‘Sink or swim’: Delayed update leaves UK’s £4bn open banking sector in limbo at critical moment March 29, 2023 The UK’s £4bn open banking sector faces a “sink or swim moment” as the industry awaits a crucial update on the future of the industry in the coming weeks, a lobby group has warned. Open banking, which was first rolled out by regulators in 2017 to force dominant high street lenders to open up their [...]
What next for Waitrose? Supermarket quits Planet Organic talks after John Lewis fiasco March 29, 2023 Waitrose has pulled out of secret talks to acquire a stake in rival health supermarket Planet Organic. The high-end supermarket, which is part of the John Lewis Partnership, ceased discussions late last week about a possible agreement, according to reports first published in Sky News, Sources told the outlet that the deal would have meant [...]
Next shares plummet as retailer braces investors for a ‘difficult’ year March 29, 2023 Next share price fell 7.44 per cent this morning as it assured investors that it is prepared for a “difficult” year ahead, as soaring inflation looks set to rattle the high street powerhouse. The FTSE 100 listed retailer said that it was budgeting for full price sales to be down slightly by 1.7 per cent [...]
Tech Nation in talks with Brent Hoberman’s Founders Forum as wind-down date looms March 28, 2023 Start-up quango Tech Nation said it is in talks to sell its brand to Brent Hoberman’s Founders Forum today as it prepares to wind down at the end of this month.
UK urges Israel PM Netanyahu to seek ‘long term compromise’ on reform plans as thousands strike and protest March 28, 2023 Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday announced a delay in his judicial overhaul plan, saying he wanted to give time to seek a compromise over the contentious package with his political opponents. He made the announcement after two days of large protests against the plan. “When there’s an opportunity to avoid civil war through [...]
Ocado’s ‘M&S’ magic fails to impress as shares trade down despite revenue boost March 28, 2023 Ocado said it had helped by some “M&S magic” as the grocery chain’s joint venture with the high street stalwart boosted sales by 3.6 per cent in its first quarter. Shares in the online grocer were last trading down 1.97 per cent or 8.9p at 443.20p. The up market online grocer, which posted a pre-tax [...]
Andrew Bailey: Our banks are sound – we’ll keep hiking if inflation persists March 27, 2023 The Bank of England will be forced to jack up interest rates again if incoming data shows inflation is not falling fast enough in response to the central bank’s eleven straight rate rises, Governor Andrew Bailey said today. Further pain will be needed to be borne by families and businesses if price pressures keep pinning [...]
Football and rugby are still getting head injury wrong. Is this headband the answer? March 27, 2023 It is a dark irony that football and rugby have never been more concerned with head injury and concussion, yet the approaches of both sports remain dangerously misguided. In their attempts to prevent the trickle of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and early-onset dementia cases becoming a torrent, football has experimented with a ban on heading [...]
Cracking down on law and order to win the next election March 27, 2023 Trust on crime preventions is the Conservatives’ to lose.
The Notebook: Royal Mail, Succession and a fabulous rugby charity March 27, 2023 The Notebook is a home for musings and jottings on the Square Mile and beyond. Today, it’s Andy Silvester’s turn. ANOTHER day, another indication that Royal Mail’s future has got lost in the post. Only a fortnight after being referred to the regulator for “systemic letter delivery failures” – a task you’d probably describe as [...]