North West beauty and nutrition retailer saw TikTok Shop sales more than double

THG shares surged on Thursday after the e-commerce company swung back to profit, with pre-tax earnings surpassing market expectations.

The Manchester beauty and nutrition retailer reported profit after tax of £54.1m for 2025, reversing a loss of £326m the previous year, boosted by securing £103m from the sale of ingredients business Claremont in August.

TikTok Shop proved a key driver of the company’s growth, with sales on the platform more than doubling compared with 2024 after online beauty store Lookfantastic became the top-selling multi-brand beauty retailer on the social media platform.

Meanwhile, THG Nutrition’s sales growth was driven by increasing awareness of bodybuilding supplement Myprotein, with products now stocked in over 40,000 stores globally, and new licensing partnerships with global confectionery brand Mars.

The London-listed business is forecasting mid-to-high single digit revenue growth in its nutrition division with “strong underlying growth” in sales of beauty products, as reported by City AM.

The company could be in line for a windfall of as much as £78m if it wins a claim with HMRC over the VAT treatment of its protein powder.

Chief executive Matt Moulding said: “Our 21st year in business has been a ‘coming of age’ moment: A year of accelerating momentum, marked by a return to continuing CCY revenue growth, decisive strategic actions, and a clear validation of our long-term vision.

“We have simplified our structure, sharpened our focus on our key territories and brands, and strengthened our financial foundations.”

THG shares rose 8.3 per cent to 34.1p in the early moments of trading on Thursday. THG plc was the owner of City AM until its Ingenuity division separated from the wider group at the beginning of 2025.

India’s largest commodity exchange, the Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) will remain shut for trading today in the first session between 9 am and 5 pm due to the Shri Ram Navami holiday. Trading will resume in the evening session between 5 pm and 11:30 pm.

The largest agri-commodity bourse, the National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX) will remain closed in both sessions.

Indian equity markets NSE and BSE will also remain closed today.

The benchmark indices Nifty and the BSE Sensex extended their winning momentum on Wednesday as bulls remained in top form for the second session in a row. Action in banks, auto and consumer stocks lifted the market mood. Nifty settled at 23,306.45, surging by 394.05 points or 1.72% while the 30-stock Sensex reclaimed the 75k mark to close at 75,273.45, rising by 1,205 points or 1.63%.

MCX’s yearly calendar announces 16 trading holidays in 2026, during which the exchange will observe partial or full closures.

The next holiday this month will be on March 31, 2026, for Shri Mahavir Jayanti. However, the market will be closed in the morning session only and will resume trading in the evening session.
Going ahead, the full holidays will be on April 3 (Friday) for Good Friday, October 2 (Friday) for Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti and December 25 (Friday) for Christmas. Month-wise holidays
In April, MCX will be closed on 14th for Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti in the morning but will resume trading in the evening session apart for full-day holiday on April 3.

MCX will remain closed in the morning session on May 1 and May 28 due to Maharashtra Day and Bakri Eid, respectively. In June, there will be a partial closure on the 26th on account of Moharram and trading will resume in the evening.

There will be no holidays in July and August.

In September, MCX will be closed in the morning session on the 14th for Ganesh Chaturthi. In October, the 20th will be a morning break for Dussehra with trading starting in the evening session.

November will see two partial shutdowns: one on the 10th (Tuesday) for Diwali Balipratipada and on the 24th (Tuesday) for Guru Nanak Jayanti.

Finally, it will be closed in both sessions on Friday December 25.

Meanwhile, NCDEX will be closed in both sessions on all the above days.

(Disclaimer: The recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times.)

Finance chiefs once questioned the returns on investing in artificial intelligence. Those days are gone.

Speaking at The Wall Street Journal’s CFO Council Summit in Palo Alto, Calif., finance chiefs from the tech, retail and financial services sectors said their companies are seeing big gains in efficiency and productivity—in some cases worth millions of dollars—from their investments in generative AI. Nudging employees to embrace AI also has yielded new ideas about how to accomplish time-consuming tasks, CFOs said.

