Harvey Nichols profits down but weaker sterling stimulates sales December 18, 2016 A £29 million revamp of the luxury retailer’s flagship store in Knightsbridge has eaten into the store’s profits, taking them down to £2.6m in April from £5.4m the year before. Harvey Nichols has radically re-imagined its most famous London outlet, in a project that has resulted in the entire menswear section being closed for 10 [...]
Spreadbetting giant CMC Markets to consider London HQ move over FCA crackdown December 13, 2016 Spreadbetting giant CMC Markets will consider moving its HQ away from London if the City watchdog pushes ahead with a clampdown on the industry. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) last week revealed plans for stricter rules for firms selling “contract for difference” (CFD) products such as spreadbets for retail customers. Read more: Spreadbetters respond to [...]
Clamour for a quick-fire Brexit will grow if Trump abolishes Dodd-Frank December 13, 2016 Worryingly the spirit of the age is to characterise diplomatic relations as some sort of zero-sum game. As a consequence the UK urgently needs to avoid the temptation of pitching our national interest against global goals as we extricate ourselves from the EU. Ongoing harmony and goodwill between the UK and the remaining EU 27 will [...]
Asos is creating 1,500 new jobs at its Camden headquarters December 12, 2016 Asos has proven online fashion retail is still firmly en vogue – after it said it wants to create another 1,500 jobs at its Camden headquarters, and is taking another 40,000 sq ft to house them. The roles will stretch across disciplines including technology, marketing, content and retail, it said this morning. That means it [...]
This business scanning women’s feet to make heels that don’t hurt December 12, 2016 Leaving for work in the morning, a City worker will check they have their keys, wallet, and phone. And some of them will also check that they've packed their shoes. Many women in the City bring a second pair of shoes because the ones they wear in the office aren't actually suitable for walking in. It's [...]
Why this is a disqualifying offence for a value investor December 9, 2016 Some people apparently just will not be told. While past performance is no guide to the future, despite all the evidence a value-based approach outperforms over time, investors’ money is increasingly clustering in more non-value-oriented offerings – sometimes known as ‘growth’ but probably more accurately called ‘momentum’ funds. The current situation is starkly illustrated by the following [...]
Food and drink representatives want special protections for their EU workers guaranteed in Brexit negotiations December 9, 2016 Food prices will rise if EU workers employed in the food and drinks industry are forced to leave, representatives of the sector today warned. More than 30 food and drink bodies came together to call on the government to give "unambiguous reassurance" to EU workers they can stay and work in the UK after Article [...]
Mulberry profits hit by weak sterling December 8, 2016 Revenues were up in the first half of the year for luxury handbag brand Mulberry – but profits were dented by the weak pound, it said today. The Somerset-based manufacturer said revenues rose 10 per cent to £74.5m in the 26 weeks to the end of September, up from £67.8m the year before – but it [...]
Gotta catch ‘em all: how extreme collectors hunt down the world’s rarest watches December 8, 2016 In a thankfully deserted café near the river in Battersea, my acquaintance extracts an unassuming plastic shopping bag from a rucksack. From inside it, he unfurls 12 wristwatches, laying each one gently on the table; were the sole waitress present paying us any attention, she might think it a rather suspicious scene – even more [...]
TfL plans to save £800m as it sheds management layers and cuts jobs to deliver mayor’s spending ambitions December 8, 2016 Transport for London (TfL) has unveiled its five-year business plan to achieve the big investments Sadiq Khan has been announcing – and it involves trimming jobs to save £800m a year. The mayor has unveiled funding for a range of issues from £770m on London's cyclists to £200m on step-free access on the Underground, along with [...]