FTSE 100: Early gains fade as mining stocks drag down index May 20, 2021 London’s FTSE 100 fell 0.3 per cent this morning as declining mining stocks cut out early banking gains. The blue-chip index had advanced 0.4 per cent in early trading, with home retailer Kingfisher adding 3.6 per cent after raising its first half profit outlook. But those gains were dragged down by mining stocks including Fresnillo, [...]
Watches of Switzerland eyes first £1bn year after pandemic fails to dampen desire for posh watches May 20, 2021 Appetite for posh watches and luxury jewellery has not waned during the pandemic, as Watches of Switzerland reported a group revenue increase of 18 per cent in its 2021 financial year. Luxury watches at the company – the UK’s biggest Rolex retailer – were responsible for £788.4m in revenue, while luxury jewellery pulled in £60.8m. [...]
Games Workshop pays staff £12m share bonus after impressive year May 20, 2021 Staff at Games Workshop will have received a share bonus totalling £12m this year, after lockdown restrictions and subsequent new hobbies helped profits at the games retailer soar. Games Workshop’s staff were paid £10m more in bonuses in 2020/21 than in the previous financial year. Bonuses are paid on an equal basis to each member [...]
Boohoo to link £150m bonus pot for directors to supply chain improvements May 19, 2021 Boohoo plans to link multimillion-pound bonuses for its directors with improvements in its supply chain following allegations of poor working conditions and corporate governance. The online retailer faced criticism from investors last year over its long-term incentive scheme, which could see founders and directors paid up to £150m. Boohoo has said it will now link [...]
City Moves: Who’s switching jobs in the Square Mile this week? May 19, 2021 City A.M.‘s Millie Turner provides a roundup of the most important hires and job moves across the City, every Wednesday afternoon. Email citymoves@cityam.com to be featured. Ex Co-op CEO joins Boomin’s board Property site Boomin has bagged itself a retail veteran this week, who is set to join the board as a non-executive director at its next [...]
Creativity in the kitchen drives ‘outstanding’ year at Premier Foods May 19, 2021 Creativity in the kitchen drives 'outstanding' year at Premier Foods
Dunelm sales better than expected thanks to lockdown living space upgrades May 19, 2021 Homeware’s retailer Dunelm enjoyed a better-than-expected sales lift over the tail end of the UK’s third national lockdown, the group said today, despite only being able to trade for five weeks after the 12 April easing of restrictions. Customers were able to flock to stores in mid-April after a winter lockdown, despite the reduced trading [...]
Future’s revenue surges 89 per cent with eCommerce and media lockdown boost May 19, 2021 Specialist media platform Future saw its revenue surge 89 per cent in the six months to 31 March, following growth in its eCommerce and media divisions amid global lockdowns. The group, which bought Marie Claire US earlier this month and the UK edition last year, saw its revenue lift to £272.6m from 144.3m in the [...]
Streaming giants: Amazon reportedly in talks to buy iconic MGM Studios May 18, 2021 One of the film industry’s most famous studios MGM may be about to be bagged by online retail giant Amazon for £6.35bn, according to reports. The multi-billion-dollar sale would give Amazon’s Prime streaming service access to a back catalogue of iconic content that spans nearly 100 years of film and television since the studio was [...]
Used car firm Cazoo sees revenue surge fivefold May 18, 2021 Used car firm Cazoo today said that its revenue grew nearly fivefold in the first quarter as the online dealership continues its rapid expansion. The company, which was set up in 2018, said that revenue in the first period was £113.9m, compared with £19.6m last year. The increase is the result of the firm selling [...]