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Co-op chair Debbie White said: “We thank Shirine for her leadership and for the significant contribution she has made to our Co-op, to our communities and to the co-operative movement during her tenure. The Board is grateful for her commitment and leadership, particularly during a challenging few years, and we wish her every success in the future.”

PORTLAND, Maine – Maine’s lobster industry is facing mounting pressure after a harsh winter reduced fishing activity, slowed catches and added to rising costs across the sector.

The state, the largest lobster producer in the U.S., recorded its fourth consecutive annual decline in total catch, according to the Maine Department of Marine Resources.

A key driver was fewer days on the water. Maine lobster harvesters took more than 21,000 fewer fishing trips in 2025 than in 2024, the agency said. Total landings fell to just over 78 million pounds, the lowest level since 2008.

“It started in December, and in December you usually get to fish a lot of days, and we didn’t get to fish,” said lobsterman Greg Turner.

Turner, who has worked on a boat since childhood, said crews were only able to fish about half as many days as normal during peak winter months.

“If it’s zero out, and it’s blowing negative 25, you can’t go because it’s just – if something happened – you’d be done. You’d die out there, probably,” said Turner. 

HOME HEATING OIL FIRMS SQUEEZED AS DIESEL, CRUDE PRICES SURGE AMID MIDDLE EAST TENSIONS

Colder temperatures also affected lobster behavior, further limiting catches.

“It makes the lobsters slow down and stop crawling quicker, because when it gets cold, they don’t want to eat,” said Turner. 

RARE ‘COTTON CANDY’ LOBSTER CAUGHT IN NEW ENGLAND: ‘1 IN 100 MILLION’

The winter conditions have compounded existing financial pressures on the industry, including inflation, tariffs and shifting market dynamics.

Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Carl Wilson wrote that inflation and market uncertainty in 2025 challenged fishermen’s bottom lines. He added that a late molt limited access to new shell lobsters during summer, prompting some harvesters to reduce trips.

Despite the challenges, Maine’s commercial harvesters generated more than $600 million in 2025, marking the 14th straight year earnings exceeded $500 million. However, fishermen say higher revenues have not translated into stronger profits at the dock.

“Trust me, we’re not getting it, we are not getting it. But I mean, everything’s gone up for us – the price to buy it, to transport it, cook it, prepare it, that must all be gone up too. It’s just the world that we live in now,” said Turner. 

The average boat price remained relatively strong at $5.85 per pound, but industry advocates say higher dock prices are needed to sustain fishermen.

“We want to see a higher price on the dock. That’s what’s going to go directly to your fishermen and, hopefully, keep them fishing because they’re a really, really important part of our community,” said Alexa Dayton, executive director at the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries.

MAINE LOBSTER FISHERMAN REVEALS WHY THE CRUSTACEANS SHE CATCHES TASTE ‘SWEETER,’ ‘BETTER’

Dayton is currently conducting a cost survey of several hundred lobstermen and said early responses highlight how significantly fishing time dropped this winter.

“They ideally want to be out, you know, 15 days in a month. This year they’re down to about five days,” said Dayton. 

She also pointed to uneven ocean conditions across the state. Waters in Down East Maine, from Stonington to Machias, have been significantly colder than average, particularly at the ocean floor, while parts of the western Gulf of Maine have seen relatively warmer conditions.

“There is such a thing as too cold for them,” Dayton said, referring to lobsters’ temperature range.

US LOBSTER INDUSTRY GRAPPLES CLIMATE CHANGE, WHALE PROTECTION REGULATIONS AS CATCHES DROP

Rising input costs are adding further strain. Dayton said bait prices have surged dramatically since her last survey in 2010.

“I mean it’s like 350% increases. It used to be kind of a thing you didn’t really worry so much about. Now it’s a real driver at the end of the day, what’s left in your pocket,” she said.

The financial pressure is extending beyond the docks into coastal economies. Dayton said many communities rely heavily on fishing income.

