Regulators ‘appear unable’ to stop water firms acting unlawfully, MPs warn July 18, 2025 A group of influential MPs have called for a “low risk, low return” water sector and urged the government to strengthen regulatory powers amid scrutiny over excessive dividends and murky company structures. In a wide-reaching report, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) warned that the “financial fragility” of a few large utilities had caused investors to [...]
Summer heatwave drives workers back to the office July 17, 2025 Record July temperatures have been sending workers back into the office as they look to escape London’s lack of air conditioned homes. With fewer than five per cent of London houses equipped with a fan, one company’s offices saw a 35 per cent uptick in usage in June. Flexible workspace provider Office Space in Town [...]
SSE reaffirms outlook and welcomes clarity after zonal pricing spat July 17, 2025 Scottish renewable power giant SSE has reaffirmed annual guidance despite a decrease in quarterly renewables output. The London-listed firm narrowed its annual earnings per share forecast earlier this year to between 155p and 160p and announced a multi-billion cut to future investment. It has, however, held firm on long-term earnings targets and reiterated adjusted earnings [...]
Boom in branded treats not enough to offset overall grocery sales July 17, 2025 Premier Foods has reported a slight uptick in sales thanks to a few booming branded categories, although non-branded goods suffered. The company told markets this morning that grocery sales fell 2.7 per cent to £174.7m in the first quarter of the year, with branded sales also down. Overall sales at the company rose 0.2 per [...]
Ocado shares spike as grocer boosted by £750m M&S joint venture gain July 17, 2025 Online grocer Ocado has reported significant growth in the first half of 2025, while stating its major goal is to turn cash-flow positive next year. Its share price spiked more than 13 per cent in early trades. Ocado told markets this morning that revenue rose 13.2 per cent to £674m, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation [...]
Easyjet takes £15m hit from ‘unacceptable’ French air traffic control strikes July 17, 2025 Easyjet has revealed a hit of around £15m from recent air traffic control disruption in France as it warned the “scale of industrial action” would impact annual profits. “We are extremely unhappy with the strike action by the French ATC in early July, which as well as presenting unacceptable challenges for customers and crew also [...]
Drop off charges at UK airports hit £1 per minute July 17, 2025 Drop off charges at UK airports have reached the highest level on record amid booming travel demand over the summer. Analysis from the motoring group RAC found 11 airports have jacked up so-called ‘kiss and fly’ fees since last year as part of a long-running trend in the UK. Heathrow, Britain’s biggest airport, increased charges [...]
Safe as houses: Value of 1m UK homes has increased by half since pandemic July 17, 2025 Around one million UK houses have risen in value by more than 50 per cent since 2020, according to new research. House prices have increased by a fifth (20 per cent) on average since 2020, according to Zoopla. The property platform attributed house price growth to pandemic and lifestyle-led changes in buyer requirements that have [...]
Asda faces another hefty fine for selling expired food in stores July 16, 2025 Supermarket giant Asda has been given a huge fine for selling expired food in two stores, its second such fine in three months. Repeated checks by Trading Standards officers discovered expired items contrary to food safety codes at its Leckwith and Pentwyn branches in Cardiff. The TDR-owned grocer was then fined £640,000 for selling 115 [...]
House prices ‘continue to surprise’ as average property value ticks up in May July 16, 2025 UK house prices rose again in May, bucking predictions of a slowdown in the market after stamp duty relief was axed earlier this year. The average price for a UK property reached £269,000 in May, up 3.9 per cent year on year and 1.1 per cent month on month. The bulk of this increase was [...]
