Pizza Express boss brushes off closure rumours while restaurants get revamp
The boss of Pizza Express in the UK has denied rumours that it will be the next Italian chain to shutter restaurants amid the casual dining crisis.
Business
Nearly 1,000 pubs vanish amid cost pressures and rate increases
Almost 1,000 pubs vanished from communities in Britain last year, as the industry was hit by intense cost pressures and business rate increases.
AO World founder condemns Brexit costs as ‘wasted’ money
The founder and boss of online retailer AO World has condemned the group’s hefty bill for no-deal Brexit planning as “wasted” money after revealing £15 million of stockpiling efforts.
Paul Hollywood bakery sets sights on US food-to-go and Far East amid expansion
The bakery group behind Paul Hollywood’s bread range has revealed plans to gobble up a slice of the US food-to-go market and also has the Far East in its sights after securing investment to expand.
Royal Bank of Scotland bosses braced for AGM
Royal Bank of Scotland executives will be in the firing line next week when they are expected to be grilled by shareholders over pension perks for top bosses at the lender’s annual meeting.
FTSE 100 edges down ahead of long weekend
The FTSE 100 struggled for direction on Thursday as traders eyed up the long Easter weekend in a day of thin trading.
Debenhams chief executive Sergio Bucher bows out of top job
The boss of Debenhams will leave the company following its pre-pack administration, it has been announced.
Chrysaor snaps up North Sea oil assets in £2bn deal
Energy firm ConocoPhillips is to sell its exploration and production assets in the North Sea to Chrysaor for 2.68 billion US dollars (£2 billion).
MG Rover creditors receive £5.2m from car maker’s liquidator
Unsecured creditors to collapsed car maker MG Rover are to receive a further £5.2 million from the group’s liquidator PwC.
Funding Circle revenue jumps in first quarter
Funding Circle has reported a surge in first-quarter revenue, driven by a spike in loans under management.
Intu secures investment for Derby shopping centre to reduce debts
Under-pressure shopping centre operator Intu has sold a 50% stake in its Derby shopping centre to investment firm Cale Street for £186 million.
Moneysupermarket shares higher on energy price cap boost
Moneysupermarket shares have jumped as the price comparison group hailed a “strong” first quarter as the energy price cap drove customers to the service.
Rentokil Initial pushes ahead with buying spree as revenues rise
Rentokil Initial has reiterated plans to spend millions on acquisitions this year, after it got a boost from buying sprees during the first quarter.
Unilever growth driven by emerging markets while Europe remains slow
Marmite maker Unilever saw rising sales driven by success in emerging markets during the first quarter, but Europe remained slow.
Competition watchdog calls for shake-up of audit market
The competition watchdog has called for a major shake-up at Britain’s big four auditing firms, but stopped short of recommending they be broken up.
FTSE 100 lags behind European stocks
London stocks lagged behind their European peers on Wednesday, as the FTSE 100 was held back by the mining sector and a collapse in Bunzl’s share price.
Drax investors rebel over pay and political donations
Drax has received a bloody nose from investors, who vented their anger at executive pay and political donations at the energy firm’s annual meeting.
Asos founder banks £15.3m through share sale
Asos founder Nick Robertson has cashed in £15.3 million from a share sale in the online clothing retailer.
Pendragon shares dive as loss leads to review
Shares dived at Pendragon as the car dealer announced a review into operations after it fell to an unexpected loss.
Homebase narrows losses after store closures under new owner
Homebase narrowed its losses in the second half of 2018 as a turnaround plan under new owners starts to show signs of progress.
Inflation holds steady as lower food prices offset higher fuel costs
Inflation was flat in March, as lower food prices offset higher fuel costs at the pumps.
Bunzl shares falter on growth pains
Shares in Bunzl came under selling pressure on Wednesday after the outsourcing and distribution firm posted slowing first quarter growth.
Countryside confident after solid first half
Housebuilder Countryside has posted solid set of first half figures, undeterred by the gloom stalking the housing market.
DS Smith offloads packaging businesses as part of Europac takeover
DS Smith has agreed to sell two of its packaging businesses in a £54 million deal that will appease competition regulators.
Jet2 owner expects higher profits but warns of summer Brexit uncertainty
Jet2 owner Dart Group has said its profits for last year will be higher than expected, but warned of Brexit clouds during the current year.
FTSE 100 follows European peers to six-month high
The FTSE 100 jumped to a new six-month high on Tuesday as investor sentiment improved across European markets.
RBS investors urged to reject chief executive’s £3.6m pay deal
Royal Bank of Scotland investors have been urged to vote down chief executive Ross McEwan’s £3.6 million pay packet, which has been branded “excessive”.
Inflation predicted to have risen in March amid higher fuel prices
Inflation is expected to have edged up in March, as drivers face higher costs at the pumps.
£14bn damages claim against Mastercard revived by Court of Appeal ruling
A £14 billion damages claim brought against Mastercard on behalf of millions of UK consumers has been revived by a “landmark” ruling by the Court of Appeal.
Asda accused of leaving 3,000 staff worse off amid contract changes
Asda has been accused of short-changing 3,000 supermarket staff under proposed changes to employee contracts that will see the end of paid breaks.