Author: LoveWorld UK

Home improvement retailer Kingfisher KGF.L on Thursday reported a 17.4% jump in underlying sales over the third quarter to Oct. 31 as it continued to benefit from the popularity of do-it-yourself (DIY) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The group, which owns B&Q and Screwfix in Britain and Castorama and Brico Depot in France and other markets, said underlying, or like-for-like, sales growth slowed to 12.6% in its fourth quarter so far to Nov. 14, largely reflecting the impact of more recent lockdown measures. The pandemic has meant people are spending more time at home, have fewer leisure options and are traveling less. “Our…

A frustrated Lionel Messi said he is tired of being blamed for problems at Barcelona after he was accused by Antoine Griezmann’s former agent of making life difficult for the French striker at the La Liga club. Eric Olhats had accused Messi of having too much control at the club, saying his “reign of terror” had made life difficult for Griezmann to adapt since his arrival last year. Messi returned to Barcelona from international duty with Argentina on Wednesday when he was accosted by reporters at the airport. “The truth is that I’m a little tired of always being the…

 Royal Mail RMG.L raised its full-year revenue forecast on Thursday as it gained from the surge in online shopping spurred by coronavirus lockdowns, while warning it was still struggling with the costs of social distancing and its loss-making letters business. The company said it now expects revenue to be 380 million to 580 million pounds higher year-on-year and that its main UK operation could break even if it hit the top end of that forecast. The company, Britain’s state-owned postal monopoly until its privatisation in 2013, said pre-tax profit dropped to 17 million pounds for the six months ended Sept. 27 from…

Several thousand people banging saucepans and blowing whistles gathered in central Berlin on Wednesday to protest against Angela Merkel’s plans to give her government powers to enforce restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus. Germany’s lower and upper houses of parliament are due to pass laws later on Wednesday which could allow the government to impose restrictions on social contact, rules on mask-wearing, drinking alcohol in public, shutting shops and stopping sports events. Although most Germans accept the latest “lockdown light” to tackle a second wave of the coronavirus, critics say the law gives the government too much…

West Ham United are losing 2 million pounds a match with spectators barred from attending games amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Premier League club’s vice-chair Karren Brady has said. Fans have not been allowed to attend matches since England’s professional game restarted in June, leaving clubs in the lurch and lower league sides requiring a financial rescue package from the top flight. “It’s fatal for everybody. West Ham is losing 2 million pounds a match in lost ticket revenue and corporate revenue. Some clubs are losing as much as 10 million pounds a match,” Brady told the BBC. “You talk…

Sparkling Spain crushed hapless Germany 6-0 at home on Tuesday to storm into the final four of the Nations League in style as forward Ferran Torres scored a first career hat-trick. Germany were powerless to stop Luis Enrique’s relentless side as the visitors suffered their worst defeat in a competitive game and the most humiliating since losing by the same scoreline against Austria in a friendly in 1931. Alvaro Morata, Ferran and Rodri gave Luis Enrique’s side a 3-0 halftime lead, while Ferran struck again early in the second half and completed his treble with a classy finish. Substitute Mikel…

British insurer RSA RSA.L is backing a 7.2 billion pound cash offer from Canada’s Intact Financial IFC.TO and Denmark’s Tryg TRYG.CO in one of Europe’s biggest financial takeover bids this year. Insurers have become an attractive proposition since the coronavirus crisis despite reputational damage from disputes over business interruption claims, industry sources say. Home-working has led to fewer claims on home and motor insurance while commercial insurance rates have risen sharply. RSA’s directors backed the Intact-Tryg bid unanimously and recommended that shareholders vote in favour of the consortium’s offer, the company said on Wednesday, having first flagged the approach early this month. Best known in Britain…

Britain will ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030, five years earlier than previously planned, as part of what Prime Minister Boris Johnson is casting as a “green revolution” to cut emissions to net zero by 2050. Johnson, who is grappling with Europe’s most deadly COVID-19 crisis, Brexit trade negotiations and the departure of his most senior adviser, wants to underscore his green credentials as part of what he hopes will be a reset for his government. “Now is the time to plan for a green recovery with high-skilled jobs that give people the…

Tesla Inc TSLA.O is set to join the S&P 500 in December, a major win for Chief Executive Elon Musk that boosted the electric car maker’s shares 14% on Monday in anticipation of a $51 billion (£39 billion) trade by index funds adjusting their holdings. S&P Dow Jones Indices announced that the company would join the S&P 500 index .SPX prior to the opening of trading on Dec. 21, potentially in two tranches making it easier for investment funds to digest. “(Tesla) will be one of the largest weight additions to the S&P 500 in the last decade, and consequently will generate one of…

Airbnb Inc’s initial public offering (IPO) registration showed on Monday that the home rental startup turned a profit in the third quarter despite the COVID-19 pandemic, as it gears up for one of the most anticipated stock market debuts in recent years. The filing, published ahead of Airbnb’s anticipated stock market debut in December, showed a dramatic recovery in its fortunes, after the coronavirus outbreak dragged down its core home rental business during the first half of the year. The slump forced it to lay off 25% of its workforce in May, suspend marketing activities for the year and seek…