Is ESG facing an existential crisis? What could be next for sustainable investing… January 11, 2023 It’s been a rough year for ESG – Russian oil companies qualify as sufficiently environmentally and socially responsible to receive ESG funds. Sam Bank-Friedman’s bankrupted FTX crypto enterprise has a higher ESG score on ‘leadership and governance’ than Exxon/Mobil. In light of the discovery of controversial ESG fund allocation, it is vital ESG undergoes a significant [...]
Now that you’re asking where your supplies come from, we should talk. January 11, 2023 As the world faces a shortfall of both energy supplies and critical metals, difficult decisions are being made to meet the growing supply gaps without risking new dependencies on unsustainable producers or compromised geopolitical actors. Quite a problem for some; particularly for a range of European countries and firms in light of the Russian invasion [...]
Barratt: Rising mortgage costs could hit its profits as house prices slide January 11, 2023 Barratt Developments said the outlook for 2023 was ‘uncertain’ as rising mortgage costs force residential property sales down. The FTSE 100 listed house builder said demand for its homes in 2023 looks “uncertain” due to prospective home buyers shunning big ticket purchases amid a cost of living and mortgage affordability squeeze. Mortgage costs have been [...]
Strike! Ten Entertainment bucks hospitality trend with ‘record-breaking’ sales year January 11, 2023 Bowling alley operator Ten Entertainment delivered a “record-breaking” year, with sales up almost 90 per cent on 2021 and 50 per cent on pre-pandemic levels. The firm, which operates 48 bowling and social entertainment venues, reported a total sales increase of 87 per cent from 2021, in wake of the pandemic restrictions being lifted. It [...]
Sainsbury’s: Expected profits up as food shoppers splash Christmas cash but Argos bears brunt of cost of living crisis January 11, 2023 Sainsbury’s cashed in on Christmas shopping with retail sales up more than five per cent, as the supermarket giant expects its profit to be at the “upper end” of guidance. The major retailer now expects to be making close to £700m in pre-tax profit this March, despite the cost of living crisis weighing down consumer [...]
Ocado beats Google, Microsoft and Mastercard to become one of best firms to work for in Britain January 11, 2023 Food delivery tech firm Ocado beat Google, Microsoft and Mastercard to be crowned as one of the best firms to work for in the UK. In fresh data published by Glassdoor today, Bain & Company was rated Britain’s top employer, with the tech sector dominating the list, taking 21 out of 50 spots. There were [...]
Pantheon: Investment slump on Bank of England’s rate hikes will deepen UK recession January 10, 2023 The UK recession is set to be powered by businesses slashing investment due to higher interest rates squeezing their finances, City economists have warned. Finance chiefs are “despondent” amid a rapid acceleration in borrowing costs caused by the Bank of England scrambling to tame sky high inflation, Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, [...]
Majestic: Brits taste for champagne and sparkling wine in December boosts sales with second-largest festive intake ever January 10, 2023 Brits guzzled down 20 per cent more wine at Christmas than before Covid, as Majestic posted its second-highest festive intake in 40 years. The UK’s largest specialist retailer, Majestic Wine, raked in a sales increase of 21.1 per cent against 2019, with English sparkling wine proving particularly popular. Majestic reported that sales rose 0.2 per [...]
Inflation wipes out Christmas sales as Britain stumbles toward recession January 10, 2023 Inflation is forcing Brits to rein in spending to shield their finances, prompting experts today to warn of a rise in high street bankruptcies as the country stumbles into a recession. Retail sales fell in real terms over the Christmas period, when consumers tend to splash the cash on food, new clothes and decorations, according [...]
The Notebook: Victoria Scholar on defensive plays, BA’s new uniforms and Elon Musk’s fall from fortune January 10, 2023 The Notebook is a new feature for 2023, allowing the City’s biggest names to get a few thoughts off their chest. Today it’s the turn of Victoria Scholar, Head of Investment at interactive investor It has been widely reported that the UK is on the brink of recession while a third of the global economy [...]