The business case for the King July 25, 2024 In a cost of living crisis, headlines suggesting that the King is set for a “£45m pay rise” funded by taxpayers are bound to rankle – but they are misleading. The monarchy is not funded out of the public purse in the ordinary sense. The money the King receives – the Sovereign Grant – is [...]
Princes: Branson and Batchelors maker returns to profit as new owner gears up for £700m takeover July 24, 2024 Food and drink group Princes swung back into the black in the year before a £700m takeover was announced, according to newly-filed documents.
The Notebook: Falling fares spell trouble for airlines while Big Tech set for monster quarter July 24, 2024 Where the City’s movers and shakers get a few things off their chest. Today, it’s Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, with the pen, talking airline stocks, Big Tech earnings season and her summer listening picks Turbulence at Ryanair, BA and Easyjet Airline stocks are having a turbulent time. Just on Monday, shares [...]
Fiscal prudence? The iron chancellor doth protest too much July 24, 2024 Rachel Reeves’ decision to expand the powers of the OBR suggests apprehension, not confidence, writes Tim Focas. Rachel Reeves has promised to be an “iron chancellor” embodying fiscal constraint and discipline. Yet, her first legislative move to enhance the powers of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) raises questions about her own confidence in living [...]
Build, Baby, Build: If you want growth, you need social housing July 24, 2024 Key workers are being priced out of renting in London, placing huge human and economic costs on the capital. By recognising the value of social housing to people and to the economy, we can make the case to build more much-needed social housing in London and create a more affordable, more inclusive city for all [...]
Carpetright: All you need to know ahead of redundancies and store closures July 23, 2024 Carpetright has become the latest household name to fall into insolvency following the likes of The Body Shop, Ted Baker and online luxury fashion retailers Matches and Farfetch earlier this year.
‘A beneficiary of recent UK economic malaise’: Pawnbrokers are still doing well. July 23, 2024 Britain’s biggest pawnbroker H&T reported strong sales in line with expectations for the first six months of the year despite improving an economic climate in the UK. The value of H&T’s pledge book, which tracks short term loans via the pawnbroker, increased by four per cent to reach £105m in the first half of the [...]
Grocers vs bargain chains: Discount competition is heating up July 23, 2024 The discount sector is crowded and competitive: Aldi, Lidl, Poundland and B&M are only a few of the retailers vying for space. The market for discount goods has been growing over the last few years, but not every company has been a winner – only a few stores have managed to attract and keep customers. [...]
LVMH-backed L Catterton, the new owner of Bicester Village is one of the world’s biggest retail investors July 22, 2024 Silver Bidco, a newly-formed Jersey-based vehicle of L Catterton, has bought Hammerson's stake in Value Retail, the owner of Bicester Village.
Brand Architekts: Skinny Tan owner inks new deals with Holland & Barrett and Boots July 22, 2024 Brand Architekts, the beauty specialist behind British brands including Skinny Tan and Super Facialist has signed new deals with big name retailers including Asda, Holland & Barrett and Boots to its distributor list, as it continues to battle "challenging" conditions.