Are we witnessing the slow death of advertising holding companies? May 5, 2025 The feted founder of AKQA, Ajaz Ahmed, has launched a new agency that promises to take on the “slow, bureaucratic” ad groups that since the pandemic have have been labouring under stagnant revenues and falling share prices. Ali Lyon asks: “Are those holding companies on borrowed time?” Ajaz Ahmed is not a man to shy [...]
UK retail investors double down on US tech despite tariff jitters May 2, 2025 Despite geopolitical headwinds and market volatility, UK retail investors ramped up their exposure to US technology stocks in April, with Nvidia, Palantir and Tesla topping trading charts across major UK platforms. On AJ Bell, Nvidia emerged as the second most traded stock, trailing only BP. Tesla and Amazon also secured sports in the top ten, [...]
Harrods hit in cyber spree as experts warn of ‘coordinated campaign’ May 2, 2025 Harrods has become the latest high profile UK retailer targeted by cyber attackers, joining Marks & Spencer and Co-op Group in a spate of recent incidents that security experts fear may be part of a broader attack against the sector. Harrods has confirmed that it had experienced “attempted to gain unauthorised access” to its systems. [...]
Apple shares fall on cloud miss despite US chip pivot May 2, 2025 Apple posted better-than-expected earnings late Thursday, as iPhone sales held up strongly in the face of growing consumer anxiety over incoming US tariffs. But shares slipped nearly 3 per cent in after-hours trading, as a muted performance from its services unit and continued delays in its AI rollout tempered investor optimism. The California-based tech behemoth [...]
Amazon beats on profits, but tariff uncertainty weighs on stock May 2, 2025 Amazon topped Wall Street expectations in the first quarter of 2025, posting a 62 per cent jump in profit year on year. But a softer than expected cloud result and a cautious outlook for the coming quarter were enough to send shares lower in after-hours trading. This reflects the sensitivity of big tech valuations in [...]
M&S and Co-op: UK retailers brace for cyber attacks May 1, 2025 Two of the UK’s most recognisable retail brands – Marks and Spencer and Co-op – found themselves at the centre of a growing cyber security storm this past week. From suspended online orders at M&S to locked-down systems at Co-op, the message from the frontline is clear: cyber threats are no longer just an IT [...]
Week in Business: The billionaires backing Britain May 1, 2025 BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Virgin supremo Sir Richard Branson, businessman John Caudwell and JP Morgan top dog Jamie Dimon – quite the quartet – have all made some fascinating interventions this week. Let’s start with BlackRock, the world’s largest investor, running more than $11 trillion on behalf of pension funds, private clients and sovereign wealth [...]
Microsoft shares jump after AI bets pay off May 1, 2025 Microsoft shares surged over six per cent in after hours trading on Wednesday after the tech giant delivered another quarter of better than expected earnings, driven by its booming cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) businesses. The company posted revenue of $70.1bn (£52.5bn) for the quarter ending in March, up 13 per cent year on year, [...]
Tesla denies claims of Musk succession search May 1, 2025 Tesla has denied reports that its board is seeking a replacement for chief executive Elon Musk, after a Wall Street Journal report claimed the company had began a search for its new chief executive, amid mounting concerns on his political entanglements. In a post early Thursday on X, the social media owned by Musk, Tesla [...]
Meta surges on bold AI spend – but tariff risks loom May 1, 2025 Meta platforms delivered strong first quarter earnings after market close on Wednesday, with revenue and profit surpassing Wall Street expectations thanks to continued growth in advertising and an aggressive push into AI. But the firm’s exposure to global trade tensions and regulatory headwinds in its European market present a complicated picture for investors evaluating the [...]