Business week in review
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.In profit...
Who likes a dire economy? Cut-price fashion chains for a start. Primark was buoyed by a 55 per cent profit hike to £238m in Tuesday's interim figures. But Britain is too small for George Weston, the boss of owner Associated British Foods. He is planning French Primarks, having opened 15 European stores in six months.
It was a rare week of retail good news: on Wednesday that Sports Direct's Dave Forsey is to award 2,000 staff shares worth, on average, more than £50,000.
The same day, Mike Pocock, boss of Yellow Pages-owner Hibu, paid 2,500 staff bonuses two months early, despite its eye-watering debts.
...at a loss
Nothing like a business titan dismissing public anger over tax to shake out the Monday blues. Google chairman Eric Schmidt defended the search engine's £3bn corporate tax avoidance on UK profit. The billionaire said Google was "investing heavily in Britain" by hiring more than 2,000 people. Lloyds boss Antonio Horta-Osorio said on Wednesday he was "disappointed" – we suspect something of an understatement – that Co-op has pulled a plan to buy more than 600 branches for £750m.
On Thursday, AstraZeneca's Pascal Soriot was under fire after profit fell by more than one-third.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments