MPs are questioning the UK’s preparedness for border controls after Brexit, due to be introduced next week. They argue that any scaling back in its plans would represent a six-month delay of their long-awaited implementation. After it was revealed that physical inspections of plant and food products may be drastically reduced due to concerns about […]

The post MPs demand clarity on border checks for EU food and plant products after Brexit appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Meta shares fell 15% on Wall Street when it opened on Thursday. This wiped out $190bn from the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. Investors reacted after a promise to increase spending for artificial intelligence. Mark Zuckerberg (founder and CEO of Meta) said in a Wednesday conference call that the company’s spending on AI technology […]

The post Investors react to plans to increase AI spending by reducing Meta value by $190bn appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

The World Bank said that a serious increase in tensions in the Middle East could push the oil price to $100 (£80) per barrel, and reverse the recent decline in global inflation. The Washington-based organization said that the recent drop in commodity prices was levelling off before the recent missile attacks by Iran and Israel, […]

The post World Bank warns that oil prices could reach $100 per barrel if the conflict in the Middle East worsens. appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Tata Steel rejected a union plan to keep a blast-furnace open at the Port Talbot Steelworks. This ended any hope of avoiding up to 2,800 job cuts. On Thursday, unions in London met with the company to plead with them not to proceed with their proposals that will end the ability to produce steel from […]

The post Tata Steel rejects union’s plan to save jobs, keep Port Talbot furnace operating appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

BHP proposed to buy rival Anglo American for £31bn, a deal that sparked a backlash by the South African Government and major shareholders. BHP, an Australian company, announced on Thursday it would acquire Anglo in a stock-for-stock deal. This will make BHP the largest copper producer in the world. Copper is a critical metal for […]

The post BHP’s bid of £31bn for Anglo American is met with ire by South Africa and its shareholders appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Emmanuel Macron warned that the EU faces a “mortal threat” from the economic decline, the rise of illiberalism, and the return to war due to Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine. In a address delivered at the Sorbonne University, on Thursday, French President Francois Hollande painted a sometimes dark picture of the challenges that Europe […]

The post Emmanuel Macron: Europe faces a’mortal threat’ appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Canary Wharf Group has lost more than £900mn in value as a result of a £553mn loan deal. The developer and manager for the London Docklands estate, owned by Brookfield and Qatar Investment Authority, reported on Thursday a 14.7% annual decline in the value its property holdings. This will amount to £6.8bn (£6.6bn) in 2023. […]

The post Canary Wharf offices lost £900mn in value appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Microsoft’s cloud services sales surpassed analysts’ expectations, as the demand for this high-profile technology is challenging the company’s ability to keep up. The Seattle-based company, which is a bellwether of the rapidly growing AI industry that generates new products, reported Thursday revenue and earnings above analyst expectations for the three months ending March 31. It […]

The post Microsoft’s cloud revenue is boosted by AI appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Alphabet announced a 15 percent increase in revenue for its first quarter. It also announced its first ever dividend of 20 cents per share, along with a $70 billion stock buyback. This was boosted by an increase in earnings across all its business lines. Google’s parent, Alphabet, reported a revenue increase of $80.5bn over $69.8bn […]

The post Alphabet to surpass $2tn valuation after announcing first dividend appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

The British car industry saw its production fall by over a quarter in the last month, as production lines were retooled for electric vehicles. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) figures, the number of vehicles built has fallen to 59 467. This is a 27pc drop compared to a previous year. […]

The post Electric car pivots trigger a drop in UK auto production appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

The losses at British supercar manufacturer McLaren have more than doubled in 2023 to a record £873m due to production delays and a decline in sales. The GT manufacturer’s losses rose by 160pc, and its revenues dropped from £627.8m down to £465.9m in 2023. McLaren’s decision not to sell two popular models in China was […]

The post McLaren’s loss more than doubles to £873m due to sales decline appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Perrier has been asked by the French government to stop using one well “as an extra precaution”. Perrier was ordered to destroy 2 million bottles of water following the discovery of bacteria “of faecal source” in one of their wells located in Gard in south France. Nestle claims that “several hundred pallets worth” of bottles […]

The post Perrier destroys 2 million bottles of water following a ‘fecal discovery’ appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Hipgnosis Songs Fund is at the center of a bidding war after Apollo-backed US Investment Group Concord beat a rival bid from Blackstone, raising their own offer to $1.5bn. Blackstone over the weekend presented a proposal to its board of directors to purchase the music rights group at $1.24 in cash per share to try […]

