Slow recovery dents UK sales at Experian July 15, 2010 CREDIT information company Experian saw its UK operations shrink by a further one per cent in the last quarter, but strong growth elsewhere led to a seven per cent rise in revenue. The FTSE 100 firm, which offers consumer credit checks and operates in more than 90 countries, said the longer than expected consumer slump [...]
Travis Perkins says markets still subdued February 24, 2010 builders’ and home improvements supplier Travis Perkins reckons its markets have stabilised but is not expecting them to start growing again until, at best, the end of 2010, its chief executive said. “We’re at the bottom and we’re going to burble along it and there’ll be some weeks and months when we’re up and some [...]
Hammerson hopes for malls boost August 2, 2010 PROPERTY investor Hammerson is betting on its landmark shopping malls to underpin its rising portfolio value and income levels, as fears of a relapse in global property prices stalk the market. The Anglo-French retail property specialist, which owns or co-owns some of Europe’s most popular shopping centres like Birmingham’s Bullring and Italie 2 near Paris, [...]
ANALYST VIEWS: HOW IS KINGFISHER HOLDING UP IN LEAN TIMES? July 22, 2010 NICK BUBB | ARDEN PARTNERS We had hoped to see a small positive, on the view that the weather has been helpful and the World Cup impact overstated. The UK is in fact disappointing, with B&Q like-for-like sales down by 4.3 per cent, albeit gross margins are good. The read-across for Homebase and Home Retail [...]
UK consumers at most confident in nine months October 29, 2009 BRITISH consumers are now at their most confident since January 2008, showing a steady rise in optimism, according to the latest GfK/NOP consumer confidence survey. The index rose three points to -13 and confidence in the general economy over the past 12 months jumped 10 points, but is still low, at -53. However, consumers’ confidence [...]
UK consumers at most confident in nine months October 29, 2009 BRITISH consumers are now at their most confident since January 2008, showing a steady rise in optimism, according to the latest GfK/NOP consumer confidence survey. The index rose three points to -13 and confidence in the general economy over the past 12 months jumped 10 points, but is still low, at -53. However, consumers’ confidence [...]
Halfords dips as the Budget takes its toll July 27, 2010 HALFORDS posted a fall in first-quarter underlying sales yesterday, with trade disrupted by May’s general election, June’s emergency Budget and the football World Cup. The group, which runs 462 Halfords stores and the 225-site Nationwide Autocentres car servicing business acquired in February, said yesterday it remained on track to grow the year to the end [...]
Our nation of shoppers is not about to quit the habit yet July 14, 2010 SINCE the onset of the recession, the pressure has increased to turn the UK economy into a manufacturing centre of excellence and at the same time become a nation of savers. But has the nation really turned its back on its former favourite pastime, shopping? Well, the hard data would suggest no. According to the [...]
FTSE reshuffle offers traders tight spreads and volatility September 5, 2010 THE quarterly reshuffle of the FTSE 100 is due this Wednesday after the market close. Companies will be thrown into or out of the financial first division and spread betters should be ready. The changes can spark both immediate volatility and longer-term opportunities upon which traders can capitalise. The review ensures that the UK’s leading [...]
Reckitt agrees £2.5bn bid for Durex maker July 21, 2010 CONSUMER goods group Reckitt Benckiser yesterday agreed to buy Durex condoms and Scholl sandals maker SSL International for £2.5bn in cash to increase its presence in the health and personal care markets. The Anglo-Dutch maker of Nurofen painkillers, Strepsils and Lemsip cold remedies, said SSL stockholders would receive 1,171p a share. Regulators and investors are [...]