Banks steady FTSE but retailers dive January 12, 2012 The FTSE 100 index saw modest rises this morning as banks performed well in stark contrast to the retail sector which was pulled down by a string of poor results from heavyweights including Tesco. Investors were also digesting the results of a Spanish sovereign debt auction which showed yields going in a positive direction. Spain [...]
FTSE ends lower as retailers reveal a miserable Christmas January 12, 2012 BRITAIN’S leading shares fell yesterday after a profit warning from Tesco triggered sharp falls in retailers and eclipsed a lift for banks from a successful Spanish debt auction and restructuring at RBS. The FTSE 100 index closed down 8.40 points, or 0.2 per cent, at 5,662.42, once again missing out in a tilt at the [...]
Santa rally looks unlikely as FTSE loses ground on very light volumes December 19, 2011 BANKS dragged the FTSE 100 lower in extremely light trade yesterday after the British government estimated the cost to banks of reforming the UK banking system could be as much as £8bn. London’s blue chip index was down 22.35 points, or 0.4 per cent, at 5,364.99, with volumes at just 67 per cent of their [...]
FTSE rises as Greece closes in on deal January 31, 2012 The FTSE 100 rose in early trading on hopes Greece was nearing a debt swap deal required to salvage the nation’s finances while European leaders agreed on stricter budget discipline measures to help prevent further debt disasters in the region. Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos said negotiators had made “significant progress” in talks to strike [...]
Supermarket’s pricing war could put squeeze on Ocado September 21, 2011 TESCO is tipped to launch a price war next week, which one analyst says could put the squeeze on online deliver service Ocado under its pledge to match prices. The retailer was said by industry sources to be trying to dent Asda’s sales, but Ocado could be hit in the crossfire. Panmure Gordon’s Philip Dorgan [...]
Banks hit by Vickers as North Korean leader dies December 19, 2011 The FTSE 100 was solid this morning but the festering Eurozone crisis continued to sap confidence in riskier assets and banks were down as the government confirmed that they would be hit with the full impact of the Vickers Report. But the agenda was dominated by the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, sparking [...]
Why Ocado isn’t delivering as the markets hoped September 19, 2011 WHEN Ocado came to the market in July 2010, to some (its investors) it was a great opportunity to buy into a growth online market with a unique business model and amazing technology. The company had been going for ten years and was just about to break through the tipping point, which would lead profits [...]
THE GREAT PAY DROP: HOW RETAIL BOSSES ARE FEELING THE PINCH June 7, 2012 Was £3.7m Now £3.4m Sainsbury chief Justin King takes a 9pc cut to total pay package from £3.7m to £3.4m Was £1.02m Now £663k Marks & Spencer chief Marc Bolland sees bonus cut by 50pc from £1.02m to £663,000. Was £574k Now £354m Ocado chief Tim Steiner was paid £354,000, down from £574,000 last year. [...]
Debenhams eyeing web sales growth September 18, 2011 DEBENHAMS will issue its first results under new boss Michael Sharp tomorrow with an added emphasis expected to be placed on online growth. The figures for the fourth quarter come as UK retailers face headwinds as household budgets are squeezed. Analysts are expecting the chain to focus on its international growth – particularly at its [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING September 20, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES TESCO BANK FACES MORTGAGE DELAY Tesco faces a fresh delay to the roll-out of Tesco Bank, with mortgages unlikely to be launched until early next year. Britain’s biggest retailer by sales had been expected to introduce mortgages this autumn but, having bought out Royal Bank of Scotland’s 50 per cent share in their [...]