Slowing UK economy appears good news for discount retailer B&M May 31, 2023 Brits seeking out bargains has helped drive B&M customer numbers up every month since June, as the group plans to roll out 30 more stores across the UK to up keep demand. For the year, the budget chain, which sells homewares and food, gained revenues of £4.9bn up from £4.6bn, as the group improved its [...]
How airports and captive audiences are driving a revenue spike at WH Smith May 31, 2023 WH Smith continued to reap the benefits of resurgent post-pandemic travel demand, with the newsagent improving its expectations for the financial year in a trading update this morning, on the back of a 31 per cent year on year rise in revenues from its airport shops. In the 13 weeks to May 27, the newsagent [...]
Ladbrokes-owner Entain likely to face “substantial financial penalty” after bribery investigation May 31, 2023 Entain said it could face a “substantial financial penalty” following investigations into its business practices in Turkey by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The Ladbrokers owner said the offences under investigation at its Turkish facing business, which it held between 2011 and 2017, include breaching the bribery act. Entain admitted that “historical misconduct involving former [...]
The west forgot about Crimea. It cannot forget about the rest of Ukraine May 31, 2023 It is perhaps easy to become fatigued by news of the war in Ukraine. It is now fifteen months since Vladimir Putin’s tanks rolled over the frontier for what they thought would be a straightforward victory, an imperial conquest more akin to 1940 or the Napoleonic era than the 21st century. Through sheer bloody-mindedness as [...]
The cost of living crisis has an unlikely winner: the book industry May 31, 2023 Publishing group Bloomsbury raked in record sales last year as Brits buried their heads in books and "cut back on more expensive forms of diversion" through the cost of living squeeze, the firm revealed today.
Morning in the City: Prudential’s CFO quits, Bloomsbury, B&M and London leading UK confidence May 31, 2023 Morning, and welcome to the live blog on 31 May. This morning we have results from Bloomsbury Publishing, B&M, and the departure of a top exec for “failing” standards.
Government sends Fever-Tree mixers and a cricket shirt down under to celebrate post-Brexit trade deal May 31, 2023 The UK’s trade deals with Australia and New Zealand came into force at midnight, with special shipments of British goods such as signed Beano comics among the first to be sent under the new arrangements. The agreements are the first trade deals negotiated post-Brexit to enter into force and come after the UK, Australia and [...]
Prudential’s CFO leaves after ‘falling short of standards’ but insurer gives few details May 31, 2023 Prudential Plc said on Wednesday its chief financial officer, James Turner, would leave the company after a code of conduct investigation into a recent recruitment showed he had fallen short of its standards. Turner, who has been with the Asia-focused company for 12 years before resigning, will stay on for four months to support a transition [...]
Just Stop Oil offer nothing in the debate over our energy future May 31, 2023 The UK’s energy future and, environmental goals are debates of real consequence, and Just Stop Oil should no longer featured in it.
London businesses most confident in the UK amid economic slowdown May 31, 2023 London businesses are poised to lead the UK economy out of its slowdown, although they remain acutely concerned about the impact of higher interest rates and scorching inflation, a new survey out today shows. Confidence among the capital’s firms slimmed four points to 43 per cent, although that was the highest reading of any area [...]