The post Concord wins the bidding war against Blackstone for Hipgnosis appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

According to a recent analysis, the valuation of some of London’s biggest listed companies could double if they moved to New York. This highlights the benefits for companies who are considering moving their listings from the UK. AJ Bell’s funds platform found that Shell, Diageo, and British American Tobacco would see their market cap increase […]

The post London’s large firms could double their valuations if they move to New York appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Many job candidates have been thrown by the nerves when an employer asks a question that they didn’t expect. The John Lewis Partnership has taken steps to ensure that it does not miss out on any excellent employees because they are unable to perform well in formal interviews. Instead of bombarding candidates with “gotcha” type […]

The post John Lewis releases interview questions for job candidates appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm Shop in the Cotswolds is a magnet for Jeremy Clarkson enthusiasts who line up the parking lot each week to buy the products inside. Customers can now order online and in some Amazon Fresh shops throughout the UK, and avoid the long queues. Previously, customers could only buy products from […]

The post Amazon Fresh launches Jeremy Clarkson’s Farm Shop appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Reckitt-Benckiser reported better-than-expected volumes and sales, while reassurances regarding litigation affecting its premature baby formula in the United States also helped to lift the shares of one of the largest consumer goods companies in the world. The group’s sales grew by 1.5% in the first three months, compared to the City forecast of a drop […]

The post Reckitt shares rise on higher-than-expected Sales appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

In the first quarter of this year, the increased costs and competition in deposits and mortgages slashed the profits at Lloyds Banking Group. The pre-tax profit at Britain’s largest domestic lender fell by 28 percent to £1.63bn compared to a year ago, the clearest indication yet that the bank industry is losing the benefit of […]

The post Competition for mortgages and deposits has impacted on the profits of Lloyds appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Michael O’Leary, the chief executive of Ryanair, has stated that if it cannot hire foreign air stewards then they will have to cancel a planned expansion in UK flights. Mr O’Leary warned British workers that they no longer wanted to be cabin crew and attacked the “insane rules” that were imposed after Brexit that prevent […]

The post Let us hire foreign cabin crew, says Ryanair boss appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Coffee chain shakes up its top team after feeling the heat of its customers Pret a Manger’s new chairman has vowed that the company will reduce its debt. This comes amid a shakeup in the boardroom, which has seen its founder return to “reaffirming” its values. Konrad Meyer who became chairman of Pret last week […]

The post Pret founder returns in the face of pandemic debt appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

City analysts warn that Burberry faces a takeover after it lost a fifth of its worth since the beginning of the year. A profit warning by Burberry’s Paris-listed competitor Kering which owns Gucci triggered a fall in the shares of the British fashion brand on Wednesday. Burberry’s shares fell by 2.5pc, meaning that the company […]

The post Burberry shares plunged, making it a target for takeover. appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX agreed to purchase a 10% stake in an electronics company founded 47 years ago in the garage of a professor. Filtronic, a County Durham-based company, saw its shares rise by more than 50% after it announced a “strategic deal” with SpaceX. Filtonic’s relationship with SpaceX is deepening, since the UK-based company provides […]

The post Elon Musk’s SpaceX invested in a British engineering company that was started in a professor’s garage appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

In its most recent warning, the Bank of England found that some banks were unable to quantify the exposure they have to private equity. The industry, which is worth $8tn, could pose a threat to the financial system as a whole. Rebecca Jackson, BoE regulator, said Tuesday that banks should stress-test their exposure regularly but […]

The post Bank of England warns lenders about private equity risks appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Retailer completes largest acquisition to date by purchasing Alabama-based chain JD Sports has reversed the trend where UK companies are falling victim to American buyers. They have struck a $1.1bn deal (£900m), to buy a US sportswear retailer. The trainers’ group has acquired the Alabama-based Hibbetts chain, which sells basketball shoes by Nike and Adidas […]

The post JD Sports signs $1.1 billion deal to expand in US appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Thames Water plans to pay out £2bn as dividends over the next 10 years despite fears of the company’s demise. In a revised plan of business submitted to the regulator Ofwat by the bosses, they said that they planned to continue rewarding shareholders despite financial pressures pushing it towards bankruptcy. Thames Water has buried figures […]

The post Thames Water plans to pay out £2bn in dividends to shareholders despite the threat of collapse appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

