Reeves is right to squeeze private equity – but a sweeping capital gains hike will hurt the City, says Cavendish chair September 5, 2024 The government is right to launch a raid on the profits made by private equity bosses but a sweeping hike in capital gains and inheritance tax could suck investment out of the City, the chair of investment bank Cavendish has warned. Lisa Gordon, who chairs the London-listed broking group, urged Rachel Reeves to be “more [...]
Lloyd’s of London reports ‘superb’ first half but warns of digitisation delays September 5, 2024 Lloyd’s of London, the storied insurance market and one of the world’s largest providers of reinsurance, has reported a jump in profit today but warned its landmark digitisation project was taking “longer than expected”. Lloyd’s reported an overall profit before tax of £4.9bn in the first half of 2024, up from the figure of £3.9bn [...]
More than 750 jobs at risk as Bakkavor set to axe major UK factory September 5, 2024 More than 750 jobs are at risk at the fresh food maker Bakkavor after the London-listed group said it would close one of its North West factories. The company, which is headquartered in London, said today it was looking at axing its Wigan facility after a review revealed it would need “significant investment” to continue [...]
Genus: Animal genetics firm begins recovery after gruelling year September 5, 2024 Animal genetics specialist Genus has shown early signs of stabilising after a gruelling year during which its share price tumbled by 20 per cent. Shares in the London-listed firm nose-dived in 18 per cent in a week in February after it reported collapses in the pork price and its bovine volumes in China, one of [...]
ABF: Primark owner powers through footfall slump to deliver solid growth September 5, 2024 Primark owner Associated British Foods (ABF) has reported a “significant improvement in profitability” despite a rainy summer threatening to dampen sales. The London-listed firm, which also owns Twinings Tea and a raft of food businesses, said it expected to see increased sales across its retail, grocery and ingredients divisions during its second half ending September [...]
Eurowag: Trucking services firm’s shares jump on higher revenue while profit slides September 5, 2024 Eurowag has reported a jump in revenue for the first half of 2024, while the FTSE 250 trucking services group's profit slid and it said it still had no plans to pay a dividend three years after listing in London.
Jet2 welcomes ‘booking momentum’ as it doubles down on package holidays September 5, 2024 Budget airline and leisure group Jet2 has welcomed a late bout of” booking momentum” in July and August, and doubled down on its strategy to ramp up its package holiday offering. The Aim-listed carrier, which in July hiked its dividend after reporting record passenger numbers, said it had maintained its momentum throughout late summer in [...]
Wetherspoons pubs to make huge price cuts in VAT protest September 5, 2024 Pub giant JD Wetherspoon will make a huge cut to its prices next week in a bid to highlight what it describes as the benefit of a permanent VAT reduction in the hospitality industry. The London-listed giant, which has sites across the country, will be reducing the price of its food and drink by 7.5 [...]
Park Plaza Hotel owner refinances £150m in debt September 5, 2024 PPHE Hotel Group, the owners of Park Plaza Hotel and Holmes Hotel, has refinanced more than £150m in debt. The debt, which covers all six of its Dutch hotels, as well as debt from Holmes Hotel in London, comes from an existing loan with Aareal Bank. The original loan with Aareal was established in 2016, [...]
Currys: AI push drives laptop sales surge as retailer nabs nearly 50 per cent of UK market September 5, 2024 Tech retailer Currys has reported a strong start to the year, crediting its “early adoption” of AI products for taking almost half of the UK’s laptop market. The London-listed company, headquartered in Acton, saw its like for like sales in the UK and Ireland grow by five per cent in the 17 weeks ending August [...]