London’s workspace occupancy ‘higher than before the pandemic’, says Argyll boss June 8, 2023 The boss of London’s oldest office provider Argyll has said he has seen “unprecedented” levels of office occupancy in the last six months, defying concerns that Covid-19 had permanently pushed Londoners toward homeworking. Speaking to City A.M. Argyll chief executive John Drover said that rates of occupancy had reached 90 per cent, with the firm [...]
FirstGroup beats profit forecasts on the back of strong demand June 8, 2023 FirstGroup saw group adjusted profit more than double this morning to £82.1m in its full year results, ahead of expectations, as increased passenger demand helped the train operator resist the impacts of industrial action. FirstGroup, who ran Transpennine Express, said its adjusted operating profit for the year ending in March came in at £161m, up [...]
Jet fuel costs keep Wizz Air loss making – but optimism for the year ahead June 8, 2023 Wizz Air saw its operating losses remain flat at €466.8m (£401.6m) in its full year results this morning, as last year’s soaring jet fuel costs pummelled the budget carrier. Total net losses were at €535.1m (£460.4m). Despite this, Wizz Air was confident about swinging to a profit later in the year, and saw a record [...]
Link chief John Howells on bank branch closures, payments and the battle for cash June 8, 2023 Link's chief John Howells says the nation can't "abandon" its cash users.
Cyber hack: BBC, BA and Boots given dark web ultimatum by Russian crime gang June 7, 2023 A cybercrime gang, thought to be Russian, has threatened some of Britain's employers with the release of employees' personal data
CBI: Rishi Sunak refuses to say business body will be back in the room June 7, 2023 The Confederation of British Industry survived a confidence vote on its future yesterday, after members voted in favour of the scandal-hit lobbying organisation’s transformation plan. However, overnight the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suggested that may not be enough for the body to be invited back into key meetings on business policy with the government. Matters [...]
UK and European firms top gloomy profit predictions to start the year – but a crunch could be coming June 6, 2023 UK and European firms shrugged off recession fears and posted fatter profit margins than investors feared in the first three months of the year, analysts at investment giant Blackrock said today.
James May: Top Gear’s future and my real relationship with Jeremy Clarkson June 6, 2023 He’s one third of the controversial team behind The Grand Tour and Top Gear. Adam Bloodworth speaks to James May about being woke, Freddie Flintoff’s accident and working with Jeremy Clarkson “I’ve put my foot down about that,” declares James May, a handful of M&Ms in hand. “I’ve had a stern word. Stop dressing me [...]
The Notebook: Victoria Scholar on stocks, China and Spiderman June 6, 2023 The notebook is a place where interesting people say interesting things. Today, it’s Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor The market mood is picking up with the S&P 500 enjoying its best week since March. The Dow surged over 2% on Friday, its biggest one-day gain since January and the Nasdaq Composite completed [...]
Investment slump amid higher interest rates risks finally sparking UK recession June 6, 2023 A mix of factors are buffeting the UK economy right now. Spending power is being crushed by high inflation eroding family finances. House prices are coming off their heady heights as sellers drop prices to source buyers amid higher mortgage rates. External demand is thinning in response to weak consumer confidence amid a global cost [...]