FCA calls on credit raters to boost checks amid unaffordable loan fears November 22, 2022 The UK’s financial watchdog has called on credit rating firms to boost their credit checks on customers today amid fears that lenders are dishing out loans to borrowers based on patchy information.
Hunt hopes for an uneasy peace between the markets, voters and his own party November 21, 2022 At the dispatch box, Jeremy Hunt opted to forgo the traditional Budget day whisky when he delivered the Autumn Statement. Given the task he was facing, you could forgive him for having a drink. Burgeoning estimates of the fiscal black hole were well trailed by a Treasury desperate to manage expectations. The final figure was [...]
UK assets in focus this week November 16, 2022 This week’s focus in markets apart from the US’s weak inflation print last week is on Sterling and the FTSE in the wake of a raft of economic data points, as well as the new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn statement on Thursday the 17th. UK inflation this morning came in at a level not seen [...]
Of dice and men: How Ian Livingstone conquered the nerd universe November 11, 2022 In a leafy enclave of West London, Ian Livingstone is balanced precariously upon a chair in his study, grasping for a top-shelf box filled with incredibly rare figurines. The legs of the chair creak in protest, and there is a moment when I fear I may be responsible for the untimely death of the man [...]
Exclusive: Spirits set for double digit tax rise in industry’s largest duty hike since 1643 November 11, 2022 Distillers have warned that they’re being squeezed to the bone following the government’s decision to scrap the alcohol duty freeze. With massive increases in the cost of living, a tax increase of almost 16 per cent is set to hit consumers in the pocket just before Christmas. New industry analysis shows that the potential hike, [...]
JD Wetherspoon sales lift as budget chain ‘one of few winners’ amid economic crunch November 9, 2022 JD Wetherspoon posted buoyant sales for the first quarter, although it said demand had softened slightly in October. Shares dropped by as much as eight per cent, after the company admitted October trading had been slightly slower than expected. Like-for-like sales were 9.6 per cent higher than the same period last year, with the pub [...]
Exclusive: Laybuy eyes profit as customer spend surges to £64m November 9, 2022 Buy-now pay-later firm Laybuy said it was on track to hit profitability this year as it reported a 32 per cent surge in the amount of cash it brings in per customer.
Government must investigate energy pricing for businesses, urges hospitality body November 7, 2022 The boss of one of the country's leading hospitality bodies has urged the Government to look into energy pricing for commercial businesses.
Qatar World Cup: BrewDog slammed for ‘disingenuous’ gesture giving profits to charity November 7, 2022 BrewDog has been slammed for launching a “disingenuous” ‘anti-sponsorship’ campaign for the Qatar World Cup, donating profits to charities but continuing to show the tournament. The brand said it would show the World Cup at its outlets but “all the profits from our Lost Lager sold during the tournament going to fight human rights abuse.” [...]
Pricey embarrassment: UK employees miss out on £1.3bn in expenses to not look ‘petty’ November 4, 2022 British workers forgo claiming £1.3bn in expenses at work for fear of looking “petty” according to new research. 80 per cent miss out on unclaimed expenses amounting to around £245 a year per employee, according to Pleo. Despite the cost of living crisis biting hard for many Brits, business spending solution group Pleo found workers [...]