Advertisers must prove that “up to” savings are achievable for a significant share of customers and clearly explain the assumptions behind them. / Credit: Tartezy via Shutterstock The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has issued new rulings against several UK advertisers over misleading “up to” savings claims, reinforcing stricter expectations for substantiation in retail and energy marketing....
Advertisers must prove that “up to” savings are achievable for a significant share of customers and clearly explain the assumptions behind them. / Credit: Tartezy via Shutterstock The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has issued new rulings against several UK advertisers over misleading “up to” savings claims, reinforcing stricter expectations for substantiation in retail and energy marketing. Decisions published on 4 March 2026 found that ads from British Gas, Centrica Hive and Wild Nutrition breached the UK advertising code by presenting claims that could mislead consumers or lacked sufficient evidence. The regulator said advertisers must demonstrate that the maximum savings advertised in promotions reflect outcomes achievable by a “significant proportion” of consumers. The rulings underline increased scrutiny of retail promotions, pricing claims and sustainability messaging as the ASA expands its monitoring activity. Evidence required for ‘up to’ savings claims The ASA ruled against a paid Meta advertisement from British Gas promoting heat pumps that claimed consumers could save “up to £546”. According to the regulator, the company did not provide adequate evidence showing that a meaningful share of consumers could realistically achieve that level of savings. The ASA also found that key information explaining the conditions behind the calculation was not clearly presented in the advertisement. Under UK advertising rules, businesses must hold evidence before publishing “up to” claims and ensure that the maximum benefit represents a realistic outcome for a significant proportion of customers. If a saving is based on modelling or specific assumptions, those conditions must be communicated clearly. GlobalData Strategic Intelligence US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate? Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis. By GlobalData Learn more about Strategic Intelligence The ruling reflects a b...
Morning, I’m Louise Moon from Bloomberg UK’s breaking news team, bringing you up to speed on today’s top business stories. There’s no denying Primark is getting a spring clean. No, I’m not talking about its eye-catching fashion collabs of late. There’s been changes in the boardroom , ahead of a potential spinoff of Primark by parent conglomerate Associated British Foods . AB Foods confirmed Eoin T...
Morning, I’m Louise Moon from Bloomberg UK’s breaking news team, bringing you up to speed on today’s top business stories. There’s no denying Primark is getting a spring clean. No, I’m not talking about its eye-catching fashion collabs of late. There’s been changes in the boardroom , ahead of a potential spinoff of Primark by parent conglomerate Associated British Foods . AB Foods confirmed Eoin Tonge will be Primark’s permanent chief executive officer. He stepped in as interim boss in March, to replace former CEO Paul Marchant who left after a complaint about inappropriate behaviour. AB Foods’ finance chief will also become permanent, and there’s a newly created role of chief commercial officer at Primark, aimed at improving its position in the market. Judging by its weaker sales, as the budget retailer grapples with a more cash-stretched customer, that is well needed. As it gets a rejig, the question is will Primark be spun off and when? AB Foods has said it expects to make a decision by April when it reports half-year results, with any split likely taking a further 18 months. What’s your take? Ping me on X , LinkedIn or drop me an email at lmoon13@bloomberg.net. Oh, and do subscribe to Bloomberg.com for unlimited access to trusted business journalism on the UK, and beyond. What We’re Watching Consumer goods giant Reckitt is benefitting from stronger than expected performance in developing markets, putting the owner of Dettol on track to hit targets despite weakness in its cold and flu products. Mid-cap aerospace supplier Senior has had a takeover approach from US firm Arcline Investment Management . That sets up a possible three-way battle between Arcline, Advent and a consortium of Blackstone and Tinicum. Stay tuned. Hungary-based Wizz Air cut its profit guidance after being forced to suspend flights and absorb the cost of higher fuel prices due to the Iran war. Airlines worldwide are facing financial and logistical disruption, with the number of cancelled fligh...
Earnings Call Insights: Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (CBRL) Q2 2026 Management View President and CEO Julie Masino reported, “Q2 total sales were $874.8 million and adjusted EBITDA was $38.2 million. Our entire team is executing our plan to: one, improve our operations; two, connect with guests through our menu, marketing and value proposition; and three, deliver cost savings to improve ...
