Brexit, Billionaires Bonuses & Bitcoin

NEXT XMAS SALES SLUMP

Fashion chain Next is set to reveal a nightmare before Christmas.

Stockbroker Numis reckons Next’s overall sales fell 0.5% in the two months to December 24, with high street takings tumbling but online up.

The firm will be the first to report its festive figures next week.

But rising costs, a wage squeeze, waning consumer confidence and the snow before Christmas mean it will be a mixed picture for retailers.

Analysts are forecasting a near 10% dive in Next’s profits for the year to the end of January, partly due to poor buying decisions.

The firm’s share price is down 14% since October, but remains up over the year. Budget carrier Wizz Air has signed a more than £13billion deal with Airbus for 146 new aircraft. The agreement will enable Wizz Air to renew its existing fleet, provide additional capacity for further growth and offer lower fares, the company said. The aircraft will be delivered between 2021 and 2026. Wizz Air recently announced plans to bolster its operations at Luton Airport by adding five new routes, four extra Airbus A320s and 150 jobs. Construction giant Balfour Beatty is to bank £62million by selling another 7.5% stake in Connect Plus, the company which operates and maintains the M25 motorway.

PUB QUIZ ANSWERS 1) The Caspian Sea 2) Neymar 3) Leo 4) George Canning, 119 days in 1817 5) The Grand Old Duke of York

IT’S been another busy year in the business world, with plenty of twists and turns along the way. Take our Quiz of the Year to test your knowledge on the highlights of 2017...

Which celebrity chef blamed Brexit when he announced plans to close six restaurants in January? A) Gordon Ramsay B) Marco Pierre White C) Jamie Oliver

What’s the name of the current Business Secretary? A) Philip Hammond B) Sajid Javid C) Greg Clark

What was the name of the ransomware attack that hit the NHS in May? A) WannaCry B) WannaWeep C) WannaFear

Who was named the world’s richest person in July? A) Mark Zuckerberg

(Facebook) B) Jeff Bezos

(Amazon) C) Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway)

John Lewis slashed its staff bonus – given as a share of their salary – to the lowest level since the 1950s this year. What was it? A) 6% B) 7% C) 8% Who is the chief executive of Tesco? A) Mike Coupe B) Dave Lewis C) David Potts When this year did the Bank of England raise its base rate to 0.5%? A) September B) October C) November

In June, the EU fined Google a record amount for abusing its power by promoting its own online shopping comparison service ahead of rivals. How much was the penalty? A) £2.1million B) £2.1billion C) £21billion

2017 marked 10 years since the credit crunch erupted. How much, according to the Office for National Statistics, has been paid out in banker bonuses since then? A) Nearly £128billion B) Nearly £252billion C) Nearly £530billion Shamed tycoon Sir Philip Green caused outrage after being photographed showering partygoers with what in August? A) Water B) Money C) Champagne What toy firm announced plans in September to axe 1,400 jobs? A) Lego B) Hasbro C) Mattel

The Financial Conduct Authority has set a deadline for lodging PPI compensation claims. When is it? A) March 29, 2018 B) August 29, 2019 C) February 29, 2020

British Gas lost how many customers between June 30 and the end of October? A) 22,000 B) 510,000 C) 823,000

Which bank boss warned that virtual currency Bitcoin was set to “blow up”? A) Jamie Dimon

(JP Morgan) B) Jes Staley (Barclays) C) Antonio Horta-Osorio

(Lloyds)

Thomas Cook has warned that Spanish holiday prices will rise next summer, but by how much? A) 2% B) 10% C) 20%