Primark growth accelerates July 9, 2009 DISCOUNT fashion retailer Primark saw its third-quarter growth accelerate, helped by good weather and the attraction of its low prices in a downturn, but its owner Associated British Foods held to its flat year earnings forecast. The 190-strong stores division reported its sales rose 21 per cent in the 16-week quarter to 20 June, and [...]
Housebuilders hail stability but warn mortgage drought will hurt July 9, 2009 Barratt shows signs of stability as volumes pick up but mortgage drought continues Barratt Developments yesterday reported a 19 per cent fall in private house prices over the last 12 months and warned that a sustained improvement in training conditions would remain elusive until the availability of mortgage finance recovers. However, the group has witnessed [...]
Bellway provides renewed optimism as it launches placing to buy new sites August 6, 2009 HOUSEBUILDER Bellway yesterday supported growing confidence in the housing sector by posting a positive trading update and announced a share placing that aims to raise over £40m to buy new land. The group yesterday said it placed 5.7m new shares, equivalent to around five per cent of its current issued capital, at 779p, a small [...]
LVMH loses fizz as wine sales drop July 28, 2009 LVMH, the biggest player in the luxury goods market, yesterday reported a 23 per cent slump in first half profits as the downturn hit discretionary spending. The group, which owns the Dom Perignon brand, was dragged down by its wines and spirits division which suffered a record 41 per cent drop in profits as champagne [...]
LVMH loses fizz as wine sales drop July 28, 2009 LVMH, the biggest player in the luxury goods market, yesterday reported a 23 per cent slump in first half profits as the downturn hit discretionary spending. The group, which owns the Dom Perignon brand, was dragged down by its wines and spirits division which suffered a record 41 per cent drop in profits as champagne [...]
House prices boosted by fall in stock July 13, 2009 THERE were more definitive signs yesterday that the UK housing market is beginning to recover, according to June data from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). The seasonally-adjusted balance of surveyors reporting falling rather than rising prices improved to -18.1 in June from -43.8 in May, the highest reading since September 2007. Housing market [...]
Sterling falls to six-month low on grim outlook for UK economy October 13, 2009 STERLING is once again the whipping boy of the forex markets. It fell to a six-month low against the euro on Monday after a report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) suggesting that sterling could hit parity versus the single currency. And despite relatively healthy retail sales and house price data, inflation [...]
GM drives up sales via eBay August 10, 2009 RESCUED carmaker General Motors (GM) and online auction site eBay yesterday launched a test programme in California which will let consumers negotiate directly with dealers and buy vehicles online. The car shopping website – gm.ebay.com – marks a departure from the way new vehicles have been traditionally sold in the US and comes a month [...]
Are you more optimistic about the construction sector? August 10, 2009 MARK HOWSON RBS“Morgan Sindall’s update has provided some good news in the shape of heightened enquiries in the fit out business going forward as the lack of readily available Grade A properties starts to see the fit out market perk up. Property agents will be wanting to tart up properties to achieve faster sales. But [...]
Are you more optimistic about the construction sector? August 10, 2009 MARK HOWSON RBS“Morgan Sindall’s update has provided some good news in the shape of heightened enquiries in the fit out business going forward as the lack of readily available Grade A properties starts to see the fit out market perk up. Property agents will be wanting to tart up properties to achieve faster sales. But [...]