John Lewis ends year on a high as sales are boosted by last-minute Christmas shopping January 2, 2019 John Lewis reported a rise in sales during the last week of the year as shoppers rushed to buy last-minute Christmas gifts and cash in on sales. Total sales for the the department store chain were up 4.5 per cent for the week ending 29 December, compared with the same period last year. The company [...]
Debenhams share price plunges as investors fear disappointing Christmas trading January 2, 2019 Shares in Debenhams plunged almost nine per cent this morning amid fears of poor trading over the festive period. The department store chain saw its share price tumble to 4.68p on the first day of trading in 2019, ahead of an update due on 10 January. The sliding shares suggest investors have low expectations for [...]
Playtech pays €28m to settle Israeli tax audit after shares shaken by Italy gambling tax January 2, 2019 Betting software firm Playtech has agreed to pay €28m (£25.2m) to settle a run-in with Israeli tax authorities. Israel had audited the company’s accounts between 2008 and 2017, with the additional tax payment covering this period. The company will face no penalties once it makes the payment in the next 30 days. The news comes shortly [...]
Iceland to fight £21m claim that it pays staff less than the national minimum wage January 2, 2019 Iceland could be hit with a £21m fine after HM Revenue and Customs ruled that its Christmas savings scheme technically results in staff being paid less than the national minimum wage. The supermarket disputes the finding, which relates to a scheme whereby the company allows employees to voluntarily set aside money from their weekly wages over [...]
Theresa May still has ‘more work to do’ to secure Brexit deal with EU December 31, 2018 A spokesperson for the Prime Minister has said Theresa May still has "more work to do" in order to secure assurances on the UK's exit from the European Union before the next parliamentary debate. May is said to have spoken to EU leaders over the Christmas period about reassurances on the deal, particularly on the so-called [...]
Police apologise to couple arrested over Gatwick drone chaos December 29, 2018 Sussex Police has apologised to a couple arrested following chaos caused by drones at Gatwick Airport. Chief constable Giles York told the Today Programme he was "convinced the grounds for arrest were well-founded" at the time. Paul Gait and Elaine Kirk, who were arrested and held for 36 hours before being released without [...]
Trump rages in face of government shutdown, threatens to close US southern border unless he gets $5bn funding for Mexico border wall December 28, 2018 Donald Trump has threatened to close the United States’ southern border if Congress refuses to give $5bn in taxpayer funds for his Mexican border wall. Much of the federal government is currently shut down for lack of funding as the dispute over the proposed wall continues to rage, while Congress has been adjourned until next [...]
Jeremy Hunt says Brexit deal can still get through parliament if Irish backstop issue is clarified December 28, 2018 Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt has said Theresa May’s Brexit deal can get through parliament if the EU clarifies the so called Northern Irish backstop will be temporary. The backstop, an insurance policy to prevent the return of border checks between Ireland and Northern Ireland, has been a major sticking point in securing the Brexit divorce [...]
Music retailer HMV on the verge of second administration since 2013, reports December 28, 2018 HMV is set to go into administration for the second time in six years, putting 2,200 jobs at risk, according to reports. The company reportedly filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators last week as it held last minute talks with suppliers, Sky News reported this morning. The company was bailed out in a [...]
French airport group takes over Gatwick a week after travel chaos December 27, 2018 French group Vinci is set to buy Gatwick in a deal which values the business at around £5.8bn, just a week after drones caused travel chaos at the UK’s second biggest airport. Vinci, which operates 46 airports in 12 countries, takes a controlling 50.01 per cent stake in Gatwick for around £2.9bn. Gatwick’s chairman Sir [...]