“But the stress of making a living and, again, you’re sort of watching days go by without an income that hurts both the fishing industry and also what happens on Main Street,” said Dayton. “I mean, this is, you know, 80% dependent on fishing for many of these coastal communities, at least that’s what our survey shows, and it trickles right down to what happens at the grocery store.”

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She added that most Maine lobstermen operate as small, independent businesses rather than corporate entities, making them particularly vulnerable to cost swings and lost fishing days.

“Fishermen operate their own individual businesses here in Maine. These aren’t corporate owners. I think that makes us unique and special.”

CBS Media Ventures announced plans Wednesday to launch a new first-run syndicated courtroom series titled “Adam’s Law,” starring Adam Levy — the son of television icon Judge Judy Sheindlin — as part of its expanded fall 2026 syndication slate that also includes renewed favorites and fresh programming.

Levy, 57, a two-term former district attorney in New York who has presided over cases on Amazon Freevee’s “Tribunal Justice” and “Justice on Trial,” will take the bench as the presiding judge in the new series. The show is produced by Sheindlin’s Queen Bee Productions in association with CBS Media Ventures, with Sheindlin and longtime collaborator Roland Tieh serving as executive producers.

The announcement marks a generational handoff in the lucrative world of syndicated courtroom television, where Sheindlin’s original “Judge Judy” ran for 25 seasons and became one of the highest-rated and most profitable programs in daytime history before ending its run in 2021. Industry observers see “Adam’s Law” as an attempt to recapture some of that lightning in a bottle while introducing a fresh voice rooted in real prosecutorial and judicial experience.

Details about the format remain limited, but CBS Media Ventures described it as a “bold new take on the courtroom” that will focus on rooting out facts and dispensing justice in compelling real or dramatized small-claims-style cases. The series is expected to follow the fast-paced, no-nonsense style that made Judge Judy a cultural phenomenon, though with Levy’s own personality and background shaping the tone.

John Budkins, executive vice president of programming and syndication production for CBS Media Ventures and Stations, said the addition of “Adam’s Law” helps expand the company’s portfolio with distinct programs designed to engage audiences. The new show will join CBS Media Ventures’ fall 2026 lineup alongside the acquisition of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro) and a new weekend series called “American Mayhem,” which will feature high-energy extreme video content drawn from a massive library.

“Adam’s Law” joins a crowded but proven syndicated courtroom genre that includes long-running shows like “The People’s Court,” “Judge Mathis” and various spin-offs. Success in syndication often hinges on strong station group clearances, compelling on-screen talent and efficient production that delivers consistent ratings across markets. CBS Media Ventures is already in discussions with station groups about clearances for the 2026 season.

Levy brings legitimate legal credentials to the role. He served as a prosecutor in New York’s Rockland County and later as a judge on Amazon’s unscripted courtroom programs, giving him on-camera experience that could help him connect with viewers. Supporters note that his background as a district attorney may bring a slightly different perspective — more prosecutorial edge — compared with his mother’s famously blunt, no-nonsense arbitration style.

Judge Judy Sheindlin, now in her 80s, has remained active in television production and recently starred in the scripted courtroom drama “Justice on Trial” for Prime Video. Her involvement as executive producer on “Adam’s Law” is seen as both a vote of confidence in her son and a strategic move to leverage the powerful “Judge Judy” brand without her returning to the bench full time.

The courtroom genre has evolved since the heyday of “Judge Judy.” Modern shows often incorporate more dramatic storytelling, social media integration and diverse casting to appeal to younger and broader demographics. Whether “Adam’s Law” leans traditional or experiments with format tweaks will likely determine its long-term viability in a fragmented media landscape where streaming and digital platforms compete for attention.

CBS Media Ventures, the syndication and content-licensing arm of Paramount Global, has been rebuilding its first-run offering after some high-profile exits and shifts in the post-pandemic television market. The addition of three new titles for fall 2026 signals renewed ambition in the lucrative syndication business, where successful shows can generate hundreds of millions in revenue over multiple seasons through station license fees and advertising.

