Benjamin Chiou

London

Writer and Editor at Freelance

🇲🇾 🇬🇧 Freelance writer, editor and editorial consultant. Former editor @couriermedia and @raconteur. [email protected]

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Articles

Some customer data stolen in cyberattack, M&S reveals

2 days ago | sharecast.com | Benjamin Chiou

The company, which still has a pause on all online orders and its click and collect service since the cyber incident was first reported on 22 April, said the "some" of customers' personal data was taken by hackers “due to the sophisticated nature of the incident”. “Importantly, the data does not include useable payment or card details, which we do not hold on our systems, and it does not include any account passwords,” M&S said in a statement.
Macfarlane leaves outlook unchanged, plans new share buyback

2 days ago | sharecast.com | Benjamin Chiou

The decision to make share repurchases was made following “extensive dialogue with our shareholders”, according to chair Aleen Gulvanessian.
Bytes Technology predicts further profit growth, unveils special divi

2 days ago | sharecast.com | Benjamin Chiou

The software, security AI and cloud services specialist outfit reported revenues of £217.1m for the 12 months to 28 February, up 4.9% on the previous year, with operating profits up 17.1% at £66.4m. Gross invoiced income rose 15.2% to £2.10bn, topping the £2bn mark for the first time. "I am proud to report another strong set of results for BTG, marked by a significant rise in operating profit.
UK retail sales surge in April due to late Easter, sunny weather

2 days ago | sharecast.com | Benjamin Chiou

Total retail sales rose at a year-on-year rate of 7% in April, following a 1.1% increase in March, according to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor released on Tuesday. The Easter holidays, which typically result in increased spending by consumers, fell in March in 2024 but April in 2025. However, combining both months together, compared with the same two-month period the year before, sales were still up 4.3%.
US close: Stocks surge on temporary trade war truce with China

3 days ago | sharecast.com | Benjamin Chiou

Wall Street stocks jumped on Monday with all three benchmark indices back above pre-Liberation Day levels after the US and China temporarily agreed to lower tariffs as they work on a new trade deal. The Dow jumped 2.8% to 42,410.10, finishing at its highest mark since 26 March; the S&P 500 rose 3.3% to 5,844.19, its highest since 3 March; while the Nasdaq surged 4.4% to 18,708.34, its highest since 28 February.
Europe close: Stocks hit seven-week high after productive US-China trade talks

3 days ago | sharecast.com | Benjamin Chiou

The world’s two largest economies confirmed that a key agreement was struck in Geneva over the weekend, with both parties cutting levies for the next 90 days. Washington will reduce tariffs on Chinese goods to 30% from 145%, while Beijing will lower duties to 10% from 125%. The Stoxx 600 benchmark rose 1.1% to 544.1 – the highest close for the index since 27 March, trading at levels seen before Donald Trump unleashed his tariff war with America's trading partners.
Virgin Media O2, Daisy to form new business telecoms provider

3 days ago | sharecast.com | Benjamin Chiou

On Monday, the companies announced a merger of their business comms operations to compete with BT Group, which is currently the market leader in the SME telecoms market. With combined pro forma revenues of £1.4bn per annum, the new firm will hold around 700,000 customers and be led and chaired by Daisy Group founder, Matthew Riley, with the MD of Virgin Media O2 Business, Jo Bertram, operating as chief executive.
US open: Stocks hit two-month high on temporary China trade truce

3 days ago | sharecast.com | Benjamin Chiou

By 1001 in New York. the Dow was up nearly 1,000 points (+2.4%) at 42,241, the S&P 500 rose 2.5% to 5,804, while the Nasdaq jumped 3.4% to 18,538. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq, in particular, were both trading at levels not seen since the first week of March. The US and China are to significantly lower tariffs, it was confirmed on Monday, after a key agreement was struck in Geneva over the weekend. The world’s two largest economies will now cut levies for the next 90 days.
US pre-open: Futures surge as US-China talks calm trade jitters

3 days ago | sharecast.com | Benjamin Chiou

By 0522 ET, Dow Jones futures were up 2.1%, the S&P 500 was rising 2.8% and the Nasdaq had jumped 3.8%. The US and China are to significantly lower tariffs, it was confirmed on Monday, after a key agreement was struck in Geneva over the weekend. The world’s two largest economies will now cut levies for the next 90 days. Washington will reduce tariffs on Chinese goods to 30% from 145%, while Beijing will lower duties to 10% from 125%.
Sabadell studying possible Abanca deal to fend off BBVA — reports

3 days ago | sharecast.com | Benjamin Chiou

According to Spanish newspaper Expansion, Sabadell has already held talks with shareholders of Abanca about a possible tie-up, though the latter's management is less keen on the idea. Meanwhile, Bloomberg cited people close to the matter as saying that the Spanish government would likely encourage a deal between Sabadell and another bank that isn't BBVA.