Homes go on sale at former North London Post Office building in Islington January 8, 2016 As the historic North London Post Office, this 50,000sqft site in Islington delivered birthday cards, love letters and lists for Father Christmas. But next year, joint property developers Sagar Group and Cain Hoy hope they’ll be equally as successful at delivering a new housing, shopping and commercial district in the heart of one of London’s [...]
Saving in 2016: Years of low base rates have engendered a lack of thought about saving January 8, 2016 During the Christmas season, most people tend to be focused on family rather than finance, but as the new year develops, particularly with many facing an extra week before payday, thoughts inevitably creep back to more run of the mill matters. The rise in the US interest rate announced by the Federal Reserve is seen by many [...]
Sports Direct’s share price slumps 15 per cent on profit warning January 8, 2016 Sports Direct has issued a profit warning, claiming warm weather deterred shoppers over the key Christmas period, prompting its share price to tumble. The Mike Ashley-owned retailer, which has been fending off criticism around its various working practices, issued a statement this morning saying it had "seen a deterioration of trading conditions on the high street and [...]
Blood on the shop floor as warm weather means high street retailers suffer worst Christmas performance since 2008, BDO says January 8, 2016 Retailers hoping for a last minute Christmas sales rush were bitterly disappointed, as figures suggest it was the worst festive period since 2008. According to BDO’s monthly high street sales tracker, retailers suffered a 5.3 per cent drop in year-on-year sales for December – the worst monthly results in seven years. No retail sub-sector survived unscathed. Sales of [...]
Without proper e-commerce investment, Steve Rowe risks making Marks & Spencer fade into obscurity January 8, 2016 Ahead of Christmas, UBS analysts predicted that the retail winners would be those with the strongest online offering. As sales results from the holiday period get reported, the analysts are being proven right, with the most e-commerce and mobile-friendly retailers coming top of the pile in the festive fight. This trend claimed it’s first victim this week, with the [...]
With Marks and Spencer’s CEO Marc Bolland bowing out, odds shorten on the City’s retail boss departures January 7, 2016 So M&S boss Marc Bolland has finally stepped down, after years of pressure – but who thought his departure would be revealed just seven days into the New Year? At the very start of this week The Capitalist brought you odds on The 2016 Sack Race, including the 4/5 that was available on Marks’ Dutch [...]
Racing betting preview: Portrait King can clean up in muddy Welsh Grand National January 7, 2016 It is going to be touch and go whether Saturday's Welsh Grand National (1.45pm) card at Chepstow goes ahead. Last month’s meeting had to be abandoned due to a waterlogged track and Mother Nature is doing her best to spoil the party again. If it does get the green light, though, there are going to be two [...]
FA Cup betting preview: In-form Tottenham to outfox fading Leicester January 7, 2016 Premier League high-flyers Tottenham and Leicester go head to head in the FA Cup on Sunday in one of the ties of the third round. It’s a different atmosphere from their cup meeting last year, which ended in a shock victory for then-top flight strugglers Leicester. A Foxes win would certainly be no surprise this time [...]
Bitcoin price soars past $450 on the back of China turbulence January 7, 2016 Bitcoin is having a roaring start to 2016 so far. While the pound has fallen to a five-year low against the dollar amid another turbulent day in China, bitcoin has benefited from the drama to go on a tear to $450 and beyond, hitting its highest point since Christmas. The cryptocurrency started the day at [...]
Frazer Thompson of Chapel Down: Why I’m crowdfunding again January 7, 2016 The crowdfunding industry isn’t old enough to have veterans, but it does have experienced players. Frazer Thompson, the chief executive of Chapel Down, is now on his second campaign, raising £1m in return for 5.88 per cent equity on Seedrs to fund a new, state-of-the-art brewery in which the firm will make its Curious Brew beer [...]