THE DAILY BRIEFING

SHARES GROUNDED Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary could force British investors to sell their stock if the UK fails to strike a Brexit deal. This is due to EU rules which demand the majority of shareholders in airlines must be from member states to maintain their licence.

BROKEN TOYS Struggling retailer Toys R Us is urgently seeking £120m for its UK arm. The business, only rescued from collapse in December, has told potential buyers the cash is needed by the end of this month to pay off lenders and fund a major overhaul.

TECH FLOAT British tech darling Deliveroo is reportedly considering a flotation in London or New York. The food delivery company, which reported a £129m loss in its most recent accounts, would be valued at £1.5bn. It could take place within 12 to 18 months.

JOBS DRIVE Football coaches and veterinary nurses are the roles employers find hardest to fill, according to new research. As low unemployment makes the jobs market more competitive, website Indeed said half of all such roles were still unfilled after two months.

DODGY BUILDERS Cowboy builders are costing the UK economy £10bn a year, the Federation of Master Builders has warned. The group says nearly a third of households put off doing major work because they are worried they will hire a ‘dodgy’ builder.

BUSINESS BOOM UK-listed firms saw a profits and sales bonanza in the last three months of 2017. The Share Centre said revenues soared by 12.6pc to a record £116.6bn. Total pre-tax profits were also up 44.8pc to a record £11.2bn.