YouGov sees revenue rise amid demand for data March 23, 2021 Revenue at YouGov rose three per cent to £79m in the six months to 31 January 2021, marking a solid six months for the polling company. YouGov’s adjusted profit before tax rose 13 per cent to £13.6m, though its statutory operating profit was down 22 per cent to £7.4m. Revenue from its data products increased [...]
Old Mutual restores dividend despite annual loss March 23, 2021 South Africa’s Old Mutual declared a dividend of 35c per share on Tuesday after swinging to a pre-tax loss in 2020. Group profits were slashed by the pandemic, forcing the company to set aside billions of rand in provisions. Old Mutual cut final dividend by 53 per cent to 35c per share, equating to a [...]
McColl’s fails to return to to profit despite bumper convenience store sales during pandemic March 23, 2021 McColl’s reported a jump in revenue last year as the convenience store chain benefitted from a surge in demand for local stores during the pandemic, but failed to return to profit. Total revenue for the year was up 3.2 per cent to £1.26bn, with its store closure programme partly offsetting the surge in sales. Like-for-like [...]
Bitcoin falters as $60,000 starts to feel like a distant memory March 23, 2021 Another alarming dip in the price of Bitcoin has drained the momentum out of the cryptocurrency markets as a slump towards $50,000 beckons.
Half of CEOs don’t expect a return to normal this year, but the push to embrace remote working stalls March 23, 2021 Half of CEOs don't expect a return to normal until 2022, but their push to embrace remote working has stalled, with fewer downsizing offices or advertising fully remote job postings
Ministers must set out 30 year rail electrification plan, MPs warn March 23, 2021 The government needs to lay out a 30 year plan for electrifying the UK’s rail network if it is to hit its climate targets, MPs have today warned. A new report from the Transport Select Committee argued that the government should commit to a programme of rolling electrification projects over the next three decades if [...]
Good cluck: US fried chicken chain Popeyes to open first UK store March 23, 2021 US fried chicken chain Popeyes has today announced it will launch its first UK store this year, with plans to open hundreds of branches across the country. The fast food firm will open the store by the end of 2021, it said this morning, and is targeting 350 sites across the UK within the next [...]
Tory rebellion aimed at stopping trade deals with genocidal regimes fails March 22, 2021 A rebellion of Tory MPs who were trying to make it harder for the government to sign trade deals with genocidal regimes has fallen just short. The amendment to the government’s trade bill – which would have made the government explain trade deals with potentially genocidal governments to parliament – lost by 318 to 300, [...]
BP boss Bernard Looney takes home £1.7m after bonuses axed March 22, 2021 BP’s boss Bernard Looney was paid £1.7m for his first year in charge of the oil giant as the firm axed all of its bonuses due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Irishman, who took over the firm at the beginning of 2020, could have been in line for £11m in remuneration, but the crisis put [...]
Clean air and recycling dominate London’s top environmental awards March 22, 2021 Firms tackling air pollution and championing recycling have been recognised at the Clean City Awards, the capital’s environmental ‘Oscars’. The financial services sector triumphed, with the Bank of England and Investec PLC praised for their work in tackling environmental issues. The scheme, now in its 26th year, rewards City businesses leading the way in improving their [...]