Asda chair says £100m hit from budget will be 'big burden' for wages
The Guardian|November 09, 2024
Asda has warned that measures in the government's budget will be a "big burden" for the supermarket chain, costing it £100m, and could prevent it from raising wages or hiring as many staff as it struggles to turn around falling sales.
Joanna Partridge

The company's warning yesterday came as other UK retailers' share prices took a hit as stock market investors continue to digest the implications of the changes to employers' national insurance contributions (NICs) announced in Rachel Reeves's first budget as chancellor.

Marks & Spencer (-4.8%), JD Sports (-2.6%) and Tesco (-1%) were among the fallers on the FTSE 100, pulling it down to a three-month low. On the FTSE 250 index of smaller companies, the share prices of the bakery chain Greggs (-6%) and the pub group Mitchells & Butlers (-7.7%) also fell.

The share price of the prison contractor Serco dropped nearly 10% yesterday, making it the biggest faller on the FTSE 250, after it told investors changes to employer NICs will cost it about £20m a year. Serco's share price was also affected by its announcement that it had a key contract with the Australian government's Department of Home Affairs to provide onshore immigration detention facilities and services.

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The Guardian

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The Guardian

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The Guardian

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Joe Biden blocked a $14.9bn (£12bn) bid by Japan's Nippon Steel for US Steel yesterday, citing concerns the deal could hurt national security and following through on a pledge to keep the company domestically owned as he prepares to depart the White House.

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The Guardian

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The Guardian

Profits at GB News owner's hedge fund plunge 64%

Profits at the hedge fund co-founded by the GB News and Spectator owner Sir Paul Marshall plunged by almost two-thirds last year, resulting in significantly reduced payouts for its partners.

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Call to stick to tougher green targets amid record EV sales
The Guardian

Call to stick to tougher green targets amid record EV sales

Carmakers sold a record number of electric cars in the UK last year, prompting environmental groups to urge the government to stick to tougher green targets even as the industry argues they are unsustainable.

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Handbags and watches help take Thailand PM's declared worth to £322m
The Guardian

Handbags and watches help take Thailand PM's declared worth to £322m

Thailand's prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has declared £322m in assets, including a collection of 217 designer handbags and 75 luxury watches in submissions on her wealth to a government body.

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1 min  |
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