Sofa, so good: DFS’ shares climb as it hikes dividend October 6, 2016 DFS' share price was up 2.5 per cent in morning trading after the company announced it will increase its final dividend this year. The sofa seller said the final dividend for the year will be 7.5p per share, up 6.2p from last year, a jump of 21 per cent. Read more: DFS' share price jumps as the company [...]
Yum Brands blames drop in Chinese sales on South China Sea crisis October 5, 2016 KFC parent company Yum Brands said today that its earnings and revenues missed analysts' expectations in the third quarter. Its adjusted earnings per share of $1.09 on revenues of about $3.3bn. Both measures missed analysts' forecasts for $1.10 per share and $3.5bn respectively. Read more: Hungry suitors circle Pizza Hut as owners put the restaurant chain up [...]
As Tesco shares jump after it reported another rise in sales, is the retailer out of the woods? October 5, 2016 Clive Black, head of research at Shore Capital, says Yes. If you go down to the woods today… well, you won’t find Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis. Two years on from a troubled and tortuous analyst meeting, with the business on its knees, the Tesco boss is reporting that the remedial measures introduced to guide the [...]
Japan’s Asahi to bid for SABMiller’s European beers once Megabrew deal closes next week October 5, 2016 Japanese drinks giant Asahi is brewing a more than 500bn yen (£3.8bn) offer for SABMiller's Eastern and Central European beers, according to reports. Local newspaper Nikkei said yesterday Asahi is interested in SABMiller's beer businesses in the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary, which include beer brands such as Pilsner Urquell and Lech. Read more: SABMiller [...]
Time Out is close to signing a deal for new “flagship” London food market October 5, 2016 Time Out – the magazine publisher that recently listed on the London junior market – is expected to announce it has leased premises for a London food market in coming weeks, City A.M. understands. The group is close to signing a deal for a location thought to be around Kings Cross, Covent Garden, or Camden. The London food [...]
Constellation Brands lifts full-year guidance after “winning” the 4 July holiday and profit boost from acquisitions October 5, 2016 Shares in the US owner of Corona Extra, Constellation Brands, were up in morning trading New York time after the beer and spirits maker posted better-than-expected second quarter revenues. The figures Net sales grew 17 per cent to $2.02bn (£1.6bn) in the second quarter, while operating income rose 27 per cent to $611m. Constellation's beer brands, [...]
Five new retailers are opening shops in The Royal Exchange October 5, 2016 The Royal Exchange is to become home to five new luxury brands. Aspinal of London, Grind & Co, Orlebar Brown, Halcyon Days and TD Tom Davies are taking space in the Grade I listed building. Oxford Properties bought the 16th century landmark in 2013 and this is the second set of retailers to move in [...]
ASOS boss says “it isn’t very practical” to be like an employer from the Victorian era October 5, 2016 ASOS has kicked back against accusations of poor working practices in its Barnsley warehouse and has said the company looks forward to engaging with the government on the issues surrounding low paid workers. "The picture of an uncaring, secretive and exploiting employer from the Victorian times is false," ASOS said in a statement. "Actually, it isn't practical either. [...]
Megabrew merger between AB InBev and SABMiller inches closer as SAB shares suspend trading on London Stock Exchange October 5, 2016 Shares in British drinks giant SABMiller suspended trading on the London Stock Exchange this morning as the Megabrew merger between SAB and Belgian beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev inches closer. Yesterday, the UK's High Court gave its approval to AB InBev's £79bn takeover and the holding company for the combined company, Newbelco, listed 1.7bn shares on the Johannesburg [...]
Topps Tiles share price slides after company warns on low consumer confidence October 5, 2016 Topps Tiles said this morning that it had been hit by the fall in consumer confidence following the Brexit vote. After the company announced a slowdown in like-for-like sales growth to 1.4 per cent its share price slid more than six per cent. The sales dip was in part to due to a strategic change to [...]