Business
Cosmetics chain Lush shuts all UK stores for a day ‘in solidarity with Gaza’
Cosmetics chain Lush has shut all of its UK stores and closed its website for the day in solidarity with people starving in Gaza, the retailer said.
The natural cosmetics brand has also closed its factories, with more than 100 stores in the country, including its flagship spa on London’s Oxford Street, marked as “temporarily closed” on Google Maps on Wednesday.
In a statement on its website, the company said: “Across the Lush business we share the anguish that millions of people feel seeing the images of starving people in Gaza, Palestine.
“Like the rest of the world, we struggle to find ways we can help whilst the Israeli government is preventing urgent humanitarian assistance from entering Gaza.
“One thing Lush can currently send into Gaza is our love and a strong message that we stand in solidarity.”
The business, which trades in more than 50 countries, said it has put messages in the windows of closed shops which read: “Stop starving Gaza, we are closed in solidarity.”
The Prime Minister last month said the UK will recognise a Palestinian state later in September unless Israel agrees to meet certain conditions, including addressing the humanitarian crisis, implementing a ceasefire and reviving the prospect of a two-state solution.
In a statement on the Middle East to the House of Commons on Monday, Foreign Secretary David Lammy told MPs Gaza is experiencing a “man-made famine” as the war continues.
Lush said it will lose a day of takings and the UK Government will lose a day of tax contributions from the business and its customers.
“We hope they (UK Government) too hear the message our closure sends, with more Government action needed to bring an immediate stop to the death and destruction, including an end to arms sales from the UK,” the statement said.
Speaking to James O’Brien on LBC, Lush co-founder and chief executive Mark Constantine said: “Something has to give, doesn’t it? We would like to point out, especially to our Government and to everyone else that you know we’re expecting them to do something.”
Asked how much the closure would cost the company, he said “around £300,000”.
He added: “Well, it would be good to be able to pay for food to go into Gaza, wouldn’t it?
“Rather than just sacrifice it, I mean, we have debated so many different things that we could do or might do, and this was in the end, it was just that this is what we’re doing.”
A spokesperson for Lush told the PA news agency staff are being paid for the closure day.
The company, founded in the UK, added: “It feels important that we lift our voice first from here in the UK, however we know that sentiment across the international Lush business is strong and we expect similar actions may follow as other Lush countries seek ways to express their solidarity.”
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Shares of Bharat Forge surged over 5 per cent on September 8, emerging among the top F&O gainers; Know details
Bharat Forge Shares
Bharat Forge Share Price: Shares of Bharat Forge surged over 5 per cent on September 8, emerging among the top F&O gainers, as investors cheered its subsidiary’s plan to acquire a 950-acre land parcel in Andhra Pradesh to set up a large defence manufacturing complex.
The step-down subsidiary, Agneyastra Energetics, held through Kalyani Strategic Systems (KSSL) – a wholly owned arm of Bharat Forge – will purchase nearly 949.65 acres in Madakasira, Anantapur district. The complex will host an end-to-end defence energetics facility, including a high explosives manufacturing plant, ammunition filling plant, gun propellant unit, and provisions for expansion into energetics for rockets, missile systems, and space launch vehicles, the company said in an exchange filing on September 4.
India is targeting defence production of Rs 3 lakh crore and exports worth Rs 50,000 crore by 2029, with Bharat Forge positioning itself as a key private-sector partner. In FY25, the company secured its largest-ever defence order worth nearly Rs 4,000 crore to supply 184 ATAGS platforms — a milestone it described as a “big moment for the private defence industry.”
KSSL has also acquired a 25 percent stake in Italian design firm EdgeLab, which specialises in autonomous underwater vehicles, while a new 4 lakh sq. ft. manufacturing facility near Pune is expected to begin operations in H1FY26.
In Q1FY26, Bharat Forge reported consolidated revenue of Rs 4,158 crore, up 12 percent year-on-year, led by growth in both the defence and industrial segments. Net profit stood at Rs 416 crore, rising 15 percent year-on-year, while EBITDA came in at Rs 728 crore with a margin of 17.5 percent. The company highlighted that defence, aerospace, and EV components contributed strongly to the performance.
Looking ahead, management flagged Q2FY26 as “a little weaker” due to softer US exports but maintained that the second half would outperform the first.
