Debenhams sales fall slack, still on track for year

British department store Debenhams saw like-for-like sales fall 0.2 percent in the third quarter, trailing behind market leader John Lewis.

The figures represent a 1.1 percent slowdown in growth from the first half of the year, but the group is still expected to hit profit forecasts for 2016.

Michael Sharp, the group CEO who steps down on Friday, commented, “Our strategy remains unchanged, with further progress in driving our non-clothing mix, continuing to improve service for multi-channel customers, and offering a wider choice of products and services in under-optimised space”.

Sharp will be replaced by Amazon executive Sergio Bucher.

Mitsubishi set for huge loss after emissions scandal

Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi has forecast a net loss of 145 billion yen for the current business year after admitting to falsifying fuel efficiency tests on several of its models.

In March, the group disclosed a 39 percent loss, with the upcoming annual results representing the first fall in profit for the group since 2008. $3 billion has been wiped off its market value since May, and a compensation scheme for owners of the cars, announced last week, will cost the company around $600 million.

Letter from business leaders shows “unprecedented support” for Remain

Just two days before the vote, more than 1,280 executives have signed a letter to the Times backing the Remain campaign, including directors from 51 FTSE 100 companies.

New additions to the list include Sir John Parker from Anglo American and Barclays’ John McFarlane, with the Remain campaign saying it showed “unprecedented support.”

The letter read: “We know our firms are stronger in Europe. Our reasons are straightforward: businesses and their employees benefit massively from being able to trade inside the world’s largest single market without barriers.

“Britain leaving the EU would mean uncertainty for our firms, less trade with Europe and fewer jobs.”

Britain goes to the polls on Thursday.