Punch Taverns reports profits up as Pubs Code comes into force August 31, 2016 Punch Taverns' share price moved marginally higher this morning as it reported that profits were up across its pubs The figures Punch Taverns reported that it has managed to pressure profits up by four per cent across its pubs in its year end trading statement. The company also said it had completed its pub sales, [...]
House prices went up in August – but Nationwide says the outlook post-Brexit vote is “cloudy” August 31, 2016 Despite the recent Brexit vote – and changes to stamp duty rules – pouring cold water on new buyer enthusiasm, house prices picked up again in August. The Nationwide house price index for August showed prices increasing by 0.6 per cent, with annual house price growth increasing to 5.6 per cent, up from 5.2 per cent in [...]
Consumer confidence jumped up last month as shoppers refused to stay indoors during the summer heat August 31, 2016 Consumer confidence has bounced back from a post-referendum dip, with Brits determined to “carry on shopping” in August. The closely-watched GfK consumer confidence index rose by five points in August, up from minus 12 in July to minus seven – with all the measures used to compile the index going up. Respondents' confidence about the general economy improved [...]
Barclays continues to shed its non-core assets and says arrivederci to retail in Italy with sale to CheBanca! August 30, 2016 Banking giant Barclays today revealed it has completed the sale of its Italian retail network to CheBanca!, as it continues in its quest to ditch its non-core business. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank our colleagues in the Italian retail network and wish them well for the future," said Jes Staley, Barclays group chief executive. "Their [...]
Sports Direct and Debenhams will be hardest hit by Brexit, according to Canadian bank RBC – here’s why August 30, 2016 Debenhams and Sports Direct are likely to be two of the retailers hardest hit by Brexit, according to Canadian bank RBC, due to currency pressures and rising costs for the industry. The analysts predicted that disposable income in 2017 would be flat – as compared to growth of around five per cent this year – [...]
Abercrombie & Fitch hurt by fierce competition in 14th straight quarterly sales drop August 30, 2016 Fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch is the latest US chain to post disappointing results. Shares ditched almost 14 per cent in the pre-market in New York as the company revealed its 14th consecutive quarterly sales decline. It blamed the slump on lower traffic at its out-of-town stores and a drop off in tourist spending. Same-store sales fell by [...]
The boardroom and the slave: These are the actions firms need to take August 26, 2016 This autumn, executive boards should expect to see slavery and trafficking as compulsory board agenda items, with the introduction of Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act. The statement Large UK companies are required to publish an annual statement, signed by a director, detailing actions taken to eradicate modern slavery within its organisation and its [...]
City Moves for 26 August 2016 | Who’s switching jobs August 26, 2016 JLT Employee Benefits JLT Employee Benefits, a pension and benefit consultancy, has hired Tony Pike as head of sales for the investment consulting business. Tony joins with a remit to develop JLT’s investment and delegated consulting services to both new and existing JLT clients. Tony joins from Willis Towers Watson where he was head of UK sales [...]
Game over? Shares plunge at Gamestop as quarter’s releases fail to impress shoppers August 25, 2016 Shares in Gamestop have dropped dramatically in after-hours trading, after the company revealed the recent lack of big name titles had done little to entice customers. The games retailer reported net sales had fallen to $1.6bn (£1.2bn) for its second quarter, down 7.4 per cent from $1.8bn in the same period the year before, while same store [...]
Losses mount at US department store Sears as it takes another cash injection August 25, 2016 US department store Sears has posted another loss for its latest quarter, setting it on the way to its seventh consecutive year in the red. To make matters worse Sears has had to again dip into its chief executive’s hedge fund for a cash injection, helping itself to $300m (£227.4m) in debt financing from ESL Investments. Adding to the [...]