UK inflation rate holds steady at 1.9 per cent sending Britons’ real wages higher April 17, 2019 The UK’s headline annual inflation rate remained unchanged in March, staying at 1.9 per cent, meaning Britons’ real wages are increasing as pay growth outstrips price rises. Read more: London house price plunge drags down UK-wide growth rate Meanwhile the inflation rate including housing costs and council tax stayed at 1.8 per cent, where it [...]
Your IPO can dazzle the stock market with the right communications strategy and PR spin April 16, 2019 The initial public offering (IPO) market is revving into gear, with consumer technology stars including Uber, Airbnb, and other Silicon Valley heavyweights planning to go public this year. However, these offerings all come in the controversial wake of ride-hailing app Lyft, which raised more than $2.3bn (£1.76bn) in a seriously – 20 times – oversubscribed [...]
UK tops global ranking for top investment destinations for first time April 15, 2019 The UK has been ranked as the top investment destination in the world, knocking the US off the top spot. It is the first time the UK has taken the top spot in the rankings by professional services firm EY in the survey’s 10-year history. In 2018 the UK accounted for 10 per cent of [...]
The founder of Boxpark on making a modern market out of a shed, selling Boxfresh, and hiring a Michelin star chef April 15, 2019 For an industrial-looking shed, there’s something strangely inviting about this giant black and white box next to Wembley Stadium. Having opened its doors in December last year, this is Boxpark’s third site, and it’s also the largest, taking up 20,000 square feet of space. It’s essentially a stripped-back leisure centre – long tables are lined [...]
City Moves for 15 April 2019 – Who’s switching jobs at Herbert Smith Freehills, Trussle and Osborne Clarke? April 15, 2019 Today's City Moves includes Herbert Smith Freehills, Trussle and Osborne Clarke. Herbert Smith Freehills Herbert Smith Freehills partner Chris Bushell has been elected as the new vice-president of The London Solicitors Litigation Association (LSLA). Chris, who is also the organisation’s membership secretary, is a former member of the Junior LSLA Committee and has been actively [...]
Major companies could be exempt from joint audit rules in competition watchdog report April 14, 2019 The UK’s competition watchdog reportedly could exclude some major companies from a new rule that would require many business to appoint joint auditors. Sky News reported that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is set to publish its long awaited report into the audit sector this week. According to the report, the CMA has been [...]
LK Bennett to close 15 stores and shed 110 employees after Chinese partner buys retailer April 12, 2019 LK Bennett is set to close 15 of its 36 stores throughout the UK and Ireland, making more than 100 employees redundant in the process, after the womenswear retailer was bought by its Chinese partner. Read more: Bonmarche fights back against Philip Day's £5.7m takeover bid The sale of the company was completed late on [...]
FCA to investigate Wasps rugby club over financial statements April 12, 2019 Wasps Rugby Club is reportedly under investigation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) over whether it misled the market about its financial position. Read more: City watchdog strengthens post-Brexit ties with Australian regulator The UK's financial regulator is looking into the Premiership side's financial results from 2017 after it was revealed that the club had [...]
Sports Direct takes another swipe at Debenhams in share buyback April 11, 2019 Sports Direct took a further swipe at Debenhams this morning amid growing speculation that Mike Ashley is mulling legal action to remove the retailer’s current administrators. Read more: Mike Ashley considers legal action against Debenhams In a note to the London Stock Exchange the sportswear group announced a new share buyback programme, which it said was [...]
Softbank’s spinoff AI fund injects £1m into London identity startup Pixelpin April 11, 2019 Japanese investor SBI has led a pre-series A funding round into London startup Pixelpin through its artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain fund. SBI has plugged £1m into the Shoreditch-based startup while angel investors rounded out the investment with an additional £500,000. The financial services firm span off from mega investor Softbank in 2006. Read more: Softbank unveils $500m [...]