London consumers are set to splash out on Boxing Day sales, according to Barclaycard December 23, 2017 Consumers across the UK are set to top last year’s Boxing Day spending totals, with Londoners splashing out the most, according to Barclaycard. Boxing Day is predicted to be the most popular shopping day of the Christmas period, with a third of shoppers planning to buy discounted goods up from a quarter last year. In [...]
Iconic London toy store Hamleys opens Beijing shop in time for Christmas December 23, 2017 Hamleys, the 257-year-old iconic British-founded toy retailer, has today opened its largest store worldwide in Beijing, China. Just in time to coincide with the start of the Christmas season, the store opening will be accompanied by a celebratory toy parade. Located in Beijing’s Wangfujing area, the city’s main shopping district similar to Oxford Street, the [...]
Deliveroo is going green: Riders will start using electric scooters and bikes early in 2018 December 23, 2017 Deliveroo has announced an early Christmas present to residents of London, as it has said it will begin to trial electric scooters to cut down on noise and air pollution next year. The meal delivery company has said its riders in the capital will be able to rent electric-powered scooters and bikes early in 2018 [...]
Editor’s Notes: Predictions are for fools, but here are a few to mull over, may the bitcoin ride continue in 2018 and the best statistic of the year December 22, 2017 Winston Churchill once said “I always avoid prophesying beforehand because it is much better to prophesy after the event has already taken place.” Wise words, which were roundly ignored at a City lunch this week where we went around the table to offer our predictions for 2018. Contributions ranged from the sensible to the more [...]
So much for the Santa rally: FTSE 100 falls off record high December 22, 2017 The FTSE 100 has finished the day lower, having nudged a record high this morning. The bluechip index closed 0.15 per cent lower, at 7,592.66 points. Earlier in the day, it had risen to a record 7,611.75 points, up from yesterday’s closing high of 7,609.69. Before that, the last time it set a record was [...]
These will be the best-paying jobs for graduates in 2018 December 22, 2017 Ah, Christmas: the time of year when our thoughts naturally turn to how far our salaries will stretch over the festive period. The good news is that new research has found City employers are still the best payers when it comes to graduate roles, although tech companies are creeping up the list. The study, by [...]
Christmas comes early for Boris bikes (Santander cycles) as they race through annual hire record December 22, 2017 London’s Santander Cycles, more commonly known to most in the city as Boris bikes, will pedal into the new year with a new record under their seat. Statistics from from Transport for London (TfL) have revealed the communal bikes have raced through annual hire records, with more than 10.3m journeys made on them so far [...]
Brits brace for Christmas travel trouble with “Frantic Friday” on the roads ahead of series of rail strikes and station closures December 22, 2017 Brits today face the busiest date for travelling on the nation’s roads, at the start of a festive period stacked with travel troubles including rail strikes and numerous station closures. The RAC has warned drivers against travelling today where possible with last-day commuters mixing with an expected 1.25m leisure trips. It has been dubbed “Frantic [...]
The FTSE 100 closed at a record high topping 7,600 December 21, 2017 There was plenty of Christmas cheer in the City today as Britain’s blue-chip index rose to an all-time high. The FTSE 100 rose above 7,600 points for the first time, closing up 1.1 per cent at 7,603.98. “The FTSE 100 has rallied strongly today moving above its previous record peak set back in June to [...]
Ignore the forecasts. No-one really knows what 2018 holds for markets December 21, 2017 How will markets and the global economy perform in 2018? If you’ve not yet been confronted with a barrage of forecasts or predictions, then you’re likely to be in the coming days. Trying to predict what will happen next year has become as much a part of the Christmas tradition as turkey, presents and overindulgence. [...]