http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/ Read the latest national business news. Daily updates from businesses in the UK. Reports on company performance, employment, finance and more. en-gb LDPbusiness http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/07/barclays-acutely-disappointed-by-profits-slump-96026-21488955/ Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:22:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/07/barclays-acutely-disappointed-by-profits-slump-96026-21488955/ Barclays reported an “acutely disappointing” 33% profit slump today after more hefty write-downs and warned that it expected tough conditions to continue through next year. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/07/h-samuel-owner-posts-profits-slump-96026-21488953/ Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:21:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/07/h-samuel-owner-posts-profits-slump-96026-21488953/ H Samuel and Ernest Jones owner Signet posted a further slide in sales today as the jeweller saw no let-up in tough trading conditions in the US and UK. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/07/barclays-boost-not-enough-for-the-markets-with-video-96026-21488951/ Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:19:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/07/barclays-boost-not-enough-for-the-markets-with-video-96026-21488951/ The London market failed to hold on to initial gains today, despite a boost from blue-chip banks in the wake of interim results from Barclays. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/05/government-moves-to-shore-up-northern-rock-96026-21472194/ Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:16:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/05/government-moves-to-shore-up-northern-rock-96026-21472194/ The Government took further steps to shore up Northern Rock’s balance sheet today after the lender unveiled half-year losses of almost £600 million. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/05/ftse-rallies-as-oil-prices-falls-sharply-with-video-96026-21472180/ Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:14:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/05/ftse-rallies-as-oil-prices-falls-sharply-with-video-96026-21472180/ Sharply lower oil prices helped the London market break a three-day losing streak today as the blue chip share index rallied 2.5%. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/04/hsbc-predicts-toughest-challenge-for-decades-96026-21463890/ Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:41:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/04/hsbc-predicts-toughest-challenge-for-decades-96026-21463890/ Banking giant HSBC said today that the most difficult financial markets “for several decades” had knocked more than a quarter off profits in the first half of 2008. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/04/blue-chip-shares-take-a-beating-96026-21463888/ Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:39:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/04/blue-chip-shares-take-a-beating-96026-21463888/ Blue chip stocks ended the session in negative territory today as concerns over the US economy added to HSBC’s profits gloom. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/04/united-utilities-puts-2m-into-fund-for-poor-customers-64375-21463886/ Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:36:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/04/united-utilities-puts-2m-into-fund-for-poor-customers-64375-21463886/ Water firm United Utilities is to pump an additional £2 million a year into its fund for struggling customers, it was announced today. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/01/fsa-ends-probe-into-halifax-rumours-96026-21451722/ Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:44:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/01/fsa-ends-probe-into-halifax-rumours-96026-21451722/ The City’s watchdog formally ended its inquiry today into the false market rumours which hit shares in Halifax Bank of Scotland in March. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/01/liverpool-bucks-john-lewis-s-downward-trend-96026-21451720/ Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:42:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/01/liverpool-bucks-john-lewis-s-downward-trend-96026-21451720/ Department store chain John Lewis today reported a fall in weekly sales, but said half-year figures were still better than a year earlier. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/01/ftse-ends-the-week-on-the-back-foot-with-video-96026-21451718/ Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:40:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/08/01/ftse-ends-the-week-on-the-back-foot-with-video-96026-21451718/ The FTSE 100 Index was forced onto the back foot today after stocks were dealt a late blow by poor economic news from the US. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/07/31/shell-defends-its-8bn-profits-96026-21445270/ Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:24:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/07/31/shell-defends-its-8bn-profits-96026-21445270/ The oil industry’s profits bonanza continued today after surging prices helped Royal Dutch Shell to a surplus of almost £8 billion for six months trading. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/07/31/hbos-reveals-lower-profits-96026-21445268/ Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:23:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/07/31/hbos-reveals-lower-profits-96026-21445268/ Halifax Bank of Scotland today revealed sharply lower profits and said it was concerned about rising bad debts as customers struggle with repayments. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/07/31/national-express-boosted-by-soaring-fuel-prices-96026-21445264/ Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:22:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/07/31/national-express-boosted-by-soaring-fuel-prices-96026-21445264/ Bus and trains group National Express today said it was encouraged by trading as soaring petrol prices force travellers out of their cars. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/07/31/whitbread-and-m-b-agree-asset-swap-96026-21445260/ Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:19:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/07/31/whitbread-and-m-b-agree-asset-swap-96026-21445260/ Leisure group Whitbread bolstered its Premier Inn hotel estate today by agreeing to swap assets with pubs firm Mitchells & Butlers. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/07/31/tough-day-for-unilever-after-fall-in-sales-96026-21445256/ Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:14:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/07/31/tough-day-for-unilever-after-fall-in-sales-96026-21445256/ Consumer goods giant Unilever came under pressure on the London market today as interim figures from the group revealed a fall in sales volumes. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/07/30/sales-fall-6-at-clothes-retailer-next-96026-21437403/ Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:01:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/07/30/sales-fall-6-at-clothes-retailer-next-96026-21437403/ Next, one of Liverpools largest retailers, said it remained cautious about trading prospects today after the high street chain reported a 6% fall in half-year like-for-like sales. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/07/30/admiral-warns-of-higher-prices-96026-21437400/ Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:59:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/07/30/admiral-warns-of-higher-prices-96026-21437400/ Motorists could have to get used to higher car insurance premiums, the owner of Elephant.co.uk and Diamond said today. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/07/30/credit-crunch-is-great-news-for-high-interest-lender-provident-96026-21437398/ Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:58:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/07/30/credit-crunch-is-great-news-for-high-interest-lender-provident-96026-21437398/ Consumer lender Provident Financial today said half-year profits soared by more than a third after winning new customers shunned by cautious high street lenders. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/07/30/cadbury-benefits-from-credit-crunch-comfort-eating-96026-21437396/ Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:56:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/liverpool-news/national-business-news/2008/07/30/cadbury-benefits-from-credit-crunch-comfort-eating-96026-21437396/ Dairy Milk maker Cadbury today posted a 46% leap in first-half profits and said it would take “whatever measures necessary” to combat commodity cost rises.