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 [...]
Government’s £4.4bn gain on ‘shares tax’ puts investors on edge June 20, 2025 Investors have stepped in to provide the government with a cheap fix after receipts from the ‘share tax’ grew to £4.4bn amid fears it was harming London’s capital markets. Rachel Reeves has spoken about her desire to boost the UK’s retail investment culture as part of her drive to deliver higher growth and yield more [...]
Louis Vuitton: Sales and profit slashed amid luxury spending slowdown June 20, 2025 A continued slowdown in luxury retail spending saw sales at the UK arm of Louis Vuitton slashed by almost £90m and profit tumble during 2024, it has been revealed. The fashion powerhouse has reported sales of £488.2m for its latest financial year, down from the £575.2m it achieved in 2023. New accounts filed with Companies [...]
B&M swaps one tax haven for another June 19, 2025 B&M has revealed plans to swap Luxembourg, the European tax haven the discount retailer has been domiciled in for over a decade, with Jersey. The London-listed company, which has its operational headquarters in Liverpool, said the move would simplify its corporate and administrative structure and provide “greater flexibility for returning capital to shareholders going forward”. [...]
Holly Tucker: I was lost after leaving Not On The High Street June 19, 2025 Holly Tucker, founder of retail behemoth Not On The High Street, tells us about leaving her business and setting up anew in this week's Square Mile and Me.
Three Decades of AIM: celebrating growth, jobs and Opportunity June 19, 2025 Since 1995 AIM has helped more that 4,000 firms raise over £130bn of capital and helped launch household names like Jet2 and Fever-tree, says city minister Emma Reynolds This year marks the 30th anniversary of the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM) — a milestone that offers a moment to reflect on the transformative [...]
Mark Kleinman: Poundland buyer bargains on a revival June 19, 2025 Mark Kleinman is Sky News’ City Editor and the man who gets the Square Mile talking in his weekly City AM column Poundland buyer bargains on a revival Anyone for a bargain? Buying a chain of pound shops for a price lower than that of the goods it sells must feel like a pretty appealing deal for Gordon [...]
Smart data is a £27.8bn opportunity for the UK June 19, 2025 The launch of the Smart Data Group marks a pivotal moment in unlocking the UK’s data-driven growth, turning trusted data-sharing into a £27.8bn engine for innovation, competition, and empowered consumers, says Paul Scully The UK’s competitive edge depends on its ability to innovate. Just last week, at London Tech week, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang described [...]
TACO investors: Don’t bet too much on Trump-always-chickens-out trade June 18, 2025 Investors betting on Trump climbing down may be too optimistic, writes Hargreaves Lansdown's Susannah Streeter in today's Notebook.