H&T: Pawnbroker to expand high street and online presence as profits soar 31 per cent August 8, 2023 H&T, Britain’s largest pawnbroker reported a 31 per cent rise in profit before tax to £8.8m – with the pawnbroker looking to cash in on desperate times by expanding its presence. Its pledge book, which includes short-term loans linked to customers’ belongings, grew 14 per cent in the six months ending 30 June, reaching £114.6m [...]
Nanoco nears commercial production after $150m Samsung settlement August 8, 2023 Manchester-based Nanoco has said it is closer to commercial production than any other time in its history as it uses the proceeds of a legal battle with Samsung “to generate further value from its IP.” Nanoco makes cadmium-free quantum dots, a vital part of a host of anticipated technological development. In a trading update published [...]
Holiday Inn owner IHG reports revenues up almost a quarter as full recovery expected by 2025 August 8, 2023 Holiday Inn owner InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) reported a 23 per cent rise in revenues during its half year results, as the chain was bolstered by a “healthy” demand for travel. The British hotel group also said operating profit rose 27 per cent to $479m (£375m) up from $377m (£295m) in the same period last [...]
Liontrust gets green light from FCA for GAM takeover as battle with shareholders heats up August 8, 2023 Liontrust has secured the approval of the City watchdog for its proposed takeover of the ailing Swiss fund manager GAM Holdings. Liontrust described the approval as a “major step forward” in the team as it enables the fund manager to take control of GAM’s UK regulated entities. The green light from the Financial Conduct Authority [...]
Data attacks set to enter new era under ‘FraudGPT’, warn cybersecurity execs August 8, 2023 A new breed of malicious AI models are “heralding an era of AI-enabled data attacks” on businesses, Darktrace VP of strategic cyber AI Nicole Carignan has warned. Speaking to Morning Wire, Carnigan said data attacks will become “faster and harder to defend against in the next few years” as new AI systems make attacks more [...]
Government will have to be ‘brave’ in the face of local opposition to meet net zero goals, former energy head warns August 8, 2023 The government will have to be "brave" in the face of local opposition to its electrification plans, a former head of energy has warned.
Ban fossil fuel alternatives to meet green hydrogen goals, says investment boss August 8, 2023 The government will need to consider banning grey hydrogen if it wants to ramp up cleaner alternatives, the boss of a leading hydrogen fund has said.
Taylor Swift helps Brits shake it off with entertainment spree but it’s a cruel summer for retailers August 8, 2023 Taylor Swift tickets, which went on sale in July, have powered a double-digit increase in entertainment spending so far this summer
Retail investors poised to spend near £100m on Oxford Street this year August 7, 2023 Retail investment in central London is expected to exceed £1bn this year, with up to a tenth of that set to be spent on Oxford Street, raising fresh hope for the future of the London shopping destination. Some £810m was splurged on retail investments across London in the first half of the year, new figures [...]
City minister slams British investors ‘defunding’ UK defence giants like BAE August 7, 2023 City minister Andrew Griffith has slammed UK investors’ decision to move away from the country’s top defence firms such as BAE Systems. According to data from the London Stock Exchange, reported by the Financial Times, fund managers based in the UK have cut their holdings in defence firms, including BAE Systems and Qinetiq, by around [...]