Are you entitled to compensation in energy bills scandal? How to check

[ Smalls businesses around the UK could be in line for payouts totalling billions of pounds from energy firms after a landmark court ruling, i has revealed. It comes after Queenie’s Casino Slots, a firm based in County Durham, recouped £14,000 from French power giant Engie in a court case at Leeds County Court over … Read more

Adidas posts first loss in 30 years and warns on US

[ HERZOGENAURACH: German sportswear giant Adidas posted its first annual loss in more than 30 years on Wednesday and warned sales in North America would fall again as sportswear retailers in the U.S. struggle with high inventories. Adidas has been battling to right itself after it cut ties with Kanye West in October 2022, suspending … Read more

UK retail sales dive in January at fastest pace in 3 years: CBI

[ LONDON: British retail sales volumes slid in January at the fastest pace for three years, according to an industry survey on Thursday which echoed weak official data published last week. The Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) monthly retail sales balance, a gauge of sales versus a year ago, fell in January to -50 from … Read more

Japan’s core inflation slows for 2nd month, takes pressure off BOJ

[ TOKYO: Japan’s core inflation stayed above the central bank’s 2% target in December but slowed for a second straight month, data showed on Friday, reinforcing expectations it will be in no hurry to phase out its massive monetary stimulus. The data, which matched median market forecasts, highlights receding inflationary pressure from raw material imports … Read more

China’s consumer prices stuck in decline, factory-gate deflation persists

[ BEIJING: China’s consumer prices extended their decline for a third month in December while factory-gate prices also fell, highlighting persistent deflationary pressures in an economy struggling to mount a solid recovery. The consumer price index (CPI) shed 0.3% in December from a year earlier, and was up 0.1% month-on-month, data from the National Bureau … Read more

Next raises profit outlook but warns of stock delays due to Red Sea attacks

[ Fashion retailer Next expects its annual profits to be higher than predicted after a bumper festive sales performance, however it has warned there could be stock delays due to the Red Sea attacks. Next, widely regarded as a high street bellwether, said it now believes full year profits will rise by £20m, or 4 … Read more

Next raises profit outlook but warns of stock delays due to Red Sea attacks

[ Fashion retailer Next expects its annual profits to be higher than predicted after a bumper festive sales performance, however it has warned there could be stock delays due to the Red Sea attacks. Next, widely regarded as a high street bellwether, said it now believes full year profits will rise by £20m, or 4 … Read more

Should I fix my energy? What experts advise as price cap set to rise

[ Households are set to pay more on their energy bills under the energy regulator’s new plans. Ofgem is proposing to charge customers on direct debits an extra £16 a year, to be paid between April 2024 and March 2025, in a bid to cover debt from customers who have struggled to pay their bills. … Read more

H&M’s Q4 sales slow slightly

[ STOCKHOLM: Swedish fashion retailer H&M on Friday reported a slightly larger-than-expected drop in September-November sales measured as the company aims to prioritise profitability. Sales measured in local currencies fell 4%, again analysts’ expectations of a 3% decline. However, the sales figure showed an improvement on the 10% fall H&M warned of for September, when … Read more