Image copyright Getty Images Chinese factory activity contracted for a second straight month in January, the official Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) showed. The index ticked up to 49.5, but remained below the 50-point level that separates growth from contraction. China reported its weakest economic expansion in 28 years in 2018, and growth is expected to …
Image copyright Getty Images Fashion retailers JD Sports, Sports Direct and Boohoo, are “failing to commit” to reducing their environmental and social impact, MPs say. Amazon, TK Maxx and Missguided were also described by the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) as being among the “least engaged” in sustainable fashion and labour market initiatives. The EAC said …
Image caption Quirky gifts feature heavily nowadays in museum shops As consumers, we are spending more of our money on what we do rather than on what we wear. The beneficiary – an unlikely star bucking the downturn in retail – is the humble museum and gallery shop. Once stocked with little more than key …
China’s biggest hotpot restaurant chain by sales, Haidilao, started almost 25 years ago and has already established more than 360 restaurants around the world, including in Japan, the US and Taiwan. The popular chain has opened Beijing’s first robot-aided hotpot restaurant to much fanfare and is looking to spread the concept across its other outlets …
Image copyright Reuters Tesla made a profit of $139.5m (£106.4m) in the three months to 31 December – avoiding a loss for a second quarter in a row. While lower than expected, the gain still marked an improvement for the electric car-maker, which has routinely reported shortfalls in recent years. Tesla credited strong demand for …
Image copyright Getty Images Facebook users have continued to rise despite a series of data privacy scandals and criticism over its attempt to stem toxic content. The social media giant said the number of people who logged into its site at least once a month jumped 9% last year to 2.32 billion people. Fears the …
Image copyright Handout Image caption The recall concerns 5lb bags of nuggets coated in bread crumbs Tyson Foods, one of America’s biggest poultry companies, has recalled a batch of its chicken nuggets after customers found pieces of blue rubber inside. The firm said it would recall more than 36,000lbs (16,300kg) of chicken nuggets “out of …
Image copyright AFP/Getty Image caption Foxconn initially said it would invest $10bn in a new manufacturing facility in Wisconsin Foxconn, which raised hopes of a US manufacturing revival by announcing a new factory in Wisconsin, is now reconsidering its plans. The Taiwanese manufacturing giant no longer expects to make liquid crystal display panels at the …
Image copyright Getty Images The boss of one of the UK’s largest business lobby groups has left abruptly just two months before the UK is due to leave the European Union. Stephen Martin’s resignation from the Institute of Directors (IoD) comes less than two years into what is normally at least a three-year posting. The …