Earnings Call Insights: Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (CBRL) Q2 2026 Management View President and CEO Julie Masino reported, “Q2 total sales were $874.8 million and adjusted EBITDA was $38.2 million. Our entire team is executing our plan to: one, improve our operations; two, connect with guests through our menu, marketing and value proposition; and three, deliver cost savings to improve profitability.” Masino highlighted operational improvements following leadership changes in October, sharing that the Google star rating reached 4.28 in Q2, the highest since Q2 of fiscal 2020. She noted improvements in food taste, service, and value scores, each up 4% to 5% year-over-year. New and returning menu items, such as the breakfast burger, carrot cake, and sugar-cured ham dinners, exceeded expectations, with Masino stating, “We continue to use Front Porch Feedback, our guest feedback mechanism, and there are more returning favorites in the pipeline.” The loyalty program, Cracker Barrel Rewards, now counts over 11 million members, accounting for over 40% of tracked sales. Masino described it as “a tremendous benefit for guests and an increasingly important tool in improving traffic.” Masino detailed ongoing cost-saving measures, including a continued corporate restructuring aimed at returning G&A closer to historical levels as a percentage of sales. Senior VP & CFO Craig Pommells stated, “For Q2, we reported total revenue of $874.8 million, which was down 7.9% from the prior year quarter. Restaurant revenue decreased 7.5% to $694.3 million. Comparable store restaurant sales decreased by 7.1%, which included a traffic decline of 10.1%.” Outlook Pommells provided fiscal 2026 guidance: “Total revenue of $3.24 billion to $3.27 billion, pricing of approximately 4% and lower menu mix resulting from higher discounts, commodity inflation of 2% to 2.5%, and hourly inflation of 2.5% to 3%.” Full year adjusted EBITDA is anticipated at $85 million to $100 million. Capital expe...
There are currently just 12 companies with a market cap of $1 trillion or more, but only four are members of the elite $3 trillion club: Nvidia at $4.3 trillion, Apple at $3.8 trillion, Alphabet at $3.6 trillion, and Microsoft at $3 trillion. I believe Meta Platforms (META +1.97%) has laid the foundation to join this prestigious group. The company has extensive expertise in deploying artificial in...
There are currently just 12 companies with a market cap of $1 trillion or more, but only four are members of the elite $3 trillion club: Nvidia at $4.3 trillion, Apple at $3.8 trillion, Alphabet at $3.6 trillion, and Microsoft at $3 trillion. I believe Meta Platforms (META +1.97%) has laid the foundation to join this prestigious group. The company has extensive expertise in deploying artificial intelligence (AI) to surface relevant content and increase engagement on its social media apps, which has fueled robust business and financial results. The company has a market cap of $1.6 trillion (as of this writing), which means investors who buy Meta stock now could see a potential return of 81% if the social media denizen joins the $3 trillion club -- which I think is just a matter of time. AI in its DNA Meta's social media sites -- including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads, and Messenger -- form the foundation of its empire, with nearly 3.6 billion people visiting one of its sites every day. With a captive audience of that magnitude, it's no wonder Meta is one of the world's largest digital advertisers, behind just Google. In recent years, Meta has increasingly focused its efforts on increasing engagement. Generative AI helps the company understand the content that keeps users online longer, thereby increasing its value to advertisers. More time on the site means more ads -- and greater revenue. Those efforts are bearing fruit, as Meta reported ad impressions that rose 18% across its platforms in the fourth quarter, driven by AI-fueled increases in engagement. The company is also fine-tuning its Facebook feed, delivering the "largest quarterly revenue" impact in more than two years. This, in turn, fueled a 6% increase in the amount it could charge for each ad. Furthermore, CEO Mark Zuckerberg envisions a future in which Meta provides every user with a personalized AI agent that comprehends their interests and curates individualized content tailored to those inter...
Key Points Meta Platforms hosts some of the world's most popular social media platforms. The company is leveraging its artificial intelligence (AI) expertise to increase engagement and grow its ad revenue. There's a clear path for Meta to join the $3 trillion club in the coming years. 10 stocks we like better than Meta Platforms › There are currently just 12 companies with a market cap of $1 trill...
Key Points Meta Platforms hosts some of the world's most popular social media platforms. The company is leveraging its artificial intelligence (AI) expertise to increase engagement and grow its ad revenue. There's a clear path for Meta to join the $3 trillion club in the coming years. 10 stocks we like better than Meta Platforms › There are currently just 12 companies with a market cap of $1 trillion or more, but only four are members of the elite $3 trillion club: Nvidia at $4.3 trillion, Apple at $3.8 trillion, Alphabet at $3.6 trillion, and Microsoft at $3 trillion. I believe Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) has laid the foundation to join this prestigious group. The company has extensive expertise in deploying artificial intelligence (AI) to surface relevant content and increase engagement on its social media apps, which has fueled robust business and financial results. The company has a market cap of $1.6 trillion (as of this writing), which means investors who buy Meta stock now could see a potential return of 81% if the social media denizen joins the $3 trillion club -- which I think is just a matter of time. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » AI in its DNA Meta's social media sites -- including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads, and Messenger -- form the foundation of its empire, with nearly 3.6 billion people visiting one of its sites every day. With a captive audience of that magnitude, it's no wonder Meta is one of the world's largest digital advertisers, behind just Google. In recent years, Meta has increasingly focused its efforts on increasing engagement. Generative AI helps the company understand the content that keeps users online longer, thereby increasing its value to advertisers. More time on the site means more ads -- and greater revenue. Those efforts are bearin...
