German fintech challenger bank N26 launches in the US July 11, 2019 German fintech giant N26 has today launched its services in the US, making it the second major European digital bank to cross the pond. Starting today in a staged rollout, the 100,000 customers on N26’s US waiting list will be invited to open an account and have full access to the bank’s app and debit card. [...]
Card Factory posts sales boost despite ‘challenging’ market conditions June 5, 2019 Card Factory has posted a modest rise in sales for the first quarter as strong performance in its range of seasonal cards helped offset tough conditions on the high street. Like-for-like sales rose 2.3 per cent in the three months to the end of April as the firm cashed in on a spike in demand [...]
Card Factory sales flat as high street footfall drops April 16, 2019 Card Factory saw sales remain flat last year as high street footfall levels dropped, the greetings card company announced this morning. The figures Card Factory’s like-for-like sales dipped 0.1 per cent while overall revenue rose 3.3 per cent to £436m in the year to the end of January 2019. Underlying earnings fell 4.9 per cent [...]
Mobile bank N26 targets UK expansion with general manager appointment March 14, 2019 European mobile bank N26 has appointed a new general manager to drive forward UK expansion as it steps up competition against rivals such as Monzo and Revolut. Former Morgan Stanley investment banker Will Sorby has joined the Berlin-based digital bank, which operates in 24 markets across Europe, following its UK launch in October last year. Read [...]
High street suffers worst February in a decade as retail woes continue March 8, 2019 Half-term holidays and unseasonably warm weather failed to boost the struggling high street as retailers suffered their worst February in a decade. In-store like-for-like sales dropped 3.7 per cent last month, marking the worst figures since 2009, according to data published by accountancy firm BDO. Read more: Quiz shares plummet on second profit warning this [...]
Aldi sales soar as Sainsbury’s slips behind rivals in supermarket shopping league March 5, 2019 Aldi and Lidl have boosted sales again, it emerged today, as the biggest supermarkets continued to shed market share to the discounters. Aldi’s sales grew by 10 per cent in the three months to the end of February compared to the same period the year before, according to figures released today by Kantar Worldpanel, a consumer insights [...]
Consumer spending growth slows and retail sales fall on Brexit fears March 4, 2019 Consumer spending growth and retail sales fell last month as households cut back on non-essential items amid fears over Brexit and the UK’s economic prospects. Clothing, department store and hotel spending all contracted in February, according to the latest monthly spend data from Barclaycard. Read more: Retail investors are sitting tight amid Brexit uncertainty Spending [...]
FTSE 100 hits fresh four-month high on US-China trade talk optimism and European banking boost February 15, 2019 The FTSE 100 ended a good week in strong fashion as optimism over the US-China trade dispute and the possibility of fresh stimulus measures for Eurozone banks boosted markets. The UK’s blue chip index rose to a fresh four-month high and closed 0.6 per cent up for the day at 7,237 points. European markets also rose as [...]
Theresa May defeated on Brexit again as anti-EU Tories desert her in Commons vote February 14, 2019 Theresa May suffered a Valentine’s Day massacre on Thursday when Conservative Brexiters helped inflict a heavy Commons defeat on the government. The Prime Minister lost the support of the European Research Group of Tories after she tried to force her party to back a plan ruling out a ‘no deal’ Brexit. While the motion was [...]
DEBATE: Is Valentine’s Day just a commercial gimmick? February 14, 2019 Is Valentine’s Day just a commercial gimmick? Beatrice Timpson, a political communications consultant, says YES. Frankly, if he turns up on Valentine’s Day without a Cards Galore “Be mine forever” teddy, a bunch of garage-forecourt-fresh coronations, and a candle reeking of potpourri, ditch him. He’s clearly not serious. He’ll run off with Audrey the au pair before [...]