Sports Direct shares soar on profit jump December 16, 2019 Sports Direct’s shares soared this morning as the retailer posted a jump in profit and revealed that it was beginning to see the “green shoots of recovery” at House of Fraser. The figures The company’s share price surged more than 30 per cent to 470p after the high street store said reported profit before tax [...]
PM signs off report on Russian interference in UK politics December 16, 2019 A parliamentary report looking at Russia’s involvement in UK politics is ready to be published, having finally been signed off by the Prime Minister. The report, carried out earlier this year by the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), is believed to have considered the Kremlin’s influence through social media, donations and political ties. Read more: [...]
Boris Johnson set to bring Brexit bill before MPs on Friday December 16, 2019 The Prime Minister is to plough ahead with plans to quit the EU in the first week back after his dramatic Thursday night victory, with new MPs voting on his Brexit bill as early as this week. The Number 10 spokesman confirmed this morning that Boris Johnson would seek to bring the Withdrawal Agreement Bill [...]
The best and worst ads of 2019 December 16, 2019 It has been a year of highs and lows for adland. PRs, creative agencies, and brands will be examining their advertising efforts this month, and while some will be pleased with their work, others will be looking to improve next year. To help with this process, I asked members of the marketing industry and other [...]
Number of customers switching energy supplier on track for record year December 16, 2019 The amount of customers who have switched energy supplier this year is on track to be the largest ever, according to new data from industry body Energy UK. So far in 2019 5.8m people have changed provider, matching the record number of customers who switched in the whole of 2018. Read more: Watchdog gives green [...]
Former trade bosses question Boris Johnson’s 2020 EU deal claims December 16, 2019 Four former trade and business secretaries have criticised Boris Johnson’s claims that he can strike a comprehensive trade deal with the European Union by the end of 2020. In interviews with City A.M., Sir Vince Cable, Lord Michael Heseltine, Lord Peter Mandelson and Lord John Hutton – all ex-presidents of the Board of Trade – [...]
A deal by (next) Christmas? Ex-trade bosses weigh up PM’s claims December 16, 2019 No delays, no excuses. That was the mantra of Boris Johnson’s hugely successful election campaign. At its heart was an ambitious commitment to get a trade deal with the European Union wrapped up by the end of the transition period – 31 December 2020. The private view of Brussels bosses is not optimistic. “Eleven months [...]
Rightmove: Tory election win will boost UK house prices by two per cent in 2020 December 16, 2019 UK house prices are expected to see a two per cent jump next year following the Conservative Party’s election victory. Prices will benefit from greater home-mover confidence, which has been weakened by political uncertainty since the 2016 EU referendum. However the latest research suggests the housing market will only return to full health when “Brexit [...]
Which wines to drink with Christmas lunch December 16, 2019 City A.M.’s wine expert spends a fantasy Christmas budget And so, dear reader, the season of goodwill and merriment is upon us once again. Offices are full of elves distributing secret Santa details to colleagues, and restaurants are rammed with office workers guzzling warm chardonnay and leaden reds from obscure parts of the planet. The [...]
Restaurants can serve up lessons on why we should hire ex-offenders December 16, 2019 The hospitality sector is serving up more than Christmas parties this month. In the face of intense staffing challenges, employers in the industry can also serve up a lesson in how to effectively hire alternative talent. Restaurants, bars, and hotels are in the midst of the biggest skills shortage in decades — almost 80 per [...]