FTSE 100 close: London ends week marginally up after Powell Fed speech indicates caution August 25, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 is ended the week in subdued fashion, marginally up around a crunch speech across the pond by Fed chair Jerome Powell. The capital’s premier bluechip index closed on 7,337.38 points Friday morning, up around 0.05 per cent, while the FTSE 250, which is more aligned to the domestic market, finished down 0.3 [...]
Waitrose: Supermarket gets with the times and launches £5 meal deal August 23, 2023 Upmarket grocer Waitrose has followed in the footsteps of its fellow highstreet stores and launched a meal deal offer. It will launch the British lunchtime staple, which usually consists of a sandwich, drink and snack, on the 30th of August, pricing it at £5. Waitrose has sold pre-packaged sandwiches and wraps in its stores but [...]
Public firms could be allowed to extract £50bn from staff pension schemes in bid to boost investment August 21, 2023 Public firms could be permitted to withdraw up to £50bn from staff pension schemes if government plans for a sweeping shake up of the industry’s rules go ahead. Returns on investments in government bonds – known as gilts – have seen workplace pension schemes go from being well in the red to significantly cashed up [...]
Tesco first retailer to cover VAT on period pants following industry led campaign August 20, 2023 Tesco has become the first retailer to cover the cost of VAT on its range of period pants, in the latest push from retailers to government to place the absorbent underwear in the same category as menstrual products so it can be exempt from the tax. On Monday, the ‘Big Four’ grocer will introduce a [...]
FTSE 100 live: London slow as retail sales dip and China concerns weigh UK down August 18, 2023 The FTSE 100 continued Friday in sluggish fashion as UK retail sales fell almost double the amount expected. London’s premier blue-chip index dipped as much as 0.8 per cent in early trading, slouching at 7,251.32, 0.8 per cent down by midday. Nearing market close, it fluctuated between 0.8 and one per cent with largest caller [...]
London-based at-home cancer tester teams up with digital GP to speed up diagnoses August 17, 2023 A London-based provider of diagnostic tests which allows Brits to screen for cancer at home has teamed up with a digital GP to provide faster treatment. Newfoundland, which specialises in at-home diagnostic tests, has partnered with Doctorcall, which offers tele-medicine as well as at-home GP appointments, to launch the service in London. The partnership comes [...]
Grocery price inflation drops sharply to 12.7 per cent August 15, 2023 Grocery price inflation saw its second sharpest fall since 2008, falling 2.2 percentage points to 12.7 per cent for the four weeks to 6 August, new data shows. While food prices are still rising, some goods actually became cheaper, with shoppers paying £1.50 for four pints of milk, down from £1.69 in March, and a [...]
Wilko bidders have until Wednesday to make an offer for troubled retailer August 14, 2023 Bidders for troubled retailer Wilko have reportedly been given until Wednesday to place offers for the company after collapsing into administration last week. A number of discount retailers and financial investors are considering offers for the company, and administrator PwC is seeking offers by the middle of the week, Sky News reported. Last week, the [...]
Tesco to swap cheaper product lines into convenience shops August 11, 2023 Tesco is to swap cheaper product lines into its convenience stores as shoppers battle the rising cost of living. It revealed that more than 50 everyday products in its smaller Express shops will be replaced by better priced alternatives, many from its own-brand range. The move comes as German discounter rivals Aldi and Lidl have [...]
Wilko collapses into administration, placing 12,000 jobs at risk August 10, 2023 Wilko has collapsed into administration today after the struggling high street retailer failed to find a rescuer. The 400 strong high street store has appointed PWC as administrator, after a number of talks to save the business failed to come to fruition. In a statement, chief of Wilko, Mark Jackson, said the company had been [...]