The shipping company that is responsible for the collapse of the Baltimore Bridge wants to reduce its liability from $3bn to $43m (£2.41bn). It will do this by relying on a law dating back to before the US Civil War. Baltimore authorities are engaged in a legal battle with Singaporean owners of a container ship […]

The post Baltimore Bridge ship owner invokes pre Civil War law to limit cost appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Tesla has accelerated plans to produce a variety of cheaper vehicles as Elon Musk’s electric vehicle manufacturer attempts to compete with a wave Chinese manufacturers. Production will begin next year. The company has said that it will “accelerate launch of new models…including more affordable models”. Tesla’s shares rose more than 5pc after-hours despite the company […]

The post Tesla accelerates the roll-out of cheaper electric vehicles appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

One of the UK’s largest bread manufacturers has warned that prices could rise as the company expects “very small” grain harvests, increasing its dependence on imports. George Weston, head of Associated British Foods, which owns Kingsmill, Ryvita, Twinings Tea, Dorset Cereals, and the discount fashion retailer Primark said that the group has not raised its […]

The post Kingsmill owner warns about price increases due to the’very little’ harvests expected in UK appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Blackpool rock is a British seaside tradition as traditional as donkeys on the beach, arcades and fair-to-middling weather. But it faces an existential danger from inferior Chinese imports that are cheap. Ten rock makers signed a letter to warn of an “immediate and grave challenge” to their industry that could threaten the lives of employees […]

The post Blackpool’s rockers fear for the future of seaside tradition appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

The UK stock exchange hit a new record on Tuesday as investors hoped for interest rate reductions and a calming of geopolitical tensions. The FTSE index of blue chip stocks listed in London reached 8,076 on Tuesday. This is higher than the previous high of 8,047 points in February 2023. It ended Monday at , […]

The post FTSE 100 reaches record high amid rising shares amid hope of interest rate reduction appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

After the Bank of England chief economist warned against reducing interest rates too early and said that inflation had to be squeezed from the economy, the prospects of an interest rate cut this summer have diminished. Huw Pill expressed concern that, after a survey indicated strong sales in the private sector during the past month, […]

The post Bank of England chief economist dampens summer interest rate cut hopes appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

In response to the “uncertainty” in the market, at least five major lenders raised their rates on fixed mortgages on Tuesday. This increased pressure on those who are looking to buy a home or remortgage. Barclays, HSBC (part of Yorkshire Building Society), NatWest, Accord mortgages and Leeds building societies have all increased the price of […]

The post Leading UK lenders raise fixed-rate mortgage deals amid ‘market uncertainty’ appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Off the coast of Scotland, the world’s largest floating offshore wind farm will be constructed to power North Sea platforms that pump fossil fuels into the UK. Green Volt will consist of 35 wind turbines that will generate 560MW renewable energy. The investment is expected to be around £3bn. This power will replace current diesel […]

The post The world’s largest floating wind farm will be built just off the Scottish coast appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Indermit Gil says that tax burdens are reaching record levels, and the state is bloated. According to the World Bank’s chief economist, Britain’s bloated government has caused the country to look more like France rather than America. This trend is harming the economic growth. Indermit Gil said that a recent rise in public spending has […]

The post Chief economist of the World Bank says that Britain’s stagnation is similar to France. appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Asda will raise more than £2.6bn in order to refinance part of its debt after the UK supermarket revealed results that showed adjusted profits rose by about a quarter. The third largest supermarket in Britain has been saddled with high debt levels since the billionaire Issa Brothers bought it with TDR, a private equity firm, […]

The post Asda wants to raise £2.6bn in order to refinance its debt burden appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Elliott Management, a US hedge fund, has bought the bonds of the troubled British utility Thames Water in an attempt to bet the markets are too pessimistic about the losses investors might have to bear. Elliott has built up a position on the bonds of the heavily indebted water firm at a discounted price to […]

The post Elliott Management, a hedge fund, buys Thames Water bonds appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

The FTSE 100 reached a new high on Monday, as the rising expectation of UK interest rate reductions weakened sterling. This also boosted London corporate valuations. The blue-chip index in Britain rose by 1.6 percent to 8,023.9, surpassing its previous high of 8,014.3 set in February 2011. The dollar’s recent gains over the pound fueled […]

