Deal fever: Banking giants plot takeovers to ramp up market share June 18, 2025 British banking is poised for a major shake-up as top names go on the hunt for fresh acquisitions. Lenders have been scouting new deals that would send shockwaves across the industry. Much of the prospective dealmaking involves London lender Shawbrook, whose private equity owners have been circling high street bank Metro. Ahead of this, Shawbrook [...]
Grenade: We invented ‘good’ protein bars June 16, 2025 It is difficult to walk around a supermarket without being screamed at by a collection of very similar labels on very different aisles: High-protein yogurt! Protein powder bread! All natural high-protein ketchup! As the final social-media-endorsed macronutrient standing, protein’s stock has soared from a good-to-have to a must-buy in the last decade. Somewhat inexplicably, Marks [...]
Tesco is tightening its grip on the UK supermarket crown June 12, 2025 Tesco has boosted market share again as it outperforms peers in the ever-more competitive UK grocery space. In its first-quarter results this morning, the supermarket giant reported a 5.9 per cent uplift in food sales and a 6.2 per cent rise in home and clothing sales. Tesco now has 28 per cent of the UK [...]
FTSE 100 seals record high after shaking off investor nerves June 12, 2025 The FTSE 100 finally sealed a new record closing high on Thursday after falling a whisker short the previous two trading sessions. The UK’s flagship index rose 0.2 per cent to – besting March’s record of 8,871.31. The index also beat its previous intraday high after hitting 8,892.36 in afternoon trading. Endeavour mining topped the [...]
Tesco: Supermarket giant widens market share amid price war June 12, 2025 Supermarket juggernaut Tesco delivered an upbeat trading statement for the first three months of the year as the price war in the competitive UK grocery market rumbled on. Food sales at the grocer were up 5.9 per cent year-on-year led by a strong performance in fresh food. Meanwhile, non-food sales climbed 6.2 per cent after [...]
Tesco shareholders eye returns as ‘awful April’ bill hikes set to hit profit June 8, 2025 Tesco shareholders will be watching closely for signs that it is managing to fend off competition as the supermarket price war heats up and “awful April” bill hikes eat into household income. The UK’s biggest supermarket chain will unveil its financial results for the first three months of its financial year on Thursday. Tesco recently [...]
M&S: Shares in FTSE 100 firm to hit 10-year high, say analysts June 6, 2025 Shares in Marks and Spencer (M&S) have been tipped to rocket to their highest valuation in ten years in the wake of the FTSE 100 giant battling a major cyber attack. Off the back of the British icon’s full-year results, analysts are predicting that shares in M&S will rise to more than 420p each. The [...]
Beyoncé London review: the protest vibe feels a bit thin June 6, 2025 Beyoncé London review: there’s no denying that belt, even if the protest aesthetic doesn’t quite work No one can doubt Beyoncé. At least, not in terms of her belt and ability to deliver an incredible show. Give her any piece of music from operatic to country, and as she proved last night in London, she [...]
Is Asda’s ambitious turnaround starting to bear fruit? May 29, 2025 Asda has had a tumultuous year and a half. Since January 2024, the supermarket giant has undergone numerous leadership changes, IT issues, and sales woes. Its troubles began back in 2021, when it was bought in a debt-fuelled takeover by the billionaire Issa brothers – who have since departed the board – and private equity firm [...]
Grocery inflation jumps to highest level in more than a year May 28, 2025 Grocery price inflation shot up to 4.1 per cent in May, driven by chocolate and suncare products in the hottest start to the month on record. The rise follows a 3.8 per cent jump in April and a 1.8 per cent rise in March, according to Kantar. “This latest jump in grocery price inflation takes [...]