Next (NXT) share price rises as it weathers high street woes to up earnings guidance March 23, 2018 Next reported the results from a difficult year for the retailer, with both sales and profit dipping for the year to January 2018. The retailer said last year in many ways, was “the most challenging” it had faced for 25 years, as a difficult clothing market coincided with “self-inflicted product ranging errors and omissions”. It [...]
As Tesco embarks on £3.7bn merger with wholesaler Booker Group, will other UK supermarkets follow suit? January 27, 2017 Tesco’s £3.7bn proposed merger with Booker, the UK’s largest food wholesaler, represents a change of commercial strategy for the supermarket giant. Following the firm’s decision to retract from some parts of their international operations, including the South Korean and Turkish arms of the business, this merger is another indication that Tesco is more comfortable operating [...]
Fraud squad eyes end of Tesco investigation November 13, 2016 The fraud squad is expected to announce within weeks what its next steps for Tesco will be, as it wraps up its investigation into the black hole in the retailer's accounts. The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) launched its probe into the supermarket giant's accounting practices in October 2014, and brought charges against three individuals, Carl Rogberg, [...]
Supermarket wars: Nisa in talks with Co-op after Sainsbury’s exclusivity period ends August 14, 2017 Convenience chain Nisa is in talks with the Co-op after a period of exclusivity regarding a potential takeover offer from Sainsbury’s came to an end. Sainsbury’s has yet to make a formal offer, which would need to be approved by Nisa’s shopkeeper members. However City A.M. understands that Sainsbury’s is waiting for the result of [...]
Tesco’s pension deficit has more than doubled in six months October 5, 2016 The market has responded positively to Tesco's new target for operating margin to move to four per cent by 2020, but Tesco also reported this morning that its pension deficit has more than doubled in six months. The deficit has risen from £2.61bn to £5.85bn due to exceptionally low bond yields, leaving the scheme's trustees in a tight spot. [...]
Britain’s big banks decline to follow Lloyds lead on bitcoin credit card bans February 5, 2018 Lloyds Banking Group has banned customers from buying bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies using credit cards, but other big British banks say they currently have no plans to clamp down on the risky assets. A wave of lenders around the world have placed restrictions on customers using debt to buy digital currencies, including JP Morgan Chase, [...]
Last Week in the City: Amazon buys a pharmacy June 29, 2018 Garry White, chief investment commentator, looks at the market-moving events that have shaped the UK equity markets this week (25 to 29 June 2018). The FTSE 100 traded little over the week, despite a rally in oil prices. There was more bad news from the retail sector after The John Lewis Partnership warned on profits [...]
Sales rise but market share falls for Big Four grocers as Aldi and Lidl continue to grow October 17, 2017 Each of the big four grocers has grown sales but seen a decrease in market share as Aldi and Lidl can now boast half the total market’s growth, new figures show. Morrisons was the fastest growing of the large retailers, with sales up 2.8 per cent in the 12 weeks to 8 October, followed by [...]
Tesco’s pension headache is a real challenge because of the financial strength of the company say experts October 5, 2016 Pension experts warned that Tesco's ballooning pension deficit could cause the supermarket problems when it comes to tricky conversations with the scheme's trustees. The deficit – which doubled to £5.9bn – was higher than anticipated and will likely prompt detailed scrutiny by the trustees, in particular when it comes to next year's triennial valuation. "The ballooning deficit at Tesco is [...]
#Marmitegate: Tesco boss warns suppliers against hiking prices November 18, 2016 Tesco's chief executive Dave Lewis has told suppliers not to up prices due to sterling's slide following the Brexit vote. Lewis recently went to war with Unilever after the supplier tried to increase the price of popular goods such as Marmite and PG Tips by 10 per cent. Read more: Marmite peace settlement sends Tesco to the [...]