Sandwich or Confectionery? M&S strawberry sandwich raises VAT questions June 26, 2025 M&S has jumped on the bandwagon of the viral Japanese strawberry sando by launching its own, but the treat has raised the old familiar question about VAT
Are the wheels falling off the Bitcoin treasury play? June 26, 2025 What do a London-listed web designer, a spinal health researcher and a metals miner all have in common? Hint: They also have this in common with an AI-powered business consultancy and a Utah-based oil and gas producer. Figured it out? The answer: In the past few days, they have all adopted what they call a [...]
Retail is now the most distressed sector in Europe June 26, 2025 Distress in the retail and consumer goods sector has reached its highest level since the financial crisis as geopolitical and economic volatility continue to erode businesses. The downturn has been driven by a combination of high interest rates, cost inflation and low consumer demand, with the latter a particular strain on UK businesses, according to [...]
City sends an SOS to fix London markets ‘before it’s too late’ June 26, 2025 Fears over the health of the City’s stock market have been laid bare after trading platform IG became the latest firm to sound the alarm over the “crisis unfolding” on the London bourse. The FTSE 250 firm has launched a “Save our Stock market” initiative – aptly dubbed the SOS campaign – which serves as [...]
‘Bold’ new plans for Barbican area submitted June 25, 2025 Plans have been submitted to redevelop 1 Silk Street, featuring a public plaza at the Barbican Centre’s main entrance and a retail arcade. The proposal seeks to turn the existing building, which is currently occupied by Linklaters but set to become unlettable due to tightening energy efficiency standards, into a “long-term, sustainable” site. “We’re pleased [...]
Liontrust profit slides after billions more outflows June 25, 2025 Profit at Liontrust slid by more than a quarter after the fund manager suffered billions more in outflows. The London-based business reported an adjusted pre-tax profit of £48.3m for the year to end March 2025, a drop of 28 per cent compared to last year. Liontrust saw nearly £5bn in outflows over the period, though [...]
How effective procurement technology can improve employee retention June 25, 2025 With many organisations facing a battle to attract and retain talented staff, it’s important that they are not frustrated in their ability to do their jobs by cumbersome procurement technology. Unemployment in the UK remains low, standing at 4.4 per cent in the three months to February 2025, according to government data. But this only [...]
FTSE 100 held back by Shell and BP as pound hits three-year high June 24, 2025 The FTSE 100 edged up and the pound hit a new high as investors flocked back to risk on Tuesday, but London’s blue-chip index’s rebound was held back by the falling price of oil. The UK’s flagship index nudged up 0.3 per cent in early trading to around 8,7883. But significant gains were held back [...]
HSBC’s return-to-office plans risk boss’ cost-cutting ambitions June 23, 2025 HSBC’s cost-cutting agenda is set to face a major disruption as the lender faces a shortfall of desks in its office move. The banking juggernaut has been reported to be mulling a return-to-office mandate that would force employees back into the office for at least three days a week. This comes as the bank is [...]
Howl like a wolf and imitate monkeys and this new London spa June 20, 2025 At new London spa Shoreditch &Soul, strangers laugh like wolves in a 40-person sauna. Could this be London’s most joyful answer to the wellness boom? One of my favourite TV quotes comes from Samantha in an early Sex and the City episode: “You can’t swing a Fendi purse without knocking over five losers.” I recycle [...]