THE DAILY BRIEFING

BOOM AGAIN Britain bounced back from an extremely sluggish start to the year as economic growth picked up to 0.4pc in the three months to June – although exports and business investment both slipped. Official figures show growth was just 0.1pc for the first quarter of 2018, according to the Office for National Statistics.

WATCHDOG BITES A crackdown on high-risk trading is to be extended until November by watchdogs at the European Securities and Markets Authority.

It is feared inexperienced punters are gambling on so-called contracts-for-difference which allow investors to bet on the future price of assets such as oil and shares.

STAFF RISE Investors sold shares in stockbroker Numis as it revealed annual profits are likely to drop due to the cost of a hiring spree as staff numbers grew 16pc.

BOSS QUITS Crisis- hit Swiss asset manager GAM is losing its head of compliance Natalie Baylis after a disastrous summer which saw fund manager Tim Haywood suspended over misconduct claims.

SERVICE STAKE Petrol forecourt retailer Applegreen has raised £133m in a share placing to buy a majority stake in service station operator Welcome Break.

SWEET SALES Cake decoration and ingredients business Real Good

Food Group posted a 20pc jump in sales to £129.8m in the year to March 31. Losses swelled to £25.2m from £6.2m a year earlier following major one-off costs of £10.5m.

FIT FIGURES Activewear retailer Sweaty Betty boosted revenues by 20pc last year to £ 47.9m after expanding overseas. Profits jumped to £1.3m up from £509,145.

TASTY RESULTS Restaurant group Richoux boosted revenues by 10.3pc to £5m in the 26 weeks to July 1 as losses improved from £0.9m to £0.75m. The chain has 18 restaurants under various brand names.