Sales down again for Frankie & Benny’s owner The Restaurant Group but share price rises August 31, 2018 Frankie & Benny's owner The Restaurant Group reported another slip in sales this morning, as this year's changeable weather deterred punters from eating out. But shares in the company were up 3.8 per cent in early trading as it flagged improved trading since the end of the first half of the year. The figures Like-for-like [...]
Labour MP Frank Field resigns, claiming party is ‘force for antisemitism’ August 30, 2018 Veteran MP Frank Field has resigned from Labour, claiming the party has become "a force for antisemitism in British politics". Field, the MP for Birkenhead and chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, issued a statement saying he was resigning the whip from the party he has represented since 1979 to serve as an independent MP [...]
SSE’s merger with Npower gets the provisional green light from UK competition watchdog August 30, 2018 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has given provisional clearance to the proposed merger between energy firm Npower and the retail arm of SSE. A further inquiry by the CMA was set up in April after initial concerns were raised as to whether the merger might impact the prices of standard variable tariffs (SVTs), the most [...]
Europe needs global banks, says Deutsche Bank boss Christian Sewing August 29, 2018 Deutsche Bank still aims to be a global presence in investment banking amid increased appetite for European banks to merge, according to the German lender’s chief executive. Christian Sewing today said that the bank is standing by its international operations as well as home, after pressure from some investors to cut back its once mighty [...]
Rightmove faces FTSE 100 eviction as engineering firms climb, say analysts August 29, 2018 Online estate agent Rightmove is the top contender to drop from the FTSE 100 during its reshuffle next week, analysts have predicted. A weak housing market in London and the south-east, and tough competition for rivals such as Zoopla and PurpleBricks could see the company dropped into the FTSE 250, despite year-on-year growth in revenue [...]
Aston Martin profits up as company confirms IPO August 29, 2018 Luxury car manufacturer Aston Martin has confirmed its intention to float on the London Stock Exchange in a flotation that could value it at £5bn, as the company reported increased profits in its half-year results. Read more: Aston Martin to IPO in £5bn stock market listin The figures The UK-based company revealed revenue was up [...]
British shop prices rise for first time in five years August 29, 2018 British shop prices have risen for the first time in five years as hot weather and the rising price of oil conspired to add to inflationary pressure. Shop prices increased by 0.1 per cent in August 2018 compared to last year, figures from the British Retail Consortium, prepared by Nielsen, will today show. The rate [...]
IG Design Group wraps up acquisition of US gift and decor business for £57m August 28, 2018 A British gift and wrapping companies has acquired a US firm in a move which will bolster its presence stateside. IG Design Group has agreed to buy Impact Innovations for £56.5m, creating what it says will be the world's largest consumer gift packaging business. To fund the acquisition, the London-listed Design Group has announced a [...]
Capital & Regional given the go-ahead for Walthamstow redevelopment August 28, 2018 Shopping centres owner Capital & Regional has been given the green light for a major mall development in Walthamstow today. The newly-approved plans to transform Walthamstow’s town centre includes more than 86,000 square feet (sq ft) of extended space that is set to be added to the area’s current site. According to Capital & Regional, [...]
Crowdfunding goes stateside: Seedrs strikes deal with Angelist’s Republic August 28, 2018 London-based equity crowdfunding platform Seedrs has landed a strategic partnership with US site Republic, pushing its expansion stateside. The deal means UK startups will be able to run joint crowdfunding campaigns in both countries, targeting investors on either side of the Atlantic. Republic, which is the sister company to well-known individual investor site Angelist, said the relationship [...]