Ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer becomes ninth member of $100bn club July 8, 2021 Former chief executive officer of tech giant Microsoft, Steve Ballmer, has become the world’s ninth person to join the coveted $100bn club. Now owning the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, Ballmer stepped down from the helm of Microsoft in 2014. The ex-tech giant boss has seen his wealth swell by $20.1bn this year alone, driven by [...]
Danske Bank lifts net profit guidance to $1.9bn after ‘faster than anticipated macroeconomic recovery’ July 8, 2021 Danske Bank has today lifted its net profit guidance for this year to 12bn Danish crowns ($1.9bn), after ‘faster than anticipated macroeconomic recovery’ rallied confidence. The bank, which is Denmark’s largest lender, raised the guidance to 12bn crowns from around nine to 11bn crowns. “We adjust our net profit guidance for the year based on [...]
Watches of Switzerland clocks £905m revenue as customers ‘disposable wealth’ swells July 8, 2021 Luxury watch group Watches of Switzerland posted a £905.1m revenue this morning, as the pandemic allowed the disposable income of its wealthy customers to swell. Total revenue grew 13.3 per cent in the 53 weeks to 2 May. Revenue in the UK alone lifted 3.6 per cent to £606.5m, making the UK the watchmakers key [...]
Ladbrokes owner Entain forecasts Euro bets to hit £250m, with more betting on Italy July 8, 2021 Gaming revenue lifts at Ladbrokes owner Entain as Brits seek lockdown escapism
London travel watchdog’s urge that bus demand review be postponed until fall July 7, 2021 Shedding bus routes and cutting frequencies, as part of an agreed bus demand review, has been slammed in a letter to the government by London travel watchdogs. As part of Transport for London’s (TfL) £1bn bailout, a review of bus demand in the capital was agreed upon. However, London TravelWatch, London First, the Campaign for [...]
Didi’s $1.5bn share plunge looms over China’s electric carmaker XPeng debut July 7, 2021 Shares in electric carmaker XPeng debuted on the Hong Kong stock exchange today, while Didi’s $1.5bn share plunge looms over the fellow Chinese tech firm. China-based firms trading in the US have pivoted towards trading closer to home, in an attempt to ease hawkish regulators amid Beijing’s tech and security crackdown. Nasdaq-listed XPeng, which has [...]
Revenue buoyed by sports as gamers place fewer bets on 888 post-lockdown July 7, 2021 Online betting and gaming group 888 posted solid revenue growth this morning, buoyed by match starved sports fans looking for their sporting fix online, the group said. However, since UK retail and leisure venues reopened on 17 May, average daily revenues have been around 20 per cent lower than the year-to-date period from January to [...]
Nightlife bounce back: Boom Battle Bar bags prime Oxford Street retail space July 7, 2021 London’s Great Portland Estates has pre-let a prime Oxford Street retail space to competitive socialisation operator Boom Battle Bar, in a post-pandemic investment for both retail and hospitality. The 15,200 sq ft space at 70 Oxford Street, part of the redevelopment of the area, is a prime capital spot for a bar looking to capitalise [...]
I’ll take two: London UK’s leading no-show hotspot for restaurant bookings July 7, 2021 London has been revealed to be the flakiest city in the UK for ghosting bookings, according to restaurant booking platform TheFork. Under the current restrictions in the hospitality sector, a pandemic-provoked ‘spread booking’ phenomenon has been reported by an increasing number of bars and restaurants. Some customers have been booking a table at more than [...]
City Moves: Who’s switching jobs in the Square Mile this week? July 7, 2021 City A.M.‘s Millie Turner provides a roundup of the most important hires and job moves across the City, every Wednesday afternoon. Email citymoves@cityam.com to be featured. Ex-abrdn CEO appointed chair university board The former CEO of Standard Life Aberdeen, now known as abrdn, has been appointed chair of the University of Sussex Business School’s advisory board. [...]