China’s government has told the country’s largest oil refiners to suspend exports of diesel and gasoline as the escalating conflict in the Persian Gulf disrupts the arrival of crude from one of the world’s largest producing regions. Bloomberg's Will Kennedy explains. (Source: Bloomberg)
China’s government has told the country’s largest oil refiners to suspend exports of diesel and gasoline as the escalating conflict in the Persian Gulf disrupts the arrival of crude from one of the world’s largest producing regions. Bloomberg's Will Kennedy explains. (Source: Bloomberg)
LONDON, March 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Funding Circle Holdings plc (“Funding Circle” or the “Group”) today announces results for the twelve months ended 31 December 2025. Lisa Jacobs, Funding Circle CEO, commented: "We delivered a standout performance in 2025, exceeding our expectations and hitting our 2026 revenue guidance a year early, and we supported more SMEs than ever before. Strong grow...
LONDON, March 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Funding Circle Holdings plc (“Funding Circle” or the “Group”) today announces results for the twelve months ended 31 December 2025. Lisa Jacobs, Funding Circle CEO, commented: "We delivered a standout performance in 2025, exceeding our expectations and hitting our 2026 revenue guidance a year early, and we supported more SMEs than ever before. Strong growth in the credit we extended led to revenue growth of 28% to £204m and profit before tax increasing to £20m, demonstrating the strong operating leverage and profitability of our platform. “We’ve successfully executed against our strategy to deepen our engagement with SMEs and expand our multi-product offering, enabling us to meet more of our customers’ needs. We now interact with a customer once every 38 seconds, putting us at the heart of their businesses as a trusted financial partner. Our 15 years of proprietary data and technology expertise are the foundation of our competitive advantage, allowing us to deliver a superior customer experience. “Looking ahead, we see a significant opportunity to further grow our share of the SME finance market. Our confidence in the strength and scalability of our platform is reflected in the attractive new medium-term targets we are setting today. By becoming a more meaningful partner to our customers, we aim to not only grow our business but to support the next phase of growth across the UK’s SME economy." Group FY 2025 FY 2024 £m £m Credit extended1 2,453 1,899 Assets under Management2 2,961 2,833 Revenue3 204.3 160.1 Profit before taxation (before exceptional items) 20.3 3.4 Profit before taxation (after exceptional items) 20.3 0.8 Profit for the year (after exceptional items) 46.0 8.6 Unrestricted Cash4 100.9 150.5 Financial Highlights Group Revenue: Increased 28% to £204.3m (2024: £160.1m), achieving 2026 revenue guidance a year early. Increased 28% to (2024: £160.1m), achieving 2026 revenue guidance a year early. Profitability: Sig...
One of the market stories dominating the headlines over the past year has been prediction markets/betting apps. I'm sure you've seen ads for Kalshi, Polymarket, and DraftKings. The first time I heard of Polymarket was during the 2024 presidential election, when it became one of the indicators people used to predict who would win. Now, companies like Robinhood and Interactive Brokers have joined th...
One of the market stories dominating the headlines over the past year has been prediction markets/betting apps. I'm sure you've seen ads for Kalshi, Polymarket, and DraftKings. The first time I heard of Polymarket was during the 2024 presidential election, when it became one of the indicators people used to predict who would win. Now, companies like Robinhood and Interactive Brokers have joined the party. You can accuse me of being too conservative an investor or a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to new trends, but I'm a natural skeptic and don't like investing in a new development until it's had a couple of years to play out and prove itself as something worthwhile. It took me about a year to give most artificial intelligence (AI) companies a serious look, but that trend has more than proved itself to be a durable one despite fears of an AI bubble. I'd say skip the prediction market hype and instead consider one of the most dynamic AI companies on the market, Palantir Technologies (PLTR +4.12%). A popular platform Palantir offers five software platforms, most notable among them Gotham and AIP. All its platforms allow users to link together vast networks to see and communicate between all the devices on the network using AI. Gotham, for example, allows a military commander to see and hear everything captured by all the devices the software connects to, from a bodycam worn by an individual soldier to a satellite in orbit over the battlefield. You don't need to know much about military history to see how such a tool would be invaluable to a general. The U.S. government has been Palantir's largest customer for a while now. In that way, Palantir represents a unique hybrid of an AI software company and a defense contractor. Expand NASDAQ : PLTR Palantir Technologies Today's Change ( 4.12 %) $ 6.07 Current Price $ 153.29 Key Data Points Market Cap $366B Day's Range $ 148.06 - $ 154.51 52wk Range $ 66.12 - $ 207.52 Volume 2.5M Avg Vol 47M Gross Margin 82.37 % But in 2023, ...
At another base - belonging to the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI) - the BBC saw the aftermath of a double drone strike on Tuesday, which was said to have injured one civilian.
At another base - belonging to the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI) - the BBC saw the aftermath of a double drone strike on Tuesday, which was said to have injured one civilian.