H&T: Pawnbroker to expand high street and online presence as profits soar 31 per cent August 8, 2023 H&T, Britain’s largest pawnbroker reported a 31 per cent rise in profit before tax to £8.8m – with the pawnbroker looking to cash in on desperate times by expanding its presence. Its pledge book, which includes short-term loans linked to customers’ belongings, grew 14 per cent in the six months ending 30 June, reaching £114.6m [...]
People aren’t lying to claim welfare, we really do have a systemic crisis of ill health August 8, 2023 We love to point blame at people on welfare, rather than looking at why so many people are sick rather than at work, writes Ben Ramanauskas.
Retail investors poised to spend near £100m on Oxford Street this year August 7, 2023 Retail investment in central London is expected to exceed £1bn this year, with up to a tenth of that set to be spent on Oxford Street, raising fresh hope for the future of the London shopping destination. Some £810m was splurged on retail investments across London in the first half of the year, new figures [...]
Pizza Express and Wagamama show signs of recovery after private equity and pandemic struggles August 7, 2023 Wagamama, Dominos and Pizza Express are among a cluster of top restaurants in the UK which have seen their profits increase in the last six months, new research shows, as the market slowly shows signs of recovery. The combined profit of the top 100 restaurants in the UK rose from £19.9m in September 2022 to [...]
A nation driving innovation – why the UK is still a great place for global fintech companies August 4, 2023 Martin Heraghty, Regional Director Europe, Paymentology As an international financial powerhouse, the UK – and in particular London – is a great place for a fintech company to be based – even when times are tough. Despite the economic fallout of Brexit, soaring inflation and the cost of living crisis, the UK is still ranked [...]
Sadiq Khan expands London ULEZ scrappage scheme in wake of Uxbridge by-election loss August 4, 2023 The Mayor of London has announced a major expansion of financial support designed to ease the impact of the capital’s ultra low emission zone (Ulez) on people’s pockets. Sadiq Khan said every Londoner with a polluting car facing charges under Ulez will now be able to receive a grant of up to £2,000 to support [...]
Bank of England lifts interest rates to fresh 15 year high in smaller than feared 14th straight hike August 3, 2023 The Bank of England today hiked the UK’s official interest rate for the 14th time in a row but by a lower degree than some had feared. Members of the nine-strong monetary policy committee (MPC) voted 6-3 in favour of a 25 basis point rise, smaller than the 50 basis point lift some in the [...]
Nintendo: Super Mario movie success helps drive 50 per cent sales surge August 3, 2023 Nintendo has smashed forecasts for its first quarter results as the ever-popular virtual icons Mario and Zelda continue to attract gamers. The Japanese gaming company reported net sales of 461.34bn yen (£2.5bn) for the three months ended 30 June – a 50 per cent increase from the same period of 2022 and ahead of Refinitiv [...]
Profits wag for Pets at Home as revenues up 10 per cent thanks to Brits splurging on furry friends August 3, 2023 Pets at Home made a profit during the first quarter with revenues rising 10.2 per cent to £568.2m, as the animal care brand was bolstered by new store openings. The pet store, which operates 453 sites across the UK, said that total group revenue reached £436.8m, up 7.9 per cent when compared to last year, [...]
Wizz Air smashes passenger records as CEO predicts further summer growth August 3, 2023 Wizz Air said it carried a record 15.3 million passengers in the three months to 30 June, up 25.5 per cent on 2022, as the ultra-low cost airline swung into profit on the back of soaring demand for travel. The historic traffic figures helped the carrier report a €79m (£68m) profit, up from a €284.5m [...]