There is a new theory doing the rounds.Value supermarkets such as Leeds-based Asda, Bradford-based Morrisons and market leader Tesco are going to be hit harder by the impending public sector job cuts than their upmarket rivals – Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer and John Lewis’ supermarket ope ration Waitrose. The logic is simple. More public sector workers, many of whom are on below-average [...]

SIX months after embarking on its ambitiously titled “Full Potential Review”, home shopping group Findel announced the outcome this week. Anyone expecting any radical changes at the Burley-in-Wharfedale company would have been disappointed. New chief executive Roger Siddle outlined a “back to basics” approach that had all the hallmarks of another retail turnaround specialist [...]

It’s the word of the moment: growth. Everyone wants it, but not everyone is sure where it’s coming from. “The inherent balance sheet strength and capital position of Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks provides a strong platform from which to take advantage of future growth opportunities, ” said Yorkshire Bank yesterday as it reported a 53 per cent increase in pre-tax profits to [...]

CHANCELLOR George Osborne announced today that he was making the levy on bank profits permanent, raising an extra £800m this year and £2.5bn every year.He said he wanted to make sure “banks make a fair contribution to closing the deficit”. But Mr Osborne, speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, conceded he had not yet struck a deal on limiting bankers’ bonuses – saying [...]

TYPICALLY, companies like to use Friday afternoons to bury bad news. Blackfriar has seen more than his fair share of companies sneaking out a profits warning or a “directorate change” on a Friday night, just as the City is heading home. But Blackfriar believes Chapelthorpe’s interim results, published at 3.36pm las t Friday, were buried for another reason: because of their quality. [...]