Monsoon CEO: high streets will pay the price for mishandled jobs reform March 6, 2026 Retail supports better pay and conditions for employees, but with labour costs rising and declining footfall, a poorly implemented Employment Rights Act will do harm than good, says Nick Stowe You might not have thought it, but we are seeing some of the best retail ever emerging in parts of the UK, from major shopping [...]
Rain drives shoppers off high streets in blow to retailers March 6, 2026 This year’s record wet weather has kept Brits indoors and away from the high street, in a blow to retailers as they face growing costs. Retail footfall fell by 4.5 per cent in February year on year, down from January’s 0.6 per cent decrease, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). UK retailers are sounding [...]
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Aviva’s profits surge following Direct Line acquisition March 5, 2026 Aviva’s acquisition of Direct Line in 2025 contributed £174m to operating profit for the FTSE 100 giant, as the group’s overall operating profit increased by 25 per cent to £2.2bn. The group informed shareholders that it achieved its 2026 financial targets one year early, specifically reaching its £2bn operating profit and £1.8bn Solvency II own [...]
Estate agency Foxtons says ‘government-driven’ costs harming bottom line March 5, 2026 Leading estate agency Foxtons has hit out at the “strain” caused by national insurance and minimum wage hikes as it contends with a “challenging” market. The firm said “government-driven” pressures are harming its bottom line, as revenue growth was “offset” by increased external costs. The Labour government is facing increasing pressure from business to address [...]
AlbaCore Capital Group and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Announce Infrastructure Debt Platform March 5, 2026 The infrastructure debt platform will provide scalable and sustainable access to UK and European infrastructure debt through the future launch of Investment Grade and High Yield investment strategies
Double-digit profits at Admiral as dividends rise for shareholders March 5, 2026 FTSE 100 listed insurer Admiral reported double-digit profit growth over the last financial year, as the group pivots itself toward high-tech commercial insurance. The group profit before tax rose 16 per cent to £958m – up from £827m in 2024 – as its UK motor division surpassed the £1bn profit mark. Its other UK personal [...]
Let the market fix the oil crisis March 5, 2026 The conflict in Iran is unlikely to lead to 1970s-style oil rationing, but policymakers must use price mechanisms and encourage domestic energy investment to insure against unpredictable escalations, says Andy Mayer In 1979 the Iranian Revolution sparked the ‘second oil crisis’ as the price of crude oil more than doubled to $40 per barrel. Although [...]
Pub industry ‘screaming for a reset’ amid wave of closures, says Shepherd Neame boss March 5, 2026 The beer and pub industry is “screaming for a reset”, the boss of the UK’s oldest brewer has warned, as companies brace for more venue closures under the strain of sharp tax hikes and minimum wage rises. Jonathan Neame, chief executive of Aquis-listed Shepherd Neame, which traces its roots back to 1698, said the “real [...]
Labour warned it could miss housing targets over tax burden on sector March 4, 2026 A leading construction industry body has warned the Labour government could miss its ambitious house building target as employment costs and tax burdens build pressure on the sector. The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA), which represents more than 2,000 firms providing critical machinery and expertise to the industry, told City AM Labour will fail to meet [...]