Chris Peters

British pub operator Marston's said Christmas bookings were "encouraging" and trading was now exceeding pre-pandemic levels, as it hopes to turn the corner after reporting a much bigger annual loss than last year on Tuesday.

A.G. Barr expects annual profit to exceed pre-pandemic levels and beat current market expectations, with “on the go” and hospitality sectors remaining particularly strong, the Scotland-based soft drinks maker said on Monday.

Britain's largest online electricals retailer AO World warned on Tuesday that supply chain issues, product shortages and rising costs were hammering its all-important peak trading period, prompting it to slash its profit outlook.

Cineworld sales touched 90% of pre-COVID levels in October, the world’s second-largest theatre operator said on Monday, driving its shares up 14% while the London-listed firm also said demand in the UK and Ireland was greater than 2019.

England's Manchester United and Italy's Juventus, Cristiano Ronaldo's current and former teams, both suffered hefty financial losses for 2020-21 as the coronavirus crisis drained European soccer stadiums of fans.

* Shares up 4.5%, top gainer on FTSE 250 (Adds CEO comments from call, details, updates share move)

Shares of Entain (ENT.L), which rejected a takeover offer from MGM Resorts (MGM.N) this year, jumped to a record high on Wednesday after a $4.4 billion asset sale by the U.S. casino group prompted bets of a renewed bid for the British bookmaker.

The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened a shortage of white-collar workers in many countries, forcing companies to pay higher salaries to woo talent, a top London-based recruiter said on Tuesday.

Upmarket retailer Ted Baker (TED.L) said on Monday dresses and suits were back in demand, with Britons rediscovering a taste for formal wear as months of COVID-19 curbs on social life were slowly relaxed.

Gambling company Entain (ENT.L) did not declare a dividend on Thursday as it took a cautious stance and said the strong online growth that drove lockdown earnings could ease as betting shops re-open.

Ivan Gazidis will step down as chief executive of English football club Arsenal to move to Italy's AC Milan after almost a decade at the club, Arsenal Holdings Plc said on Monday.

JPMorgan is selling its physical commodities business to Mercuria for $3.5 billion, the U.S. investment bank said on Wednesday, sweeping the fast-growing Swiss trading house into the top league of commodities traders.

JPMorgan <JPM.N> is selling its physical commodities business to Mercuria for $3.5 billion, the U.S. bank said on Wednesday, sweeping the fast-growing Swiss trading house into the top league of commodities traders.

JPMorgan Chase & Co <JPM.N> and federal authorities are nearing settlements over the bank's relationship with convicted Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff, striking tentative deals that would involve about $2 billion in penalties and a rare criminal action, the New York Times reported.

Shares of Monster Beverage Corp <MNST.O> fell as much as 8 percent in extended trade, after new research indicated that energy drinks may increase blood pressure and disturb the heart's rhythm.

Hasbro Inc <HAS.O>, the No.2 U.S. toy company, reported a fall in sales and weaker-than-expected quarterly earnings as North American retailers struggling with high inventories put off orders, sending its shares down as much as 5 percent.