FTSE 100 smashes 7,000 points for first time in 14 months
London’s top index smashed through 7,000 points for the first time in nearly 14 months on Friday as miners and banks led the charge.
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ASDA APPOINTS NEW FINANCE BOSS
Primark owner to unveil sales slump after months of closures
Primark owner Associated British Foods (ABF) is set to unveil a slump in sales and profits after the high street giant was hammered by the latest coronavirus lockdown.
MusicMagpie set for £208m London stock market float
MusicMagpie has confirmed plans to float on the stock market in a deal valuing the business at around £208 million.
Many mortgage customers could be paying loyalty penalty, warns Citizens Advice
Two fifths (42%) of people whose fixed-term mortgages have ended since the start of the first lockdown in March 2020 have taken no action to switch, according to Citizens Advice.
FTSE 100 stops shy of 7,000 points in highest close for 14 months
The FTSE 100 pushed towards 7,000 points for the first time since early 2020 on Thursday, but narrowly missed out on the prize.
Economic damage from coronavirus ‘starting to appear in insolvency figures’
The economic damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic is starting to be reflected in the levels of people and businesses going financially insolvent, according to industry experts.
Naked Wines benefits from at-home drinking with strong US growth
Naked Wines made more than £150 million in the US over the last year as the company’s American market proved its most important.
Lenders expect to boost mortgage supply between now and May
Lenders expect to boost the supply of mortgages between now and the end of May, a Bank of England survey has found.
Travis Perkins takes momentum from last year into 2021
A wave of momentum that allowed builders’ merchants Travis Perkins to thrive in the second half of last year has continued into 2021, despite Covid-19 restrictions.
Ladbrokes owner Entain sees online gaming sales jump a third
Ladbrokes owner Entain said online revenues jumped by a third in the first three months of 2021 as it continued to see strong demand from punters stuck at home.
AO World bullish despite reopening of rival shops as sales surge 88%
Online electricals retailer AO World has said it expects to deliver bumper profits over the year ahead despite the reopening of high street rivals, as it revealed an 88% surge in UK sales.
One in 12 private renters ‘has received a no-fault eviction notice in past year’
One in 12 private renters in England has been given formal notice to move out without a reason since March 2020, a survey has found.
FTSE 100 outperforms peers as commodity prices rise
London’s FTSE 100 pushed higher on Wednesday after rising commodity prices lifted miners and drillers.
Property giant NewRiver eyes float of 700-strong pub group Hawthorn
Property giant NewRiver has said it has plans to float its Hawthorn business of 700 UK pubs and focus further on its retail business.
Mortgage lenders gearing up to unleash wave of 5% deposit deals on to market
Mortgage lenders are gearing up to launch a wave of ultra-low deposit deals on to the market.
British Land looks to retail parks as rent remains hit by Covid
One of the UK’s biggest commercial landlords has signalled a shift towards retail parks as it managed to collect just over half the retail rent it was owed for the last three months.
Households’ route out of coronavirus-related debt problems ‘is not yet clear’
Many households do not yet have a clear route out of debt problems triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, a charity has warned.
Rocketing Babcock pushes up FTSE 250
The smaller of London’s two biggest indexes managed to outperform its larger rival as shares in Babcock surged on Tuesday.
Land Sec collects on just two-thirds of rent bills as Covid weighs
Property company Land Sec is still owed around a third of rent due at the end of March as central London renters remained especially behind on their bills.
Recruiter Hays delivers earnings cheer as jobs market recovers
Recruiter Hays has said annual earnings are set to beat expectations as the hard-hit jobs market bounces back from the pandemic.
Retail footfall down 15% on two years ago in ‘first step’ of recovery
Total customer footfall on the day non-essential retail reopened in England was down 15% on two years ago, new figures show.
Quiz expects a boost from post-pandemic celebrations
Dress-seller Quiz has said that it expects celebrations when pandemic restrictions are slowly eased will boost demand for its products.
Nearly one in 10 adults ‘have started investing for first time during pandemic’
Nearly one in 10 (9%) adults have started investing for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, a survey has found.
JD Sports expects bumper profits rebound as restrictions ease
Retailer JD Sports Fashion has said profits are set to rebound more strongly than expected over the year ahead as stores reopen after lockdown.
One in five wealthier households ‘saved more than £10,000 over the past year’
One in five wealthier households managed to save more than £10,000 over the past year due to coronavirus restrictions curbing spending, a survey has found.
Shares in retailers struggle despite high street reopening
The fact that shops were allowed to welcome customers again for the first time in months did not boost the share prices of some of the UK’s biggest retailers.
Choice of mortgages ‘now three-quarters of what it was in March 2020’
The choice of mortgages has recovered to around three-quarters of the levels seen before the coronavirus pandemic took its toll on the market, analysis has found.
Cake Box eyes 52 new stores as sales rise despite lockdowns
Cake Box has said it is eyeing the opening of 52 new shops as it expects to deliver a jump in sales for the past year despite the pandemic.
Carers at risk of losing valuable pension credits as claims fell by 20% in 2020
Fewer people applied last year for valuable credits which could help boost their pension, figures show.