National Business News from nebusiness, The Journal and Evening Gazette

ASOS warns of challenging Christmas Nov 03 2011

ASOS today warned the run-up to Christmas would be challenging in the UK as retailers slash prices.Read

Online growth helps Next Nov 02 2011

High street clothing giant Next today said strong online growth had compensated for a faster decline in sales through its shops.Read

Lloyds boss 'takes temporary leave' Nov 02 2011

The boss of Lloyds Banking Group is to take temporary leave due to fatigue, sources said, as the taxpayer-backed bank fights to lift itself out of a financial mire.Read

G4S drops ISS bid Nov 01 2011

Prisons to security group G4S abandoned its audacious plan to buy Danish cleaning firm ISS today after a number of its shareholders threatened to vote down the £5.2bn deal.Read

JJB's losses increase Oct 31 2011

Troubled sportswear retailer JJB Sports warned today it faces a number of critical trading periods as it plunged even deeper into the red.Read

npower fined over complaints handling Oct 31 2011

Energy supplier npower has been fined £2m by regulator Ofgem for mishandling customer complaints.Read

Better than expected results for Barclays Oct 31 2011

Banking giant Barclays reported a better-than-expected increase in profits today as the group continued to run down its exposure to heavily indebted eurozone countries.Read

Consumer confidence dip hits Lookers Oct 28 2011

Car dealership Lookers today reported a 10% drop in private new-car sales as plummeting consumer confidence weighed on the business.Read

Broadband demand helps Virgin Media Oct 27 2011

Telecom group Virgin Media today said demand for superfast broadband and its new digital television recording service helped reverse a decline in cable customers.Read

Clinton Cards plunges into the red Oct 27 2011

Embattled retailer Clinton Cards today said plunging consumer confidence and a lack of shoppers on the high street pushed it to a £10.7m loss last year.Read

Amazon creates jobs despite profits fall Oct 26 2011

Online shopping giant Amazon today said it is to take on 1,000 new staff after it revealed a shock 73% fall in profits.Read

Smartphones boost for Everything Everywhere Oct 26 2011

Mobile phone giant Everything Everywhere today reported an increase in smartphone contracts as its overall customer numbers stabilised.Read

British American Tobacco says core brand sales rise Oct 26 2011

The world’s second largest tobacco company today said the number of smokers cutting back in the economic downturn was moderating.Read

UBS reveals profits slump Oct 25 2011

Scandal-hit UBS today admitted internal financial controls were "not effective" when alleged rogue trading took place at the bank, as it revealed the action had triggered a 39% slump in profits.Read

BP profits up again Oct 25 2011

Oil giant BP today reported profits of US$5.1bn (£3.2bn) in the three months to September, compared with $1.8bn (£1.3bn) for the same period last year.Read

Ryanair plans expansion Oct 24 2011

The boss of budget airline Ryanair outlined ambitious expansion plans today that would see the airline almost double the number of passengers and stretch its reach across Europe.Read

Thomas Cook unveils banks deal Oct 21 2011

Holidays giant Thomas Cook gave a boost to its flagging share price today by announcing a new short-term loan deal with its banks.Read

Rank reports flat sales Oct 21 2011

A winning streak for casino punters and a quieter summer at Mecca bingo halls as more people gamble online knocked sales at gaming firm Rank today.Read

Autumn heatwave boosts Spirit sales Oct 20 2011

The owner of pub chains including Chef & Brewer and Fayre & Square today revealed how the recent autumn heatwave had given a boost to sales.Read

Debenhams reveals expansion plans Oct 20 2011

The new boss of department store chain Debenhams insisted the UK high street was "alive and well" today as he announced plans to modernise a further 25 stores and open nine new outlets over the next four years, including obe in Darlington.Read

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