Industry reaction has been cautiously optimistic. Syndication veterans note that familial connections and proven producers can help launch a show, but sustained ratings depend on the host’s ability to deliver memorable moments and consistent case drama. Levy’s prior television experience gives him a head start, though stepping out from his mother’s enormous shadow presents its own challenge.

For stations, the 2026 syndication marketplace remains competitive. Established court shows still deliver reliable audience flow into local newscasts, making them valuable inventory. CBS Media Ventures will likely position “Adam’s Law” as a fresh alternative that combines legacy appeal with contemporary production values.

As development continues, more details are expected on the show’s exact format, case selection process and supporting cast. Production is anticipated to ramp up in the coming months to meet the fall 2026 target.

The announcement also renews focus on the enduring popularity of courtroom television, a genre that has thrived for decades by blending real conflict, quick resolutions and larger-than-life personalities. Whether Adam Levy can carve out his own successful chapter remains to be seen, but the combination of family legacy, legal credentials and major studio backing gives “Adam’s Law” a strong foundation heading into its debut season.

The site saw extensive historic mining from Roman times to the mid-1940s

An ancient mine in Cornwall is estimated to be worth more than a billion dollars after it was found to contain vast amounts more critical metal than previously thought. London-listed Strategic Minerals announced on Thursday the site between Kelly Bray and Callington contained almost 50 per cent more mineral ore compared to earlier estimates.

The Redmoor tungsten-tin-copper-silver Project, which is operated by Strategic Mineral’s wholly owned subsidiary Cornwall Resources, was already seen as Europe’s highest grade, undeveloped tungsten resource. But the company told the stock market on Thursday its latest surveys had shown what it called a “transformational uplift” in the mine’s production capability – with the potential to increase mine life from 12 to 29 years.

Is is understood the mine contains 31 per cent more Tungsten trioxide, 55 per cent more tin, and 30 per cent more copper than first thought. And, for the first time, silver has also been detected at the site.

Strategic Minerals also issued an ‘Updated Economic Sensitivity Analysis’ to the market, with a base case valuation of the Redmoor project at an estimated US $1.54bn after tax.

Charles Manners, Strategic Minerals’ executive chair, said: “I cannot speak highly enough about the exemplary project design and delivery by the CRL team.

“It is hard to find any comparable project that has delivered so much, in such a short time, for the amount spent, and with such positive results. We are also deeply grateful to the many people who worked tirelessly to deliver this transformational piece of work.”

The latest report follows a decade of detailed minerals exploration activity in and around the Cornish mine, which saw extensive historic mining from Roman times to the mid-1940s.

Since 2016 Cornish Resources has undertaken wide-ranging minerals exploration activities centred around Redmoor, including a programme of borehole drilling, soil sampling, geophysics and aerial surveys.

The project has been supported by investment from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme (which is funded by the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and managed locally by Cornwall Council), with the aim of helping to unlock the future of Cornwall’s critical minerals sector, both as a socio-economic driver and as a future source of critical minerals needed for modern technologies and the clean energy transition.

“The company is also enormously grateful to Cornwall Council and the Shared Prosperity Fund for their support with a grant in April 2025,” added Mr Manners. “This unlocked private sector investment and enabled the highly successful work over the last 12 months that has led to this transformational result that positions Redmoor and the UK to become a leading Western World source of tungsten.”

Mark Burnett, Strategic Minerals’ executive director, said the company would now “rapidly progress” to a prefeasibility study to test the new production scenarios and “optimise the model”.

“Redmoor is Europe’s highest grade, undeveloped, tungsten resource compared to other CRIRSCO-compliant projects, and amongst the highest grade globally,” he said. “The company is committed to advancing Redmoor at pace, with today’s results highlighting the contained metal potential of the project.”

Dennis Rowland, Cornwall Resources managing director, added: “From the outset we established clear aims to confirm previous exploration of the structure and grade of the resource and to incorporate new datasets to establish the potential presence of additional zones of mineralisation.

“We have been successful in these aims and the effects of each of these is reflecting in the robust improvements in the MRE. These results alongside the significant improvements in metallurgical recovery for tungsten, and confirmation of recoverability of silver, have directly contributed to improved project economics.”