Boohoo woes: Shares collapse as customers return more clothes than expected May 4, 2022 Boohoo faces further woes as the online retailer’s shares plunged after it admitted that consumers were returning items more than expected. Supply chain hang-ups have also led to longer delivery times, to the detriment of the Boohoo’s international proposition, it said on Wednesday. The beleaguered fashion firm recorded a revenue jump of 14 per cent [...]
Just Eat to not reappoint COO amid allegations of misconduct May 4, 2022 Just Eat’s board has withdrawn the opportunity to reappoint its chief operating officer, following allegations of personal misconduct at a company event. Jörg Gerbig, COO and member of the management board, has been the subject of a formal complaint over his behaviour, Just Eat said in a statement today. An investigation into the claims is [...]
Aston Martin unveils ex-Ferrari boss as new CEO May 4, 2022 Aston Martin has unveiled an ex-Ferrari boss as its new CEO, to steer the automotive and engineering firm through the energy transition and trim losses. Felisa, formerly the CEO of Ferrari, spent over 26 years with the rival automotive manufacturer. The incoming boss will succeed Tobias Moers, who steps down with immediate effect, but will [...]
HSBC launches $1bn share buyback as break-up rumours swirl May 4, 2022 HSBC has launched a $1bn (£801m) share buyback programme today, as rumours of a break-up proposal swirl. The lender will buy shares for some $0.50 each, in a bid to shrink its outstanding ordinary shares, it said in a regulatory filing this morning. The agreement, where US bank Merrill Lynch will act as principal, will [...]
City Moves: Who’s switching jobs in the Square Mile? May 4, 2022 City A.M.’s Millie Turner provides a roundup of the most important hires and job moves across the City, every morning. Email citymoves@cityam.com to be featured. Volterra Fietta Law firm Volterra Fietta has hired a new partner in London, who previously represented Egypt in a case related to Al Jazeera. Gunjan Sharma, who stepped into the role at the beginning of the month, [...]
Spiralling house prices push millions into higher stamp duty bracket May 4, 2022 Spiralling house prices have pushed 4.3m households into a higher stamp duty bracket since March 2020, according to the latest research. The average price of a home has skyrocketed by £29,000 to £249,700 since Covid-19, spurred in part by a city exodus and the rush to get deals done amid the pandemic-era stamp duty holiday. [...]
Investors’ warm response to break up rumours boosts HSBC shares May 3, 2022 Shares in Britain’s biggest bank climbed today in a sign investors backed a proposal by its largest shareholder to carve out its profit-machine Asia business. FTSE 100-listed HSBC’s shares gained 1.61 per cent today on the first day of trading in London since calls to break-up the lender strengthened. Ping An, a Chinese insurance giant [...]
Pfizer revenue explodes as it battles accusations of pandemic profiteering May 3, 2022 Pfizer’s first quarter revenue have exploded in comparison with last year, setting in stone that it has avoided the much-feared Covid-19 cliff edge. The natural decline of Covid-19 had spooked investors. However, the US pharmaceutical giant recorded $25.7bn (£20.4bn) in revenue in the first few months of the year. The figure represents a 77 per [...]
Seraphim Space poaches Virgin Galactic veteran amid slow run for British launcher May 3, 2022 Seraphim Space has poached a Virgin veteran, who helped finance the group’s space ventures, Virgin Galactic and Virgin Orbit, to catch the stream of cash being poured into the industry. Patrick McCall, former senior partner at Virgin Group, is set to join the London-listed space tech fund as a venture partner, as the fund’s [...]
UK construction headed for a drastic slowdown, warns trade association May 3, 2022 Construction activity is headed for a drastic slowdown, according to a top UK trade association, as geopolitical pressures weigh on British builders. Inflationary headwinds, labour shortages and supply chain disruptions have scuppered growth in the sector, with construction forecast to eek out 2.8 per cent growth in output – a stretch away from the 4.3 [...]