All eyes on M&S clothing – and its chief executive Steve Rowe – as the retailer unveils its latest results collection later this week January 8, 2017 Marks & Spencer's beleaguered clothing division could finally be on the up, with sales growth expected by some analysts when the high street behemoth reveals its third quarter results this week. On 12 January, M&S will reveal its third quarter to 31 December. Analysts are on average forecasting like-for-like sales growth in its clothing and home [...]
Here are five of the best alcohol-free and low alcohol beers to drink during Dry January January 5, 2017 Although you might have imagined yourself spending Dry January at the gym, cooking up healthy meals in your kitchen or proudly mastering the art of the homemade mocktail, chances are you'll find yourself in a pub at some point. Before you give in and order your standard pint, try one of the many surprisingly flavourful low or zero or [...]
British-made craft gin and English sparkling wine are now top sellers in M&S December 22, 2016 British-made craft spirits and wine are finally having their moment this year. Marks & Spencer declared British gin the spirit of Christmas 2016 after reporting more than a quarter of a million bottles of its eight new gins made in the UK have been sold following their release this autumn. Gin sales increased 150 per cent [...]
M&S chairman Robert Swannell is leaving December 13, 2016 Marks and Spencer's chairman Robert Swannell is retiring in 2017, the company announced this morning. He will continue in his role until a replacement is found. Vindi Banga, senior independent director at M&S, will be leading the search for a new chairman. Swannell said: “A year ago we chose Steve Rowe as our chief executive. Steve [...]
City Moves for 7 December 2016 | Who’s switching jobs December 7, 2016 Lee Baron Lee Baron, a specialist in property management, has promoted Mark Fitzgerald to head of property management. Having joined the firm in 2015 as a director in the property management department, Mark takes the reins from Ian Jones, who after 10 years in the role, will now be concentrating on his position as chief [...]
Oil prices shoot up as Opec agrees its first production cut since 2008 November 30, 2016 Investors piled into oil futures and related stocks yesterday evening after Opec defied expectations and revealed a deal to cut production by 1.2m barrels a day. Brent and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude prices soared as the Saudi Arabia-led cartel announced its first agreement since 2008. The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will reduce [...]
Meet the Edmond de Rothschild asset manager who launched a UK-focused fund just before the referendum (and doesn’t regret it) November 27, 2016 With the European Union referendum just two months away, April 2016 may have seemed like a bold time for a European asset manager to launch a new fund focusing exclusively on the UK – even if it looked like we were headed for a Remain vote. Shares in companies such as ITV, BT, and Marks [...]
Focus On Peckham: How it went from Only Fools fame to be the first time buyer capital of London November 25, 2016 Whatever you think about 2016, it’s been a billboard year for Peckham. Two large houses near Peckham Rye station sold £2.5m this year, a record price for the area, firmly cementing SE15’s fast-growing reputation as a desirable place to live. It’s not bad for an area that is embedded in the national psyche as the [...]
Super-premium Brockmans Gin toasts record sales for the first half of 2016 as it basks in UK gin renaissance and expands overseas November 21, 2016 Brockmans Gin has served up record sales for the first-half of 2016 as super-premium gin continues to grow in popularity both in the UK and abroad. Total revenue grew 116 per cent in the first-half of 2016 to £2.6m as the company capitalised on the growing gin renaissance in the UK where sales are expected to [...]
Bupa snaps up dentistry group Oasis for £835m from private equity house Bridgepoint November 18, 2016 Private healthcare group Bupa has announced an £835m takeover of dentistry chain Oasis from a private equity group. Bupa, advised by Barclays bankers, was said to be in competition with other private equity groups for the acquisition of Oasis, which was owned by Bridgepoint. The private equity house, advised on this deal by Moelis and [...]