Cyber-security firm Avast Software (AVST) gets stronger as high-profile hacking increases
Capita (CPI) and Debenhams (DEB) bolster boards with finance chiefs. FTSE 250 firm Capita has poached Patrick Butcher as its finance chief. He comes from transport group Go-Ahead Group (GOG), where he has been since 2016. It was one of two high-profile appointments today as under-pressure retailer Debenhams named Rachel Osborne as its new finance boss.
Ashley (Laura) Holding (ALY) Singapore sling eases profit wipeout. The City heaved a sigh of relief on Wednesday despite a dive in profits at Laura Ashley as it plans to offload property overseas to bolster its coffers. The fashion-cum-hotels business, which also sells bed linen and furniture, saw pre-tax profits virtually wiped out at £100,000 for the year to June 30, down from £6.3 million previously.
