Panic Saturday: Consumers to splash out £1.2bn in run up to Christmas December 20, 2014 In the last Saturday before Christmas 13m shoppers are set to shell out £1.2bn, according to the Centre for Retail Research. The research claims this year's shopping bonanza will see a seven per cent rise in spending compared to last year. Consumers will be spending £2.1m every minute the equivalent of £92.31 per person. Sales [...]
North Korea offers joint probe with US over Sony hack December 20, 2014 In a new twist in the Sony hack story, North Korea has apparently extended an olive branch to US offering to help investigate the attack. The Communist state has denied any involvement with the hacker group Guardians of the Peace that threatened Sony with violence unless it pulled The Interview, a comedy film about the [...]
Sony just reversed its position on dropping The Interview after North Korea hack: Here’s what you need to know December 20, 2014 In a dramatic reversal of policy, Sony Pictures has announced that it is investigating ways to play The Interview, the North Korea comedy film starring Seth Rogan and James Franco. The company originally cancelled playing the film on 25 December following threats by a hacker group calling itself Guardians of the Peace. Sony said it [...]
Tesco’s share price is on the rise December 19, 2014 Tesco's share price is on the rise. The beleagued supermarket was up four per cent at pixel time, making it the best performing stock on the FTSE 100 so far today. That's a trend that stretches back the whole week (more or less), with the share price starting at 165.9p on Monday morning [...]
Santa rally continues as European markets rise December 19, 2014 Is this a Christmas miracle, or merely a sign of a touch of festive merriment among investors? In looks like yesterday's "Santa Rally" will continue into today, as European equities markets rose in morning trading. The FTSE 100 was up 0.7 per cent in mid-morning trading, while the Dax rose 0.3 per cent and France's Cac 40 [...]
Santa doesn’t know what to get you – Editor’s Letter December 18, 2014 It's a funny thing about Santa Claus: he knows whether you’ve been bad or good, but you still have to tell him what you want to see under the tree. Friends with children have been telling me about the latest Christmas fad: a doll designed to be posed around your home, accompanied by [...]
Tesco gets ready for busy Christmas period December 18, 2014 ACTIVITY at Tesco’s huge distribution plant in Reading yesterday boosted the retailer’s hopes for a better end to its torrid 2014. In the lead up to Christmas, 13,000 staff are working around the clock at 28 distribution centres across the UK.
Jay-Z’s GOLD and Beyonce’s perfume Rise are most popular scents December 18, 2014 It's the most modern and bizarre of phenomenons: there are many among us who want to smell like celebrities. Luckily for the pop stars, actors and sporting heroes of the world – us mere mortals don’t achieve this by sneaking into their homes and rolling in their bedsheets. Instead we buy celeb perfumes. Lots of [...]
Black Friday 2014 lifts UK retail growth to 10-year high December 18, 2014 UK retail sales growth surged to a 10-year high in November thanks to roaring trade on Black Friday weekend, when retailers offered discounts on thousands of products. Falling commodity prices and the ongoing supermarket price wars have left households better off and helped boost consumer spending. Retail sales volumes rose 1.6 per cent on the [...]
West End braced for £150m pre-Xmas spree December 18, 2014 SHOPPERS are set to splurge £150m across London’s West End stores this weekend, as they make a last minute dash for Christmas presents. The New West End Company predicts £300m will be spent on Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street over the coming five-day period.