Ready, set, go: Britain is bound for the next space race May 26, 2021 The UK is bound for a seat in the next space race, the transport secretary has said today, as the government preps for Virgin’s commercial Orbit mission – the UK’s first space-bound flight. The National Space Agency (NSA) confirmed on Monday that spaceflights will soon be a reality as the government has funded spaceports that [...]
Broadgate developer British Land posts annual loss as pandemic wipes £2bn off portfolio May 26, 2021 British Land posted its third consecutive annual loss as empty shops and offices squeezed the valuation of its portfolio. The commercial landlord said the value of its portfolio fell 10.8 per cent from £11.1bn to £9.1bn in the year ended 31 March. It reported a pre-tax loss of £1.08bn compared with a loss of £1.11bn [...]
M&S sinks to a loss as store closures hammer clothing business May 26, 2021 M&S has reported an annual loss as sales in its clothing division collapsed during the pandemic. The high street stalwart reported a £201.2m pre-tax loss in the 52 weeks to 27 March 2021, down from a pre-tax profit of £67.2m in the previous year. M&S Food sales dipped 0.6 per cent across the year with [...]
Covid: Grant Shapps admits local guidance ‘could have been clearer’ May 26, 2021 Transport secretary Grant Shapps today admitted the communications around the local guidance in coronavirus hotspots “could have been clearer”. “It’s important to say there are no new local lockdowns, no change in the law— the law is the same throughout England with regards to coronavirus,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “But I think [...]
UK pharma Vectura snapped up by US private equity giant Carlyle for £958m May 26, 2021 UK pharma Vectura snapped up by US private equity giant Carlyle for £958m
SSE profit rises as energy giant ramps up net zero push May 26, 2021 SSE today posted a rise in profit for the full year as the energy giant pushes ahead with its strategy of reaching net zero carbon emissions. The FTSE 100 firm posted adjusted profit before tax of £1.06bn in the year to the end of March, up four per cent on the previous 12 months. This [...]
Federal Reserve strikes dovish tone to calm inflation fears May 26, 2021 The Federal Reserve last night reaffirmed its dovish approach to monetary policy, reassuring investors concerned about rising inflation. Fed vice chair Richard Clarida said the US central bank would be able to curb an outbreak of inflation and ensure a “soft landing” without hampering the country’s economic recovery. Fears have been mounting among investors about [...]
St James’s Place enjoys strong inflows as client confidence improves May 26, 2021 Money manager St James’s Place said inflows this year had surged as government spending and the vaccine rollout drove positive investor sentiment. The FTSE firm said gross inflows for the five months to the end of May 2021 are likely to be around 23 per cent higher than the same period last year. It comes [...]
A world wide web of regulation: tech giants need a tough new set of rules to fix global problems May 26, 2021 The end of the Internet free-for-all is nigh. Or so we are told, again and again. Big technology companies need – and even want – regulation; yet fears of stifling freedom of speech has made it a political hot potato. Debate about regulation has been raging since the internet began. Technology companies scored an early [...]
The Gym Group beats expectations on strong reopening demand May 26, 2021 The Gym Group today said trading had outperformed expectations since the easing of lockdown measures as Brits flocked back to its venues to get in shape. The fitness firm reopened its gyms in England on 12 April, followed by reopenings in Scotland on 26 April and Wales on 3 May. Its entire estate of 187 [...]
