Toy giant Lego has notched up another record for sales after launching more sets than ever before and investing in new sites globally to boost growth.
The Danish firm said its revenues jumped 12% to a record high of 34.6 billion Danish kroner (£4bn) for the first half of 2025, with consumer sales up 13%.
It saw operating profits rise 10% to 9 billion kroner (£1.04bn), in line with growth levels seen throughout 2024.
Lidl has started building a new warehouse in Leeds after finishing a major expansion of its London site, with both set to create a combined 500 new jobs.
The German-owned chain said it had completed an expansion project at Belvedere in London.
The £285 million investment involved the redevelopment of its warehouse, and the construction of a second building – tripling capacity on the site.
Comedian Jimmy Carr has had his Aston Martin DB6 converted from petrol to electric power by the team at Electrogenic.
Electrogenic is a British firm that produces tailor-made electric vehicle powertrain systems.
The firm replaced the comedian’s 1967 DB6’s 4.0-litre straight-six engine with its own 60kWh battery and electric motor, which is located beneath the car’s bonnet and above the rear axle – where the fuel tank originally sat.
The FTSE 100 ended slightly lower on Wednesday on a mixed day for European shares ahead of results from Nvidia after the New York market close.
The FTSE 100 index closed down 10.30 points, 0.1%, at 9,255.50. The FTSE 250 ended 56.20 points lower, 0.3%, at 21,805.03 while the AIM All-Share finished down 2.74 points, 0.4%, at 762.37.
In Europe, the mood was mixed amid ongoing political uncertainty in France. The CAC 40 in Paris ended up 0.4%, recouping some of Tuesday’s falls, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt closed 0.4% lower.
Citygate Automotive’s 2024 profits slumped 95% to just £0.21m, with turnover dropping nearly £10m to £414.8m. Directors blamed consumer caution, political change, and interest rate uncertainty. Despite struggles, the group expanded with new Seat, Cupra, and Kia sites, plus showroom refurbishments.
Auto Trader’s Ian Plummer says EV sales are stuck in a “holding pattern” due to confusion over the government’s new Electric Car Grant. Initial interest surged, but unclear eligibility and order cancellations dampened uptake, leaving manufacturers to plug gaps with their own subsidy schemes.