European stocks stand up to terrorism November 1, 2017 London. Manchester. Brussels. Paris. Nice. Copenhagen. Stockholm. Normandy. These are just a few of the European cities struck by terrorists in recent years. Attacks are sadly becoming increasingly frequent, and whenever they occur, people speculate about the potential market and economic impact. It is impossible to know where or when terrorists will strike next, but [...]
Dixons Carphone reports fifth consecutive Christmas of growth January 24, 2017 Dixons Carphone today reported its "fifth consecutive year of Christmas growth" and said it's on track to meet expectations with its full year profits. The figures Like-for-like revenue in the UK & Ireland was up six per cent in the 10 weeks to 7 January, while southern Europe saw a five per cent increase. The Nordics recorded [...]
Not hampered: Fortnum & Mason posts record Christmas results January 13, 2017 Fortnum & Mason enjoyed a record festive period, as customers flocked to high-end Christmas gifts, including the retailer’s signature hampers. The figures Like-for-like sales up to 1 January increased by 16 per cent on the previous year, driven by a 22 per cent increase in online sales for the year. Indeed, Fortnum’s online trading contributed [...]
Five ways your drinking habits will change in 2017: Majestic Wine sets its predictions for the year ahead January 10, 2017 Announcing a Christmas season that pushed sales up 15.3 per cent, booze retailer Majestic Wine took the opportunity to polish up its crystal ball and make industry predictions for the year ahead…. 1. We'll start choosing English sparkling wine over champagne In 2016 UK winemakers experienced an exceptional harvest thanks to perfectly timed weather patterns, leading the industry to believe this year's [...]
Christmas and New Year holidays abroad will boost Gatwick’s total passenger numbers by more than 10 per cent December 12, 2016 More Britons are choosing to spend the winter holidays abroad this year than ever before, boosting passenger numbers at Gatwick Airport. With Christmas and New Year both falling on weekends, significantly more people are jetting off for extended holidays compared to the previous year. Gatwick expects more than a 10 per cent boost to its total passenger numbers as a result. [...]
Winter breeze: Almost a third of electricity generated by wind on Christmas Day as three new records set January 3, 2017 Festive cheer pushed the UK's wind power sector to record levels on Christmas Day, setting a trio of new records in the process. Almost a third (32 per cent) of the UK's electricity was generated by wind power on 25 December, up from a previous high of 24 per cent the energy network reached in [...]
UK floods insurance bill will be £1.3bn, estimates Association of British Insurers May 25, 2016 The final bill for all repairs arising out of the floods caused by storms in December 2015 is expected to hit £1.3bn, according to new research from the Association of British Insurers (ABI). A series of storms – named Desmond, Eva and Frank – hit the UK over the Christmas period, causing a series of [...]
Game Digital shares drop after sales fall and cash burn January 18, 2017 Shares in Game Digital flopped over three per cent this morning after the firm revealed "tough" trading in the UK had hit sales. The figures Like many other retailers, Game focuses on its gross transactional value (GTV): effectively the value of sales before any discounts are applied. Reporting its half-year numbers to the end of December, Game [...]
Sainsbury’s reports £1bn group sales over Christmas week as sales edge up January 11, 2017 Sainsbury’s enjoyed a record Christmas week with over £1bn in sales across the group, with quarterly sales managing to edge up after analysts expected further contraction. The figures Like-for-like retail sales excluding fuel grew by 0.1 per cent over the third quarter of its trading year, and total retail sales grew by 0.8 per cent [...]
A Merry Lidl Christmas: Lidl doubles Prosecco sales in record Christmas trading January 11, 2017 Lidl has bagged its best ever Christmas sales figures as it doubled its Prosecco sales in December. The discount grocer celebrated a 10 per cent sales increase year-on-year in December, but shoppers weren't just reaching for the booze – sales of carrots parsnips, Brussel sprouts and potatoes jumped 60 per cent. Turkey sales increased by 40 per [...]