All Bar One owner still feeling the pinch from inflation May 17, 2023 Mitchells and Butlers, the UK’s largest listed pub group, saw a drop in profits this morning, but said that its cost outlook was improving amid ongoing inflationary pressure. The All Bar One and Toby Carvery owner made £100m in adjusted operating profit for the half year ending on April 8, down from £120m a year [...]
Morning in the City: News and market updates, live May 17, 2023 Good morning and welcome to City A.M.'s morning live blog.
US debt ceiling drama – what is it and why does it matter May 17, 2023 Markets are keeping a close eye on the US debt ceiling debacle – seemingly an attempt by US politicians to tip their own country into default. The debt ceiling is a limit on how much the US government can borrow imposed by Congress. Currently it stands at $31.4trn, although it has been raised 78 times [...]
Recession? Try a Rolex: Watches of Switzerland revenue up again May 17, 2023 Luxury watch retailer Watches of Switzerland’s revenue rose 22 per cent in the final quarter but the luxury watchmaker warned that there would be a slight sales dip in the first quarter of the next financial year. In the quarter to April, revenue rose 22 per cent to £371m on a reported basis. At constant [...]
E.On, Good Energy and Octopus cough up millions in compensation payments for bill delays May 17, 2023 Gas and electricity firms E.On Next, Good Energy and Octopus Energy have paid £8 million over compensation failures for delays in producing final bills when customers switch, regulator Ofgem has announced. The energy watchdog said more than 100,000 households were affected after the three suppliers either missed or delayed compensation payouts that were due when they did [...]
No Cowgill, No Problem: JD Sports nears billion-pound profit May 17, 2023 JD Sports announced record profits this morning despite a challenging economic environment and the exit of longtime chief Peter Cowgill
London office market now a race for best in class, says British Land May 17, 2023 The gap between the "best and the rest" is beginning to define the London office market, say property developers British Land this morning.
Brexit is ‘threat’ to UK car factories says parent firm of Vauxhall, Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat May 17, 2023 One of the world’s largest carmakers has said it will be unable to keep their commitment to make electric vehicles in the UK without changes to the Brexit deal. Stellantis – the parent company of Vauxhall, Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat – which employs more than 5,000 people in the UK – told a Commons inquiry [...]
Use of community lenders rises as cost of living pressures see more refused loans elsewhere May 17, 2023 Community lenders saw a 22 per cent increase in customers in 2022 as the deteriorating economic environment helped exclude ever larger numbers from the traditional financial sector. According to new figures from Responsible Finance, community development finance institutions (CDFIs) increased total lending by 20 per cent in 2022 to £248m, reaching 94,744 customers. The majority [...]
KSI and JD Sports ad falls afoul of watchdog May 17, 2023 An Instagram post by YouTuber KSI promoting JD Sports has been banned after he failed to clearly mark it as an ad.