The post FTSE 100 closes on record high after sterling falls appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group refused to let the Financial Reporting Council publish the main findings of an investigation into the retailer’s most recent annual report. Frasers has been involved in corporate governance disputes for many years. The company has refused to give the regulator consent to release a case summary after “substantive investigations” were conducted […]

The post Frasers prevents regulator from publishing key findings appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

A fund in the United States that offers “public access” to private technology has seen its value soar amid investor fervor for its unlisted investments. Investors clamoring for exposure to the fund’s private holdings such as Elon Musk’s SpaceX and OpenAI (the developer of ChatGPT) have boosted the fortunes in stark contrast to the floundering […]

The post Investors rush to SpaceX, OpenAI and Destiny shares appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Where is Selfridges second largest store? “Is it in Birmingham, or Manchester?” asked one of Central Group’s executive directors. Central Group is the Thai conglomerate which co-owns this historic department store chain. It is a strange question to ask to a journalist, especially when it comes from a board member who wants to tighten their […]

The post Middle East and Chinese investors are at Selfridges appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Hornby has seen a drop in sales due to delays in deliveries caused by shipping attacks in the Red Sea. Margate-based model trains and collectibles said that sales fell 8 percent in the final quarter of their financial year, ending March 31, as compared to a year earlier. The decline in deliveries was partially due […]

The post Hornby sales are down after Houthis block Red Sea cargo appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Tyman is the latest London listed company to be acquired by an overseas competitor after accepting an offer of £788million from an American rival. Quanex Building Products, a FTSE 250 company that supplies parts for windows and doors, said it was best to offer Tyman shareholders a cash-and-shares deal. This would give them “a significant […]

The post Tyman accepts Quanex’s offer of £788m in its latest overseas takeover appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

A leading fund manager said that it might take a bid to buy a large UK blue-chip company to awaken investors to the value of the London stock market, which is oversold. Nick Train, a well-known stock picker, once said: “Sometimes, you need to have a cathartic experience in order to change the tide.” Train, […]

The post Investors say that a large bid could save London appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Mobico’s shares, which own National Express, fell to their lowest ever price on Monday due to a profit warning, a sudden departure of its finance chief, and reassurances that debt levels would remain high for some time. City analysts stated that Mobico’s update “provides many reasons for concern”, as the stock fell another 6p or […]

The post Mobico, the owner of National Express, flashes its hazard light to get investors off. appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Bank of England warns that mounting pressure on the £6.5 trillion (£6.5 billion) private equity sector could lead to a crunch, which would cause banks to suffer large losses and trigger a crisis in the real economy. Regulators are increasing their scrutiny of the private-equity market, amid concerns that the sharp rise in interest rates […]

The post Bank of England raises alarm over private equity sector appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

It was a time when you felt that Foxtons, the London estate agency, owned London. In the noughties its distinctive dark green Mini Coopers with yellow trim were a common sight, zipping through Notting Hill or Clapham, while passengers sat in the back. Opening a branch in an “up-and-coming” area such as Brixton was seen […]

The post Foxtons is going to sell after cleaning up its act? appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

The family-owned Estrella Damm, which is a leading producer of Spanish lager in Britain, has invested €60 million in the construction of a modern brewery in Bedford. Estrella is being produced outside of the Iberian Peninsula for the first time in its 150 year history. The firm chose the UK to compete with rival locations […]

The post Estrella Damm opens its first British brewery in Bedford appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Daniel Kretinsky, however, was not one of those people. He had his work on his mind as he stretched out on a lounger on holiday. The “Czech Sphinx”, who was on holiday, picked up the phone and dialed Keith Williams. He then made a £3.1billion bid to buy a 500 year-old British institution. Williams, the […]

The post Royal Mail investor slams ‘raider Kretinsky’ over £3bn Takeover appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

The Bank of England is more likely to delay cutting interest rates later in the year if inflation falls slower than expected. This is due, in part, to the higher fuel prices. According to the Office for National Statistics, the pace of growth in consumer prices in the UK fell from 3.4% to 3.2 percent […]

The post The disappointment of a 3.2% inflation rate as the hopes for rate reductions fade appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Electric car sales have dropped sharply in Germany, as concern grows across the continent about zero-emission cars. According to the latest figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (the trade body), sales of electric vehicles in Germany, Europe’s biggest market, dropped by 29 percent year-over-year in march. In the European Union as a whole, the […]

The post The German electric car market is stagnant appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

