save merger March 22, 2019 Asda and Sainsbury's have offered to sell up to 150 supermarkets and several convenience stores in a bid to save their proposed merger. Read more: Sainsbury's and Asda double down on £1bn price cut pledge to salvage deal The supermarkets promised they could divest between 125 and 150 supermarkets and "a number" of the convenience stores in [...]