All City & finance articles – Page 519
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Opinion
Getting JJB match-fit again
Like Didier Drogba, sports retailer JJB has spent more time on the bench than in competition of late. Once hailed as a premiership business, JJB has been teetering on the brink of permanent relegation for several seasons – outplayed by rivals such as Sports Direct and top of the league ...
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News
Mixed retail signals polarise City opinion for industry’s prospects
Food retailers and general merchandisers alike fell last week but still outperformed the market. The industry’s prospects continue to polarise City opinion, however.
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Opinion
History can't prepare us for this recession
Retailers are almost all suffering from low sales, tightening gross margins, pressure on costs and difficulty in simply retaining existing borrowing facilities.
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Opinion
A public appeal to Alistair Darling
If the Chancellor really wants to tackle the crunch he needs to help with credit insurance
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News
Ziff buys Stylo stores
The management of shoe retailer Stylo, led by Michael Ziff, has bought 160 Stylo stores and 165 concessions from administrator Deloitte.
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News
Wickes owner Travis Perkins reports profits plunge
Builders’ merchant Travis Perkins has posted a plunge in preliminary profits but said its Wickes DIY chain has made a good start to the new financial year in key categories.
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News
Thorntons posts 39% interim profit fall
Confectioner Thorntons’ profits plunged in the first half when sales at company-owned stores fell and margins suffered during highly promotional trading conditions.
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News
Wal-Mart posts quarterly profit fall despite record sales
Wal-Mart, the world’s biggest retailer, has reported a 7.7 per cent fall in fourth quarter profits after being hit by the costs of legal action and exchange rates.
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News
Asda revives 'pocket-tap' ads as sales climb
Asda is to reinstate its famous ‘pocket tap’ in TV ads to consolidate its appeal to value-conscious shoppers nostalgic for reassurance in the uncertain economic climate.
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News
Marks & Spencer seeks better supplier terms to counter sterling fall
Marks & Spencer is reported to have turned the screws on suppliers as it battles to cope with sterling’s fall in value.
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News
JJB secures lending extension
JJB Sports has secured an extension of lending arrangements for a month dependent upon progress with the proposed sale of its fitness clubs division.
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News
Asos: Stock in focus
The fashion e-tailer, now capitalised higher than many main market-listed retailers, was a Christmas winner and is expected to continue blazing a trail.
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News
City quells revival hopes despite gains in January
Retail sales in January grew at their strongest rate since May last year, but analysts warned it is too early to call a recovery.
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Opinion
The right to backing
As flagged in this column last autumn, potential rights issues by retailers have accelerated up the agenda.
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News
Retail stocks surge ahead on bid excitement and improved sales
General retail stocks surged over a week that brought upbeat broker comment, bid excitement and better than expected sector sales data for January.
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News
WHSmith directors sell shares
WHSmith directors yesterday sold further tranches of optioned shares – the second round of such disposals in a week.
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Opinion
There are some store design benefits to a downturn
One of the unexpected consequences of a recession is that things get done better and quicker. Walking the floor of French department store Printemps' Paris flagship with its chairman and chief executive (two for the price of one must be a bonus in the current climate) last week, it was ...
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News
Baugur in administration
Updated: Baugur’s stakes in retailers House of Fraser, Hamleys, Aurum and Iceland have been placed in to administration.
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News
Clinton Cards enters talks to refinance
Clinton Cards is in informal discussions with its lenders as it seeks to renew its revolving credit facilities.
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Opinion
Jessops needs to snap to it
Few were more surprised than the City when Jessops posted robust Christmas trading figures. For many, the sight of the specialist camera retailer edging towards the top of the festive performance league table and sitting happily near Somerfield and Waitrose was nothing short of a miracle.