After months of turmoil, the British music royalties fund Hipgnosis has agreed to be taken over by a rival music and theatrical rights company for $1.4bn. The Concord Chorus agreement, which offers Hipgnosis’ shareholders a premium of 32% over Thursday’s $1.16 per share share price, could end the uncertainty surrounding the future of this FTSE […]

The post Concord Chorus and UK music investor Hipgnosis reach agreement on £1.1bn purchase appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

EasyJet said that it has reduced its winter losses to at least £50m, and is confident about a record-breaking summer despite increased fuel costs and the loss of £40m due to the Middle East war. In a trading update released before the half-year results, the airline stated that it expected pre-tax losses between £340m to […]

The post EasyJet reduces winter losses despite cancellations due to Israel-Gaza conflict appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Nestle has rejected investor proposals that would force the world’s biggest consumer goods company, Nestle, to reduce high levels of sugar, salt and fats in their food and beverages. At its annual meeting held on Thursday, 88% of shareholders voted in favor of the multinational with headquarters in Switzerland. Only 11% of shareholders voted against […]

The post Nestle, KitKat’s owner, fights back against the push to reduce unhealthy products appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Coventry Building Society made a tentative offer of £780m for the Co-operative Bank to its hedge fund owners. This could be the latest takeover among UK lenders. The offer comes after nearly 4 months of exclusive discussions, which started in December. The deal would create a high-street challenger bank with nearly 5 million customers, and […]

The post Coventry Building Society offers £780m for Co-operative Bank appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

The husband of Scotland’s former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was charged with embezzlement allegations involving funds belonging to the Scottish National Party. Peter Murrell was arrested Thursday morning. He had been previously arrested in April last year, as part of Operation Branchform. This investigation has cast a dark shadow on the party which has governed […]

The post Nicola Sturgeon’s husband is charged in SNP Finance Probe appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Netflix’s crackdown against password sharing helped it to blow past Wall Street earnings expectations, but shares dropped after it announced it would stop regularly disclosing subscriber numbers. The company’s first-quarter operating income grew by 54 percent as it added 9,3 million subscribers around the world, proving the benefits of its efforts to reduce password share […]

The post Netflix profits surge after password-sharing crackdown appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Because of “significant disruption”, the UK government told its port authorities it would not “turn on critical health and security checks for EU imports once post-Brexit borders controls start this month. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs outlined a strategy to reduce the number of lorry queues at ports. They revealed that if […]

The post UK won’t ‘turn on” post-Brexit border checks of EU goods because of fear of delays appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

The second largest bank in America wrote off $1.5 Billion of bad loans during the first quarter of this year, due to mounting losses on credit cards as well as its exposure to the faltering office market. Bank of America reported that the net charge-offs of its debts they did not expect it to recover […]

The post Bank of America’s profits are hit by bad loan write-offs appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

The US has reimposed sanctions on Venezuelan oil, claiming that President Nicolas Maduro’s socialist revolution government “failed” to meet its commitments of holding a fair and free presidential election in this year. The Biden administration has taken this measure to acknowledge that the sanctions relief granted six months earlier, failed to convince Maduro of a […]

The post US sanctions oil on Venezuela for breaking election promises appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Jane Street, a secretive fast-paced firm, has flourished alongside Wall Street market makers. Documents reviewed show that the group anticipates its net trading revenue for the first quarter to be around $4.4bn. This is more than twice the amount it earned a year ago and up by 35 percent from the end 2023. These staggering […]

The post Jane Street, a high-speed trader, made $4.4bn by the start of 2024 appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

The IMF has warned Rishi Sunak to take more aggressive action to reduce the UK public debt. This puts into question the prime minister’s plans to cut national insurance. The IMF published its Fiscal Monitor on Wednesday, and listed the UK as one of four major economies that “critically needs to take policy actions to […]

The post IMF urges UK debt to be reduced appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Asos said it would take “necessary action” to turn around its fortunes, after the fast-fashion retailer’s losses in the first half widened. Sales also fell by almost a fifth. In the six-month period ending 3 March, sales were down 18% on a year-over year basis. This led to a pre-tax loss underlying of £120m. The […]

The post Asos will take the ‘necessary action’ following a 18% decline in sales appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Thames Water’s largest bondholder has supported plans to split the company as it tries to avoid collapse. The idea of splitting up Thames Water is gaining momentum in advance of the rescue plan , which bosses will unveil on Friday. Luke Hickmore is a fund manager for Abrdn and he holds Thames Water secured bonds. […]

