YouGov shares jump after revenue and profit growth revealed October 29, 2024 YouGov shares jumped 13 per cent on Tuesday as the data firm reported revenue and operating profit narrowly ahead of full-year expectations. In unaudited results for the year to 31 July, 2024, Yougov posted a three per cent organic revenue increase, with reported revenue up 30 per cent to £335.3m, driven by its recent CPS [...]
How retail investors are bracing for a Rachel Reeves tax raid October 29, 2024 Fear among retail investors is building in the face of this week’s Budget, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ rumoured changes to capital gains tax and inheritance tax hanging over the heads of individual stockpickers. While capital gains tax currently sits at 20 per cent, speculation has spread that it could be hiked when the government lays [...]
HSBC chief Elhedery says no plans for Asia spin-off in global revamp October 29, 2024 HSBC’s new chief executive has insisted his redrawing of the bank’s operations between East and West is not a precursor to the kind of break-up demanded by one of its biggest shareholders last year. Speaking after HSBC’s third-quarter results on Tuesday, Georges Elhedery said the main reason for his overhaul “is to make us a [...]
IG Design: Card maker’s cost-cutting drive starts to pay off despite profit plummet October 29, 2024 Profit at IG Design, the world’s largest maker of greeting cards, wrapping paper and gift bags, has been slashed but the firm is now cash generative and expecting to make a comeback in the second half of the year. As expected, group revenue fell 11 per cent in the six months to September, causing adjusted profit to [...]
Rachel Reeves puts £240m into new back to work ‘trailblazers’ October 29, 2024 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced a £240m funding boost for the rollout of local services tasked with getting the long-term sick back into work. Ahead of the Budget, Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that tackling rising economic inactivity would be a core economic priority for his government. “We will always help those who cannot support [...]
Foxtons acquires commuter town estate agents in expansion drive October 29, 2024 Estate agents Foxtons has acquired two smaller companies in commuter towns as it looks to expand its presence in the lettings market. Haslams, in Reading, and Imagine, in Watford, will be bought by Foxtons for £7.6m and £5m respectively. The acquisitions will increase Foxtons’ footprint to 64 branches, as well as delivering an extra 2,900 [...]
Bulmers help C&C outperform the alcohol market October 29, 2024 Drinks company C&C has reported results in line with expectations as its core brands Bulmers and Tennent’s outperformed the market. The company has also reconfirmed its commitment to return a minimum of €150m (£125m) to shareholders over the next three years, adding that it has already completed €38m of buybacks. C&C will pay an interim [...]
Hargreaves Lansdown client growth surges as takeover looms October 29, 2024 Hargreaves Lansdown’s client growth surged to 18,000 in the last quarter as the investment platform’s private equity takeover approaches. However, despite the growth, which compared to just 8,000 new customers in the same quarter last year, new assets coming into the platform dropped. Hargreaves Lansdown reported just £500m in net new business, compared to £600m [...]
Pearson: Educational publisher starts to reap rewards of AI October 29, 2024 Pearson said it is starting to see “commercial benefit” from the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into its services. The education publisher said there have been over five million student interactions with its higher education AI study tools in the nine months to September, leading to double-digit year on year billings growth in its higher [...]
Santander UK delays results following motor finance court case October 29, 2024 Santander UK has delayed the publication of a detailed set of results covering the third quarter as it waits to assess the impact of a landmark court ruling on motor finance commissions. Full results for the Spanish bank’s UK arm were meant to be published this morning, but the lender said on Monday that it [...]