THE DAILY BRIEFING

CONFIDENCE HIT

Households have had their confidence knocked by worries about the eurozone and Britain’s future in the EU , according to a report.

GfK’s consumer confidence index remained at zero in March.

Joe Staton, head of market dynamics at GfK, said: ‘Despite good economic headlines about low inflation, interest rates and prices in the shops, concerns about Brexit and the ongoing eurozone crisis appear to be hitting home.’

STANDING DOWN

The rainmaker behind Vodafone’s takeover deals is to retire after nearly 30 years advising the telecoms giant.

Warren Finegold, group business development director, will retire on June 30 but will act as an adviser to Vodafone’s board and executive committee on strategic projects.

He first worked with Vodafone in 1988, as part of the team that took the company public. Shares rose 2.13pc or 4.65p to 222.5p.

FASHION RECRUIT

Womenswear chain Bonmarché has hired a buyer from supermarket clothing brand George at Asda to become its new boss.

Helen Connolly will become chief executive of the over -50s-focused retailer later this year , replacing Beth Butterwick , who after four years is leaving to head up fashion retailer Karen Millen.

J OB CUTS

Boeing, which employs more than 2,000 people across the UK, is planning to cut about 4,000 jobs around the world.

A spokesman for the planemaker said: ‘Boeing has doubled its workforce in the UK over the last five years and this growth is expected to continue.’

CRUISE CONTROL

Cruise ship giant Carnival posted a better-thanexpected quarterly profit, with net income nearly trebling to £98m for the first quarter to February 29.

The group, which operates Carnival Cruise Lines as well as Princess and Cunard, had its performance helped by higher prices and lower fuel costs. Revenues rose 3.4pc to £2.5bn. Shares rose 142p to 3692p.

EURO WOE

Rating agency Standard and P oor’s cut its fore - casts f or eurozone economic growth and inflation, blaming the ‘nosedive’ in financial conditions since the start of the year.

S&P said it now expected the 19country bloc to grow at 1.5pc this year against 1.8pc it had forecast back in November.

CAR LAUNCH

Electriccar giant Tesla will unveil its long -awaited Model 3 mass -market vehicle that can travel 200 miles on a single charge in Los Angeles tonight.