Moving markets: Five things shaping the FTSE 100 today March 18, 2024 Asian shares climb on strong Chinese data, while oil prices surge amid geopolitical tensions. Vladimir Putin wins 88 per cent of votes in an election devoid of opposition candidates. Major central banks take centre stage this week with pivotal decisions ahead.
M&S aims to launch banking and loyalty ‘superapp’ in long-term commitment to financial services March 17, 2024 Marks & Spencer (M&S) is reportedly close to a seven-year agreement with HSBC to overhaul its banking division as a financial services and loyalty "superapp".
The Power of Capitalism: It’s easy to forget just how radical Margaret Thatcher was March 17, 2024 Margaret Thatcher's radicalism changed Britain more than we recognise even today, argues Rainer Zitelmann in his latest guest essay on the power of capitalism
Shell wants to stay in the fossil fuel game as long as possible March 16, 2024 Shell altered or dropped several green commitments in an energy transition update last week
Japan funds boom as stock market hits record high March 16, 2024 The Japanese stock market reached a 34-year high last month, and investors in the Asian market are getting the best news they’ve heard in decades. The Japanese Nikkei 225 has risen 42.5 per cent over the last year, compared to the 1.2 per cent growth in the FTSE 100 over the same period. Last month, [...]
Bensons for Beds still in the red as fewer customers visit stores March 15, 2024 Bensons for Beds cut its losses as sales passed £250m during its latest financial year, new detailed accounts have revealed.
‘Death by a thousand cuts’: UK insolvencies soar 17 per cent and exceed pandemic levels March 15, 2024 The government agency said this was higher than levels seen during the pandemic "while the government support measures were in place", with things like the furlough scheme. It is also higher than pre-pandemic figures.
AI is supposed to automate paperwork, not create more March 15, 2024 While ministers are issuing press releases and creating new regulations around AI, everyone else has got a head start, says Joe Hill Everyone caught the AI bug in 2023, and politicians were no exception. When I first started working on AI as a civil servant in 2017, you couldn’t fill a meeting room to talk [...]
Demand for air quality systems helps Volution nudge up expectations for profit March 15, 2024 Covering the six months to 31 January, the firm reported a 13 per cent increase in operating profit as margins climbed from 21.1 per cent a year ago to 22.4 per cent.
Scottish Mortgage unveils £1bn share buyback programme after strong year March 15, 2024 The trust, which is the second largest in the UK, has recorded a strong performance over recent months despite a tumultuous few years before that.