Shadow MPC calls on Mark Carney to wait before pulling the trigger on another rate cut September 14, 2016 City economists have told Mark Carney to keep interest rates glued at their record low when the Bank of England meets today. City A.M.’s Shadow monetary policy committee (MPC) voted eight-to-one in favour of holding rates at 0.25 per cent, as experts said the governor and his fellow rate-setters should wait for more signs of [...]
Tick, tock: Cartier and Montblanc owner Richemont forecasts 45 per cent profit drop as luxury watch demand falls September 14, 2016 Shares in Richemont, the owner of luxury brands such as Cartier and Montblanc, fell this morning as the company forecast a 45 per cent drop in first-half operating profit on the back of a sales slump and lower demand for watches. The figures In a trading update this morning, the Swiss luxury goods retailer said total sales had fallen 14 [...]
Go Compare deal to kick off strong IPO activity September 13, 2016 Insurance outfit Esure has confirmed it will spin off its price comparison website Go Compare in a post-referendum boost to London's IPO market. Go Compare could be valued at up to £650m when it floats on the London Stock Exchange later this year, just 18 months after Esure took full control of the group in a deal [...]
Primark owner Associated British Foods warns Brexit-related currency volatility could hurt profit margins in the new year September 12, 2016 Primark owner Associated British Foods (ABF) has been feeling the benefits of post-Brexit currency volatility since June – but warned that it may start to see a negative impact in the new financial year. Shares in the company have dropped by 10.68 per cent so far today. [stockChart code="ABF" date="2016-09-12 15:25"] The company said [...]
This Fidget Cube wants to make you more productive and less stressed while you’re at work September 9, 2016 We've all been stuck next to that one person who can't help but click their pen, constantly tap their notepad or otherwise fidget during a meeting or otherwise quiet working day. Or, maybe, that person is you. Whether you're a sufferer of other people's fidgeting or you know you're guilty of it, pro-fidgeters Mark and Matthew [...]
The big business class-only problem: Why high-end services like La Compagnie don’t take off in Britain September 7, 2016 Sir Richard Branson’s trademark “devil may care” attitude is evident when he talks about founding Virgin Atlantic. He has said: “In the ’80s my gut feeling was that airlines were crap. I hated spending time on planes. I thought we could create the kind of airline I’d like. So we got a secondhand 747 and [...]
All that glitters: Anglo American’s diamond business De Beers reports higher sales on pre-Christmas demand September 6, 2016 Anglo American said today sales at De Beers, its diamond unit, rose as manufacturers snapped up the precious gems ahead of the holiday season. The world's largest diamond producer by value reported rough diamond sales generated $630m (£472.65m) in its seventh offering this year, up from $528m in the previous round. Read more: How this digital-focused jewellery retailer is shaking [...]
Sainsbury’s to install 20 Argos outlets in time for Christmas September 5, 2016 Sainsbury's is set to install another 20 Argos outlets inside its supermarkets in the latest move to integrate the two stores following Sainsbury's acquisition of Argos-owner Home Retail Group (HRG). The supermarket giant completed the £1.4bn takeover of HRG, which also owned Homebase until earlier this year, at the end of last week, after being given the green light [...]
Marks & Spencer is in a pay row with staff and could be axing 500 jobs. Is it time to split the retailer in two? September 5, 2016 Marks & Spencer’s famous adverts (“These are not just potatoes, these are pan-shaken ready-to-roast extra-crispy King Edward potatoes…”) may have stayed ripe for mockery for over a decade, but between our guffaws lies a reluctant acceptance that the branding is absolutely spot on. M&S food halls have been a roaring success, especially among the millions of Brits [...]
Peter Stringfellow on closing Angels, Theresa May, virtual reality clubs and setting up a lingerie range September 5, 2016 The floor of Peter Stringfellow’s office at Angels, his legendary Soho club, was strewn with packing boxes last week. In case anyone imagined his office to be an extension of the club – all leopard print, velvet and disco balls – it isn’t. It’s just a normal office. I visited him on Thursday; on Saturday, [...]