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Monday newspaper round-up: John Lewis, heat pumps, THG

(Sharecast News) - The outgoing chair of John Lewis has insisted that the retail group is "back on track" and "more fit for the future" with an improving financial position enabling it to spend money refurbishing Waitrose supermarkets and opening convenience stores. Sharon White, who will retire as chair of the John Lewis Partnership in September, said the upmarket Waitrose brand was "underrepresented in convenience" as it sought new avenues of growth. - Guardian The UK's drive to replace gas boilers with heat pumps is being stymied by a lack of consumer demand and a shortage of skilled installers to fit heat pumps where they are wanted, according to an industry survey. The most comprehensive poll of heat pump installers to date found that the biggest barrier was the low number of households choosing to get one fitted. - Guardian

Rishi Sunak's Covid start-up fund has pushed dozens of companies into liquidation in an attempt to recover taxpayer loans. The Future Fund has issued winding up petitions to 32 companies that it backed during the pandemic, according to court records. In many cases it has resulted in the business being ordered to cease trading by courts and the company wound up without the fund recouping its investment. - Telegraph

The EU has clinched last-ditch talks with Beijing over plans to impose higher tariffs on Chinese imports of electric cars amid fears of a looming tit-for-tat trade war. Trade ministers from China and the European Commission agreed to start negotiations to settle a dispute over EU plans to raise tariffs on electric vehicle imports from China to up to 48pc. - Telegraph

Burnout, toxic management and a lack of meaningful work are three of the main reasons that workers "quietly quit", according to an expert who has studied the phenomenon. Employees dubbed "quiet quitters" are so-called because they do the minimum work required in their job and do not go above and beyond in their efforts. Research from Gallup found this month that the UK's employees were among the least motivated by their work in Europe, with only 10 per cent saying that they were engaged in their job. The lack of engagement in work is estimated to cost the UK economy 11 per cent of GDP, or £257 billion annually. - The Times

The chairman of THG is on course to avoid an investor revolt at the health and beauty retail group's annual meeting against his reappointment after criticism from an activist investor. Shareholders are due to support the re-election of Lord Allen of Kensington at the company's annual meeting despite calls from Kelso Group, a small shareholder, for a "debate" about his future. - The Times

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Sunday newspaper round-up: Debt interest, Autumn Budget, RC Fornax
(Sharecast News) - Rachel Reeves has been left facing a £50bn bill as a result of higher debt interest payments following a rout in the bond market. And City exports caution that the bill could keep climbing. Hence, the Chancellor may soon have to choose between either bending her own fiscal rules, enacting tax increases or cutting spending. The rout has seen the tiny £10bn buffer left by Reeves to meet her main fiscal rule, which requires that tax revenues cover day-to-day expenditures, evaporate. - The Financial Mail on Sunday
Friday newspaper round-up: Energy bills, ticket touting, BlackRock
(Sharecast News) - The number of people in England and Wales who sought help with energy bills jumped by 20% last year, according to Citizens Advice, which assisted 60,000 households struggling with the soaring cost of gas and electricity. That number was double the figure for 2020, the national consumer advice charity said, with problems with billing being the single most common type of issue raised with its service providers. - Guardian
Thursday newspaper round-up: Job vacancies, civil servants, Darktrace
(Sharecast News) - Vacancies for permanent jobs in the UK declined at their fastest pace for four years last month, according to a new survey that adds to the gloomy economic mood. Amid febrile markets and weak economic data, the monthly jobs report from the consultancy KPMG and the recruitment firm REC shows many firms reluctant to hire. - Guardian
Wednesday newspaper round-up: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Shein, JPMorgan Chase
(Sharecast News) - The UK's advertising watchdog has banned a campaign by an online investment company predominantly targeting Muslims that featured images of euros and US dollars and the words "The United States of America" in flames alongside a call to "join the money revolution". Wahed Invest Ltd, an online investment platform, ran six posters on various Transport for London (TfL) services, including the London Underground and on buses, last September and October. - Guardian

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