Hiscox profits rise despite increase in claims in first half July 29, 2019 Insurer Hiscox today said its profit for the first half of the year rose three per cent to $168m, despite a higher volume of claims compared to the same period last year. Gross written premiums increased by just under 4.9 per cent to $2.3bn (£1.8bn), equivalent to a seven per cent rise in constant currency. [...]
Mike Ashley stays silent on Sports Direct as London Stock Exchange ends trading July 26, 2019 Sports Direct was meant to deliver a delayed set of results to the City today, but trading opened and closed and the only messages to come from Mike Ashley’s retailer were three further delays. The sportswear firm failed to update the market at 7am, before telling journalists to await an update at 12pm. Read more: [...]
Confusion reigns as Sports Direct delays annual results again July 26, 2019 Sports Direct’s share price fell this morning as it delayed the release of its annual results ahead of today’s annual general meeting with shareholders. Billionaire Mike Ashley was due to release results for his company at 7am ahead of the London Stock Exchange’s open at 8am. Read more: Sports Direct shares plunge as it delays [...]
Sports Direct: What’s gone wrong for Mike Ashley? July 26, 2019 Even for an unpredictable retail tycoon like Mike Ashley, today’s strange turn of events is unprecedented. Sports Direct was set to release its full-year figures at 7am this morning, before suddenly postponing its statement and cancelling media interviews. Read more: Confusion reigns as Sports Direct delays annual results yet again With no explanation given as [...]
Retail sales decline for longest stretch in eight years July 25, 2019 Retail sales have fallen for the longest period in eight years, new research has revealed, in the latest sign of gloom on the high street. Sales volumes fell for the third consecutive month in the year to July, marking the longest decline since 2011, according to the latest CBI monthly Distributive Trades Survey. Read more: [...]
UK set to burn in record-breaking 39C heatwave today July 25, 2019 Scorching hot weather will fry the UK today, as temperatures in London and the south east are set to break records at a blistering 39C. As the UK’s three-day heatwave reaches its crescendo, the country is bracing for what may be the hottest British day on record – beating the 38C set in Kent in [...]
Commuters urged to avoid travel as scorching heat threatens chaos July 25, 2019 Commuters have been urged to avoid travel today as the high temperatures cause delays and cancellations across the London network. Southern, Southeastern, Thameslink, LNER and the London Overground have all put speed restrictions in place to reduce the chances of tracks expanding and buckling under the heat. Read more: Retailes and bar chains set to [...]
Demand for retail property in London falls as sector’s woes continue July 25, 2019 Demand for retail property continued to fall across London in the second quarter of the year and is now approaching financial crisis-level lows, according to a new survey. Read more: UK retail industry battles ‘toughest ever’ trading conditions Meanwhile, demand from overseas investors has also continued to drop as Brexit looms, showed the latest commercial [...]
The bigger they come: The amazing story of Wentworth Woodhouse, the largest home in England July 24, 2019 You’ve heard of Chatsworth, and Castle Howard, that Brideshead dream. You’ve heard of Blenheim Palace, the Duke of Marlborough’s monumental home. But what about Wentworth Woodhouse, the biggest house in England? Wentworth Woodhouse, the former seat of the Earls Fitzwilliam, could have been a house lost to history. Five miles from Rotherham, it sits in [...]
Ted Baker shares soar as Ray Kelvin considers backing buy-out July 22, 2019 Shares in Ted Baker soared this morning following reports that the luxury retailer’s founder Ray Kelvin would back a private equity buyout of the firm, months after he resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment. The retailer’s share price was up more than 15 per cent after it was reported that Kelvin had made enquiries about [...]