A requiem for UK equity capital markets December 14, 2024 London’s storied status as a global financial powerhouse is slipping away, and with every IPO that doesn’t materialise or company that decamps to the US, it becomes clearer that the City is in its death throes, says Owen Matthews As a former mid-cap ECM investment banker, I’ve watched with despair as the lights dim on [...]
Strathberry: Profit doubles at luxury handbag maker loved by Princess of Wales and Meghan Markle December 12, 2024 Profit more than doubled at luxury handbag maker Strathberry, which counts the Princess of Wales, Jennifer Lopez and Meghan Markle among its fans The Edinburgh-based business has reported a pre-tax profit of £3m for the 12 months to 30 April, 2024, up from the £1.3m it posted in the prior year. Newly-filed accounts with Companies [...]
In The Style cuts job as sales continue to fall ahead of stock exchange return December 12, 2024 In The Style slashed jobs in a bid to stem its losses amid continuing falling sales as its return to the London Stock Exchange edges nearer. The Manchester-headquartered fast-fashion retailer has posted a pre-tax loss of £2.6m for the year to 31 March, 2024, down from the £7.7m loss it reported in the prior 12 [...]
2025 will be a year of green shoots for the City December 12, 2024 Changing mood music should gradually shift sentiment in London’s favour – and with the fire power of pension funds 2025 could be a better year than the City has seen in a while, says Steven Fine In New York, investors are in bullish form. I met one very well-known player recently who nearly knocked me [...]
Square Mile and me: Octopus Money CEO Ruth Handcock December 12, 2024 Octopus Money CEO Ruth Handock tells us about cocktails, 10-hour job interviews and why we need more women in the City What was your first job? Washing neighbours cars inside and out for a pound at the age of 12. Followed by two years at Sainsbury’s on the checkout during sixth form. But both have [...]
Harrods: Christmas strikes set for crisis-hit department store December 10, 2024 Harrods, the crisis-hit iconic London department store, is braced for another blow as hundreds of workers voted to strike over the critical Christmas period. Employees represented by the United Voices of the World (UVW) union will walk out from 8pm on Friday, 20 December, to Sunday, 22 December, and again from 12am on Boxing Day [...]
Wembley Park developer loses over £700m December 9, 2024 The company behind the transformation of Wembley Park in London lost more than £700m during its latest financial year, it has been revealed. Quintain has reported a pre-tax loss of £721.7m for 2023, delayed accounts just filed with Companies House show. The loss comes after the business reported a pre-tax profit of £139.7m in 2022. [...]
OakNorth boss says ‘wealth creators’ leaving UK over tax hikes December 9, 2024 The co-founder and chief executive of challenger bank OakNorth has warned that “wealth creators” are fleeing the UK over tax hikes as he accused the new government of falling short on entrepreneurship. Rishi Khosla, whose start-up bank has lent more than £10bn to businesses since launching in 2015, told City AM that “even when you [...]
Inside one fund’s £20,000 bet against Fundsmith December 9, 2024 Mark Ellis, manager of the Nutshell Growth fund, is on the brink of winning £20,000 for his boss in an unusual way. Ellis spoke to City AM following the news that City grandee Michael Spencer had become chair of his firm, Nutshell Asset Management, while upping his stake in the business from 25 per cent [...]
Mike Ashley pledges ‘fresh ideas’ in bid for Boohoo board seat December 8, 2024 Frasers Group chief Mike Ashley has renewed his criticism of Boohoo’s management as he continues his bid for a seat on the struggling fashion retailer’s board. In an open letter, Ashley vowed to turn around the London-listed company, arguing that it was underperforming with “no clear strategy to halt the decline”. “As a board member, [...]