Core Insights - Morrisons has reported a 3% increase in like-for-like (LFL) sales for the third quarter, marking the eleventh consecutive quarter of growth despite challenging macroeconomic conditions [1][2][4] - Total sales rose by 3.5% to £4 billion ($5.43 billion), with online sales experiencing double-digit LFL growth during the quarter [1][2] - The company achieved an additional £63 million in cost savings and aims for a total of £1 billion in savings by the end of the 2026 financial year [2][4] Financial Performance - Morrisons reduced gross debt by £261 million, bringing total debt repayment since the acquisition by CD&R to £2.7 billion, a reduction of approximately 43% from £6.2 billion to £3.5 billion [3][4] - The company has proactively extended debt maturities to 2031, indicating a focus on improving its capital structure [3] Market Position - The retailer's market share has remained stable since the beginning of the year, reflecting resilience in a competitive environment [2]

Greg Jackson has described Kraken as Octopus Energy’s ‘secret sauce’ - REUTERS/Hollie Adams Octopus Energy is to spin off its software arm, Kraken, in a blockbuster deal expected to cement the company as one of Britain’s most valuable technology businesses. The UK’s biggest energy supplier revealed plans on Thursday to fully separate the division and it is understood to have hired bankers at Goldman Sachs to find buyers for a minority stake in the business. It could be valued at as much as $10bn (£7.3bn ...

The Supreme Court has ruled that a bank’s one-time settlement (OTS) scheme cannot be invoked as a matter of right and that borrowers must strictly comply with its mandatory conditions, including upfront payment of a specified portion of dues, to avail themselves of the benefits of the scheme.Illustration: Uttam GhoshA Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and A G Masih set aside an Andhra Pradesh high court order that had directed the State Bank of India (SBI) to reconsider a borrower’s OTS application despite t ...

HSBC Private Bank has introduced a new platform called Wealth Intelligence, which is powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The platform is specifically designed for teams that interact with clients, as well as for investment advisors and product experts, to help them with market analysis and providing customised investment advice. According to the financial institution, the platform was created in-house and leverages a large language model from OpenAI. Additionally, the platform is capable of process ...

Will the Federal Reserve cut the rates in September? Market seems to have changed its view. | Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Key Takeaways The FOMC announced its first rate cut of the year by 25 bps. Crypto markets showed little reaction, with Bitcoin and Ethereum posting modest gains. Powell signaled the possibility of at least two more cuts later this year. On Tuesday, the U.S. Federal Reserve delivered its first interest rate cut of 2025, trimming the federal funds rate by 25 basis poin ...

Key Points Bill helps businesses save time and money by streamlining their bookkeeping and accounting processes. Bill has sacrificed some of its explosive revenue growth to improve its bottom line over the last couple of years, creating a more sustainable business. Bill stock is trading at an attractive valuation, and Wall Street is bullish on its prospects from here. 10 stocks we like better than Bill Holdings › Bill Holdings (NYSE: BILL) offers an expanding portfolio of software products designe ...

Key Points Opendoor's co-founders are back, and a new CEO is joining from Shopify. New leadership is focused on lowering operating expenses and prioritizing product innovation. 10 stocks we like better than Opendoor Technologies › In late June, shareholders of real estate company Opendoor Technologies (NASDAQ: OPEN) were holding a stock that was down 99% from its all-time high set back in 2021. It was a disregarded penny stock, seemingly doomed for ultimate failure. But in under three months, Open ...

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights three stocks—Walmart, Eli Lilly, and Microsoft—that have consistently increased their dividends and are expected to continue doing so, making them attractive long-term investment options. Group 1: Walmart - Walmart's current dividend yield is 0.9%, below the S&P 500 average of 1.2%, but its stock price has increased over 120% in the past five years [4] - The company raised its dividend by 13% earlier this year, marking the 52nd consecutive year of dividend increases, showcasing its strong commitment to rewarding shareholders [6] - Walmart's business model attracts both low and high-income shoppers, benefiting from strong grocery operations and growth opportunities in e-commerce and advertising [7] Group 2: Eli Lilly - Eli Lilly's dividend yield is 0.8%, with a remarkable stock price increase of around 400% over the past five years, attributed to the success of its GLP-1 drugs [9] - The company announced a 15% dividend increase last December, marking the seventh consecutive year of significant dividend growth [9] - Eli Lilly generated over $53 billion in sales over the past 12 months, a substantial increase from less than $30 billion a few years ago, indicating strong growth potential [10] Group 3: Microsoft - Microsoft has the lowest yield on the list at less than 0.7%, but its stock has risen by around 150% in the past five years [11] - The company has been increasing its dividend since the early 2000s, having more than doubled its payout in the last decade, with expectations for continued growth driven by advancements in artificial intelligence [12] - Over the last 12 months, Microsoft generated $71.6 billion in free cash flow, with dividend payments totaling $24.1 billion, indicating a strong financial position for future dividend increases [13]

Hyundai Motor said on Thursday it aims to produce more than 80% of the vehicles it sells in the U.S. in America by 2030 in response to U.S. tariff policies, as the South Korean automaker ramps up its capacity at its Georgia plant. ...

With this transaction, SMBC has become Yes Bank's largest shareholder, while SBI continues to hold a significant stake of over 10 per cent. This milestone marks the largest The completion of the acquisition also includes the appointment of two SMBC nominee directors to Yes Bank's board. This move is expected to enhance governance and foster deeper strategic collaboration between the two entities. Yes Bank, in a stock exchange filing, stated that Shinichiro Nishino and Rajeev Veeravalli Kannan have been in ...