All City & finance articles – Page 436
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NewsFootfall suffers as royal fever grips nation
Shopper numbers slumped on the weekend of William and Kate’s nuptials but food and garden retailers were boosted by wedding fever.
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NewsThorntons melts in the Easter heat
Thorntons’ poor third quarter resulted from the competitive environment and a structural shift from the high street as well as the warm Easter weather, City analysts said.
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AnalysisReasons to be cheerful
The bank holiday festivities are over and it is back to the grind of tough trading and ferocious competition. But it’s not all doom and gloom for the industry. Here we highlight why there is plenty of reason for optimism…
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NewsWolfson remains cautious despite strong performance from Next
Next chief executive Lord Wolfson remained cautious this week despite reporting better than expected sales, warning that any rises in commodity prices or interest rates could slow growth.
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Opinion
N Brown overlooked
While the etail era has made online outfitter Asos a share price star, another retailer well placed to benefit from changing shopper habits has been overlooked.
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NewsCalls for new Comet boss Darke to shake things up
Electricals retailer Comet’s new managing director Bob Darke needs to bring a completely fresh approach if he hopes to turn the business around, observers believe.
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NewsCity expecting better news from retailers
A downbeat assessment of retail conditions from the CBI on Tuesday unsettled investors but just a day later fashion bellwether Next posted a better than expected first quarter, helped by warm weather.
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NewsBlacks banking on new ranges to return to profit
Outdoor clothing and equipment group Blacks intends to boost sales through new product categories as it bids to restore profitability.
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NewsNew categories overtake media products as Amazon diversifies
Amazon is gunning to grab share outside its core product categories as international sales in its non-media division overtook media for the first time.
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NewsAlexon back in the black as turnaround plan bears fruit
Fashion group Alexon has returned to full-year profitability as a result of successful restructuring agreements on loss-making shop leases and more focus on cutting operating costs.
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NewsRivals circle Focus stores after its collapse into administration
4,000 jobs in the balance as struggling DIY retailer calls in Ernst & Young after defaulting on loan.
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NewsAbsorbing price rises will cost Primark £20m
Analysts forecast that Primark could take a hit of up to £20m on profit margins this year as it absorbs input price rises to continue to offer its cheap chic fashion.
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NewsOverseas helps Clarks profits to break £100m
Clarks’ group pre-tax profit has topped £100m for the first time in its 185 year history despite a “challenging” UK market.
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NewsM&S deputy chairman Michels to stand down
Marks & Spencer deputy chairman Sir David Michels, who led the search for a successor to Sir Stuart Rose as chief executive, is to stand down in February 2012.
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NewsFirst quarter sales up at Morrisons
Morrisons like for like sales rose by 2.5% in its first quarter to 1 May, excluding fuel and VAT.
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NewsBlacks reduces full-year losses and confirms Julia Reynolds as new boss
Blacks Leisure has reported a reduction in its full-year pre-tax loss and exceptional items to £6.6m from £14.4m the previous year but still suffered a “disappointing” year and has confirmed Julia Reynolds as its new chief executive.
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NewsRoyal Wedding and warm weather boosts Next sales
Next sales rose 5.2% in its first quarter as warm weather over Easter as well as spending in the run up to the Royal Wedding boosted sales.
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AnalysisRetail in Scotland
Uncertainty over jobs and income plus the later time of Easter have had an impact on retail in Scotland, causing the worst drop in sales since 2000.
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OpinionTransformation takes time
Retailers should look on today’s tough market as an opportunity, says Sir Geoff Mulcahy.