The post Thames Water creditors back plan to split up business appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

After a backlash from media owners, including Rupert Murdoch, the restrictions on foreign state ownership in British news organizations that were designed to stop the UAE’s bid for The Telegraph will be relaxed. Officials were warned about the “unintended consequence” of new legislation if it was drawn too strictly by the lobbyists of the media […]

The post Newspaper ownership rules will be diluted appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Jeremy Hunt warned that the costs of welfare benefits were rising uncontrollably. He pledged to cut the welfare bill “further, faster and more dramatically”. In an interview, the Chancellor said that he also wanted to reduce National Insurance by 2p prior to the election. However, he stressed that he only would do so in a […]

The post Hunt promises to reduce the benefits bill ‘further’ and ‘faster’ appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Daniel Kretinsky wants to take full control of the parent company IDS, which is responsible for the postal service Royal Mail has rejected a takeover offer from billionaire Daniel Kretinsky of the Czech Republic, as the 500 year old postal service faces foreign ownership. On April 17, the board of International Distributions Services, which owns […]

The post Royal Mail is under threat of foreign ownership after a Czech billionaire’s bid to takeover the company appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

The UK franchise owner for TGI Fridays agreed to a £177mn takeover, which will allow the US chain that is known for its chicken wings, potato skins and two-for one cocktail list on London Stock Exchange. The deal is a major boost to the London Stock Exchange, which has been in decline for some time. […]

The post TGI Fridays US to be listed in London appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

The group behind Bloom & Wild saw its losses increase to over £100 million in the latest financial year, as consumers reduced their flower purchases due to a lack of cash. Online florist known for its bouquets that can fit through a standard letterbox posted a £100.6M loss before taxes for the fiscal year ending […]

The post Bloom & Wild is suffering as the consumer’s confidence dwindles. appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Wise’s fortunes have been shattered by disappointing revenue and a slowdown in growth of the volume of transactions made on its platform. Payments company announced that their fourth-quarter revenue had increased by 24 percent year-on-year, to £277.2 millions. However, this was less than what had been predicted in the City. Wise’s volume of international transactions […]

The post Wise’s growth is below expectations appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

The number of workers who are out of work due to long-term illness has risen to a new record of over 2.8 million. Since the Covid pandemic began, economic inactivity (when an individual is not working and not seeking a job) has steadily increased, driven up by the prevalence of long-term illnesses. Before the pandemic, […]

The post Long-term illness is causing a record number of people to be out of work appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Extreme weather and climate breakdown are causing low yields in farms both locally and abroad. Farmers in the UK are unable to plant important crops like potatoes, wheat or vegetables because of record rainfall. The crops that have been planted, are of poor quality. Some of them are rotting on the ground. The wet weather […]

The post Extreme weather in the UK has led to food shortages, price increases and shortages of products. appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

After 777 Partners received a last minute extension for repayment of a £160m debt, the proposed takeover Everton is now in added time. Last month, Moshiri assured supporters the deal was “in the home straight”. A source with knowledge of the negotiations said that an agreement had been reached over the money owed to the […]

The post Everton’s takeover will be delayed after 777 extends its loan repayment of £160m appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

The International Monetary Fund warned that an escalating Middle East war could lead to higher oil costs, a reversal in the recent drop in inflation, and a dampening of the optimism on the financial markets. The Washington-based IMF has said that it is closely monitoring the events in the area after Iran’s rocket strike on […]

The post Middle East conflict risks sharp rise in oil prices, says IMF appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

After a dramatic drop in Champagne sales, the owner of Moet & Chandon and Krug has a post-pandemic ‘hangover. LVMH, a French luxury goods company, saw its wine and spirits sales plummet 16pc to €1.4bn ($1.2bn), during the first quarter 2024. Dom Perignon and the company that owns it also said on Tuesday that this […]

The post The champagne bubble bursts when LVMH, owner of Moet, suffers a drop in sales appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Andrew Bailey said that UK Interest Rates will continue to fall over the next few months, amid fears that the US rate cut may be delayed due to stubborn inflation. The Bank of England Governor stated that he had “strong evidence” of continued declines in inflation, despite British job market’s resilience. At the International Monetary […]

The post Bailey says UK is on track to cut rates as US struggles with stubborn inflation appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

After a series of intense discussions with the Transport Secretary, Alstom secured a vital new order After a series of crisis talks, the largest train factory in Britain will be saved from closure after Transport Secretary Mark Harper signed off on an important new order. Alstom’s Derby plant, which has 3,000 employees and finished its […]

