Debenhams owner could sell brands to slash debt July 14, 2026 Debenhams Group could sell off some of its brands in a bid to eliminate its £90m debt, as the fashion firm continues its turnaround. The group, which owns the eponymous former department store as well as Boohoo and Pretty Little Thing, plans to slash its debt to below the level of its pre-tax earnings and [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 recovers after oil surge dampens mood; Strikes in the Strait of Hormuz July 14, 2026 Welcome back to the Morning Wire liveblog. Oil prices are marching higher after the latest wave of military action in the Middle East following the US reinstating its blockade on imports from Iran. Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil prices – surged above $84 per barrel on Tuesday, bringing gains for the week [...]
Burnham urged to go further to fix ‘broken’ business rates July 14, 2026 Incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham must broaden his plans to reform the “broken and unsustainable” business rates system, hospitality and retail industry leaders have warned. The former mayor of Greater Manchester has already pledged to slash business rates for high street firms but a coalition of trade bodies has urged him to go further. Ros [...]
Heatwave slows retail sales but World Cup boosts online shopping July 14, 2026 June’s scorching heat slowed retail sales, but Brits opted to shop from home instead, sending online sales soaring. Total retail sales in the UK slowed from 3.7 per cent in May to 1.9 per cent in June year on year, in line with this year’s average growth rate, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). [...]
Burberry boss faces shareholder revolt over bumper £9.4m pay package July 13, 2026 Burberry is bracing for a shareholder revolt over a new pay package which could hand the fashion house’s boss nearly £4m in extra bonuses. The British fashion house, known for its iconic trench coat and checked scarves, wants to change its bonus pay structure to allow it to hand chief executive Joshua Schulman a shares [...]
London-listed firm cheers surge in demand for ‘dog wash machines’ July 13, 2026 Europe’s biggest photobooth operator has expanded into user-operated dog washing machines in a bid to recover from an Iran war hit to profit. ME Group, which operates laundry machines and photo booths across the UK and Europe, said it is rolling out hundreds of dog wash machines in a bid to drive growth. The FTSE [...]
As it happened: Choppy day for FTSE 100 after Iran closes Strait of Hormuz as strikes ramp up July 13, 2026 Welcome back to the Morning Wire liveblog. Markets are returning from the weekend to face another geopolitical shock after Iran confirmed it had closed the Strait of Hormuz once more. The narrow waterway that connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea had slowly seen a pick up in traffic [...]
Associated British Foods rises to bread battle with Warburtons July 12, 2026 Associated British Foods is taking on bread giant Warburtons with its Hovis merger. Could this be the biggest thing since sliced bread for the FTSE 100 giant? One of the London Stock Exchange’s biggest stalwarts is ditching the wardrobe and betting on the bread bin. Associated British Foods (ABF), which has been listed on the [...]
As it happened: Stocks rises as oil eases but Strait of Hormuz concerns ramp up July 10, 2026 Welcome back to the Morning Wire liveblog. Markets are set to make a loss for the week after the conflict in the Middle East returned to full-blown military action this week. The FTSE 100 has shed over one per cent and is on course to close in the red for the week, even after breaking [...]
Hugo Boss urges investors to reject £1.7bn bid from Mike Ashley’s Frasers July 9, 2026 Hugo Boss has urged its investors to reject the “inadequate” £1.7bn takeover tabled by Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group. The retail giant behind Sports Direct and House of Fraser currently owns around 26 per cent of Hugo Boss but launched a move to take full control last month. The FTSE 250 group, which was founded by [...]