‘Bond market tantrum risks’: Gilt traders brace for Labour leftward pivot as Starmer future uncertain
Tesco to reveal consumer spending habits with update this week June 12, 2022 Supermarket giant Tesco is set to shed more light on how customer spending is holding up as shoppers deal with rapidly increasing food inflation. The UK’s biggest grocer will reveal how trading has performed over the three months to May when it updates shareholders on Friday June 17. Tesco has been resilient despite pressure on [...]
Apollo and Reliance Industries join forces to make binding bid of up to £6bn for chemist Boots June 9, 2022 Private equity firm Apollo and Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries have made a binding bid for high street chemist Boots, it has been reported. According to the Financial Times, the offer values the company at between £5bn and £6bn, two sources familiar with the deal told the newspaper. US owner Walgreens Boots Alliance had been looking [...]
Petrol price has biggest daily jump in 17 years as grim milestone of a £100 tank likely tomorrow June 8, 2022 The price of petrol experienced the biggest daily jump for 17-years and looks set to surpass the grim milestone of £100 for a tank tomorrow. Motoring champions the RAC raised alarm bells saying the average price to fill up a tank of unleaded was now east £99.40, owing to an overnight rise of more than [...]
Mark Kleinman’s Column: Walgreens needs different prescription for future of Boots June 1, 2022 As an octogenarian with a literary penchant and more than half a century in business behind him, Stefano Pessina will be as aware as anyone of “time’s winged chariot hurrying near”. But is his sense of the passing of time in danger of impairing the judgement of the notoriously dogged and astute Italian dealmaker? The [...]
Competition concerns: Morrisons’ takeover of McColl’s probed by CMA May 30, 2022 The competition watchdog is probing Morrisons’ takeover of beleaguered newsagent operator McColl’s, it has been confirmed. The Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Monday it had launched an inquiry to investigate whether the takeover will impact competition in the UK, with an initial enforcement order. The two businesses will be instructed to compete as [...]
Smiths News anticipates smaller than expected hit from McColl’s administration May 30, 2022 Newspaper distributor Smiths News has said it is anticipating a smaller than expected hit from McColl’s administration. The London-listed firm, which continues to supply McColl’s under Morrisons’ ownership, has said it has reduced its debt to £5.6m. After McColl’s went into administration, Smiths News took action to mitigate McColl’s bad debt risk, the supplier said [...]
Issa brothers’ EG Group sees fuel gross profit margins reduce slightly after war in Ukraine May 24, 2022 The Issa brothers’ EG Group has seen its fuel division’s gross profit margins slim slightly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Across the firm’s fuel arm, gross profit hit $481m in the three months to 31 March, a 16 per cent increase compared to the first quarter of 2021. However, its gross profit margins were slightly [...]
Petrol retailers could face fines if they fail to pass on fuel duty cuts to consumers May 19, 2022 Petrol retailers could be fined if they fail to pass on fuel duty cuts to customers, warned the Competition and Markets Authority.
Supermarkets cheapest place to go for petrol, says AA May 18, 2022 Motorists looking for minimise the pain of record petrol prices should top-up their tanks at supermarkets, reveals motoring group AA.
Morrisons rescue deal for McColl’s totalled £182m May 18, 2022 Grocer Morrisons coughed up some £182m to snap up beleaguered convenience store operator McColl’s, defeating a rival bid from Asda owners the Issa brothers. The newsagent chain’s equity value was worth around £3m earlier this month while senior creditors were owed some £160m, documents from administrators PwC revealed. While the Issa’s EG Group had offered [...]