The post Last-minute deal prevents closure of Britain’s largest train factory appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

According to a recent report, tax havens make “glacially” slow progress on transparency measures to combat economic crime. Gibraltar, the only jurisdiction with a fully functional and public beneficial owner register in the UK, was expected to be the first to do so by 2023. The UK Anti-Corruption Coalition, Tax Justice UK and other campaign […]

The post Tax havens are ‘using all the tricks in the book’ to avoid transparency appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Apple’s lead on the global smartphone market was lost at the beginning of 2024. iPhone sales fell by 10% as Chinese competitors such as Xiaomi grew rapidly. According to International Data Corporation’s market research, Samsung has regained the position of the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer by volume in the first three months of this year. […]

The post Apple’s smartphone crown is lost to Samsung, as Chinese rivals gain more ground appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

In the two years following 2021, water companies in England & Wales have paid £2.5bn as dividends to shareholders and added £8.2bn net debt. According to the updated numbers, the 16 water monopolies paid out a combined total of £78bn as dividends between 1991 and March 2023. The research is based upon regulatory data, then […]

The post Dividends of £2.5bn paid by water companies in the last two years, as debts rise to £8.2bn appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Tesla has cut more than 10% of its staff — or at least 14,000 positions — due to a global EV slowdown, and a brutal price war. “We have. . . We made the difficult choice to reduce our global headcount by over 10 percent. . . This will allow us to be lean and […]

The post Tesla cuts 10% of its global workforce appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

The “blowout report” on retail sales for March sparked an immediate sell-off of US government bonds and sent global currency markets into a frenzy Monday. It was the latest indication that the largest economy in the world may be too hot to justify lowering interest rates. US retail sales in March were higher than expected, […]

The post Bond and currency markets are shaken by a ‘Blowout” in US retail sales appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Uniqlo has seen a surge in sales after a “banana bag” that became viral on TikTok. Newly filed accounts show that sales for the Japanese Fashion Retailer’s UK and European businesses increased by 36pc, to more than €1.3bn. (£1.1bn), in the year ending 31 August 2023. The pre-tax profit rose from €77m (£187m) to €187m. […]

The post Uniqlo’s £15 banana bag, which went viral among Gen Z, drives sales up after it goes viral appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Rishi Sunak, who was seen wearing Adidas Sambas was forced to apologize after fashionistas reacted so strongly. The Prime Minister said to LBC, “I sincerely apologize to the Samba Community.” In my defense, I’d say that I’ve been wearing Adidas trainers, including Sambas, and other brands, for many years. The trend for “terrace style” trainers […]

The post Sunak’s favourite trainers, Adidas, are now more popular than Nike appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Revolut’s UK CEO has warned that London faces the risk of losing its dominance in the fintech industry to New York. Francesca Carlesi stated on April 15, that the threat of losing talent to US companies was “the biggest threat” for Britain’s fintech industry, which has seen a decline in investment over the past few […]

The post Revolut UK’s chief says New York is a threat to London’s fintech supremacy. appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Heathrow said that forcing airline transit passengers into a scheme where visitors to the UK are required to pay a £10 is “competitive” disadvantage for the hub airports of the country. The electronic travel authorization (ETA) has become a requirement for those who enter Britain without a Visa. The cost is £10, and applicants are […]

The post Airports urge ministers to stop issuing e-visas for transit passengers, as numbers are dropping appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

The UK’s biggest investor has cautiously supported Sir Pascal Soriot’s controversial AstraZeneca pay deal, but warned that a successor shouldn’t expect the same treatment. Legal & General voted in favor of plans to increase the pharma chief’s salary to £18.7million, but stated that their support was not unconditional. L&G spokesperson said: “We’ll continue to review […]

The post L&G fires a warning shot at AstraZeneca regarding Pascal Soriot pay appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

According to CBRE, Spain is now the preferred destination for hotel investors this year. This follows a number of large hospitality deals that have been made in the south European nation. According to a real estate brokerage, the UK has fallen to second place in the list of top investors after being at the top […]

The post Spain supplants UK as top hotel investment destination amid buoyant demand appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

France and the UK have launched a dispute over fishing rights, after their trawlers had been banned from certain British waters in order to protect sensitive habitats. French diplomats brought up the issue during a meeting of EU Ministers on 19 March, and officials from the European Commission who enforce fishery and trading measures will […]

