All City & finance articles – Page 449
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NewsPhones4U deal likely to be valued below £700m
Private equity firm BC Partners is likely to pay less than the £700m anticipated for Phones4U by present owner Providence Equity Partners.
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AnalysisPassing on the VAT increase
With VAT set to rise retailers will struggle to absorb the increase, especially as other costs are rising. Some are already putting prices up to make January’s change less noticeable, Nicola Harrison discovers
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OpinionThe heat is on to make up lost sales
A successful retail Christmas is all about planning, but even the best laid plans can’t take account of the extreme cold snap that has paralysed large parts of the country over the past fortnight.
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NewsRetailers ramp up promotions as weather hammers trade
Eye-catching promotions used earlier than planned as sales badly affected by snowy conditions
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OpinionWhat goes up...
SuperGroup has been the retail sector’s share price superstar ever since it floated in March.
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NewsRetail gets the thumbs up as it outperforms
Investors filled their shopping trolleys with general retail and food stocks alike. The former outperformed the market despite lacklustre BRC sales data for November but are still down year on year.
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NewsTesco’s share growing but Morrisons falters
Tesco is back in the driving seat with aggressive promotions leading to a market share gain for the first time since May, while rival Morrisons’ share has slipped for the first time since 2007.
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NewsKingfisher profits rise despite tough trading
Kingfisher’s third-quarter performance was well received by analysts despite a drop off at B&Q.
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NewsN Brown’s US debut shows potential
N Brown’s entry into the US market could add 15% to 30% to the top line in the medium term, broker Panmure Gordon wrote after a meeting with management.
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AnalysisBoxing Day trading
With Boxing Day falling on a Sunday this year, trading hours will be shorter. What impact will this have on retailers in-store and online?
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NewsLombok turnaround puts it back into black
Furniture chain Lombok has bounced back into the black, after instigating a turnaround plan that saw it slash costs and shut stores.
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NewsTesco set for strong Christmas after better-than-expected sales
Tesco reported that consumer sentiment is improving as it posted better-than-expected UK like-for-likes.
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NewsActivist investor won’t lead to Kesa break-up, chairman vows
Kesa chairman David Newlands has downplayed the suggestion that stakebulding by investor Knight Vinke indicates sweeping change is likely at the electricals group.
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NewsDebenhams and Tesco top JP Morgan’s 2011 picks
Department store group Debenhams and leading grocer Tesco feature on broker JP Morgan Cazenove’s list of top stock picks for 2011, while fashion giant Next and supermarket group Sainsbury’s should be avoided.
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NewsMoss Bros confident as like-for-likes rise
Like-for-like sales at menswear group Moss Bros rose by 8.3% in the 18 weeks to December 4.
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NewsGame cautious as like-for-likes drop
Game UK & Ireland like-for-likes slumped 12.2% while total sales dropped 14.7% in the 44 weeks to December 4.
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NewsPhones 4U to double shop-in-shops in Dixons next year
Phones 4U will double its shop-in-shops in Dixons next year.
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NewsDolphin owner eyes Bathstore
Dolphin Bathrooms owner Sun European Partners has held early discussions with Bathstore over a potential acquisition of the business.
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NewsTopps Tiles grows profits and market share
Topps Tiles grew full-year profits and market share as it revealed it would not initially pass on the January VAT rise to customers.
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NewsSales slip at Edinburgh Woollen Mill
Scottish clothing and gifts retailer Edinburgh Woollen Mill’s sales slipped to £156.8m from £157.8m in the year to February 27, despite the opening of 21 stores in the year.