“In aerospace, we will have strong growth this year. On a year-on-year basis, we should see upwards of 20 percent growth, maybe even higher,” Joint MD Amit Kalyani said during the June quarter earnings call.
Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a…Read More
Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a… Read More
September 08, 2025, 13:10 IST
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Share prices soared on Monday as the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) saw strong buying activity on the first day of the new business week, pushing the benchmark KSE-100 index past the 155,000 mark amid positive economic indicators.
During intraday trading, the KSE-100 index gained 1,610.82 points (1.03%), closing at an all-time high of 155,888.01 points.
This marked the seventh consecutive bullish day, reflecting investor confidence in government policies.
The upward trend has largely offset concerns over economic risks stemming from ongoing devastating floods that have damaged farmlands.
A total of 448 companies transacted shares, with 254 posting gains, 175 recording losses, and 19 remaining unchanged.
On the previous Friday, the index had also gained 1,611.47 points (1.06%), closing at 154,277.19 points.
Trading volumes rose, with 1.078 billion shares exchanged, compared to 954 million the prior day.
Total market turnover reached Rs59.949 billion, up from Rs46.053 billion, as 479 companies participated in trading, 239 gaining, 210 losing, and 30 remaining unchanged.
The three top trading companies were Bank of Punjab with 146,093,956 shares at Rs 19.69 per share, F. Nat.
Equities with 55,753,605 shares at Rs7.74 per share and Fauji Foods Limited with 50,935,429 shares at Rs18.72 per share.
Sitara Chemical Industries Limited witnessed a maximum increase of Rs 79.77 per share price, closing at Rs 877.47, whereas the runner-up was Siemens (Pakistan) Engineering with Rs50.17 rise in its per share price to Rs1,603.17.
PIA Holding Company LimitedB witnessed a maximum decrease of Rs 834.67 per share, closing at Rs25,506.00 followed by Hoechst Pakistan Limited with Rs96.79 decline in its share price to close at Rs4,004.48.
Meanwhile, in the future market, as many as 316 companies traded shares in the market out of which 181 witnessed gains, 133 loss where the prices of 2 companies remained unchanged.
Business
Gold price prediction: What’s the gold rate outlook for September 8, 2025 week – should you buy or sell? – The Times of India
Gold price prediction today: Gold prices are likely to remain well supported in the near-term, says Manav Modi, Senior Analyst, Commodity Research at Motilal Oswal Financial services Ltd. He shares the outlook on gold prices and strategy for gold investors:Gold prices surged to record highs on both Comex and the domestic front last week, while silver also hit new domestic peaks and touched its highest level on Comex since 2011, driven by safe-haven demand amid escalating geopolitical tensions and growing expectations of a US Federal Reserve rate cut. Investor sentiment was further bolstered by weak US labor market data, including a sharp slowdown in non-farm payrolls, which rose by just 22,000 in August against expectations of 75,000, and a rise in the unemployment rate to a near four-year high of 4.3%.These developments have solidified expectations for a 25-bps rate cut at the Fed’s upcoming September meeting, with markets now pricing in a nearly 100% probability and even starting to discount a 10% chance of a larger 50-bps cut. Central bank buying added further support, with China increasing its gold reserves for the 10th straight month and Poland proposing to raise its reserve target from 20% to 30%.ETF inflows into gold hit their highest since June 2023, and speculators increased net long positions by over 20,000 contracts. Despite some profit booking, gold held firm near the key $3,600 level and is on track for its best week in three months.This week, all eyes are on the upcoming US inflation data—Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI)—scheduled just days ahead of the critical Federal Reserve meeting. These data points will be key in confirming whether inflationary pressures are easing enough to warrant the expected 25 or more rate cut. A softer-than-expected inflation data could further weigh on the Dollar index, which has already been under pressure, and further support the bullion rally.Conversely, if inflation surprises to the upside, it may complicate the Fed’s decision for additional rate cuts ahead and influence Governor Powell’s speech at the meet, potentially capping some gains for gold and Silver. However, with labor market data already showing clear signs of cooling and market participants fully pricing in a cut, gold is likely to remain well-supported unless inflation data drastically changes the outlook.Stance: Buy on Dips.Supports and Resistances: 1,06,000 to 1,04,000 – 1,08,000 to 1,10,000(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market and other asset classes given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)
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