The post France criticises UK for fishing access in protected habitats in British waters appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Ministers’ decision to impose phytosanitary certifications, plant passports as well as import licences and export certificates. Next month, they will have another form to fill out for animal products, plants and herbs and must pay a “import costs for food would increase by 10% during the first year under the new regime. Phil Pluck, chief […]

The post Importers warn that new Brexit checks could cause shortages of food in the UK appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

City nerves jangle when FTSE giant feels unvalued Net zero is still decades away, but we have spent endless hours imagining what a world would be like without oil. London’s stock exchange bosses, on the other hand, face a more immediate and worrying oil crisis: namely, life without Shell. After moving to the UK two […]

The post Shell’s exit from the FTSE could cause a dam to break appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

The escalating Middle East crisis threatens to push oil prices to close to $100 per barrel. The RAC has warned that the price of petrol could reach £1.50 a litre if Iran’s attack on Israel causes crude to rise. Oil prices have already reached six-month highs, but analysts expect them to increase on Monday following […]

The post As the Middle East crisis intensifies, drivers will face a rise in petrol prices appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

The UK seized more than £3bn of bitcoins from China. The group of victims of the £5bn scam perpetrated by the Chinese company Tianjin Lantian Gerui Electronic Technology sent a letter to the Foreign Ministry in Beijing this week asking them to begin negotiations with the UK Government for the recovery of Bitcoin purchased with […]

The post Chinese victims of fraud seek to return £3bn (£3bn) in Bitcoins seized in UK appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

IQE’s chip components are in high demand due to the boom in artificial Intelligence. In an update released yesterday, the company said that its order book of wafers was growing and would likely continue to grow. This sparked a jump in share price by 28.8 percent, or 5 3/4p. IQE reported that it had increased […]

The post British chip manufacturer IQE profits from AI boom appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

After accepting a £378million offer from a Belgian group of self-storage, it appears that Lok’nStore will be the next British firm to be acquired by an overseas competitor. Shurgard’s offer works out to £11.10 per share, 15.9% higher than Lok’nStore’s closing share price on Wednesday. It is also 2.3% above the peak reached in January […]

The post Lok’nStore suggests takeover by European competitor appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Polar Capital’s figures show that investors are now putting more money back into technology funds after an eight quarter period of net redemptions. The shares of the London-listed specialist investment manager in technology jumped by a fifth following its net inflows totaling £56 million during the last quarter. Polar reported net inflows of £327million in […]

The post Polar Capital is a new-found fan of technology stocks appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

The UK’s Competition Regulator has expressed “real concern” that Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft are using their dominance of the artificial intelligence world in a manner that could harm customers. The Competition and Markets Authority is currently looking at AI Foundation Models, which are powerful digital engines for AI. These include the large language models used […]

The post The competition watchdog is’really concerned’ about the AI dominance of big tech appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

According to Allianz Trade, consumers will have to pay an additional £2bn for French cheese, Italian oil, and other foods from the continent when post Brexit border checks are implemented at the end this month. Ana Boata’s research, who is the head of economic research for the financial services firm, says that the controls will […]

The post After Brexit, Britain will be liable for a bill of £2bn on food imports from Europe appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

It can be revealed that The Telegraph could be in financial trouble if the Barclay Family regained control after the failed takeover supported by the United Arab Emirates. The family’s possible comeback could restrict the company’s access to finance due to suspicious transactions that were discovered when the company was in receivership last year by […]

The post Telegraph’s financial stability is threatened by the Barclay Family appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Sotheby’s will use works by Picasso, Warhol and Rembrandt as collateral for a bond of $500m (£399m). The auction house has bundled almost 90 loans to art collectors that are linked to artworks into a special bond. Bloomberg reported that Barclays has been canvassing investors to decide what price to charge for the bond. Sotheby’s […]

The post Sotheby’s to use Picasso, Warhol and Rembrandt paintings to back $500m bond appeared first on Stockmark.IT.

Tesco will give a “thank-you” bonus to more than 220,000 workers after the profits of the supermarket rose by nearly 160 percent last year. The largest private employer in Britain announced that it will give out around £70 million, or 1.5 percent of annual salaries, to employees who are paid hourly at its stores, Customer […]

The post Tesco employees to receive a ‘thank you bonus’ after the grocer’s profits soar appeared first on Stockmark.IT.