Bottom Line: Results are also a game of two halves September 18, 2013 LUCKY for JD Sports that rival JJB went into administration at the end of last year. That helped it to score a 7.5 per cent increase in like-for-like sports sales in the UK and Ireland in the first half, with group profit before tax up 111 per cent to £6.1m. Without it, these results could [...]
Primark growth boosts AB Food full-year profits September 9, 2013 ASSOCIATED British Foods (ABF) said yesterday it expects to post forecast- beating profits for the second half of the year as sales at the discount clothing chain Primark continue to surge. Full-year sales at Primark, which accounts for about a third of the group’s profit, are expected to be 22 per cent ahead of last [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 14 August 2013 August 13, 2013 FINANCIAL TIMES EU pushes single market in telecoms Brussels’ top competition authority has called for 28 national telecoms regulators to be replaced by a single pan-European watchdog. The report from commissioner Joaquin Almunia criticises EU telecoms chief Neelie Kroes for lacking ambition in her plan to create a single telecoms market. Kroes hopes her proposals [...]
Kate Bostock returns to the high street as Coast boss August 20, 2013 KATE Bostock, former head of general merchandise at Marks & Spencer, is to make a return to the high street next month as chief executive of Coast, the womenswear brand confirmed yesterday. Bostock’s appointment comes just weeks after she stepped down from Asos after a short-lived seven month stint as executive director at the online [...]
London Report: Drop in inflation unlikely to help consumers long September 15, 2013 CONSUMERS are likely to receive a small piece of good news this week, with the inflation rate edging down for August. But the upbeat data is likely to come before more rising prices, as analysts predict consumer price inflation will reach three per cent soon. The inflation news, out tomorrow, is part of a slew [...]
FTSE surges upward to join US stock markets July 18, 2013 Following record breaking gains from US stock markets (the S&P also broke new highs shortly after posting), the FTSE is up over one per cent, driven by rallies in the Royal Bank of Scotland, Aberdeen Asset Management, Barclays and the London Stock Exchange. Lloyds Banking Group, Kingfisher and ASOS have also hit new highs. This [...]
ASOS strides ahead thanks to jump in American sales December 11, 2012 A 57 per cent jump in US sales boosted fashion retailer Asos yesterday, as it posted a 30 per cent rise in sales over its first quarter. Asos, which reported sales of £165.8m in the three months to November, was flattered by a 34 per cent increase in its international business. Chief executive Nick Robinson [...]
Entrepreneur of the year September 11, 2013 The City A.M. Entrepreneur of the Year award recognises those individuals or groups who set up a successful new venture and are now growing it as a profitable business. With close to 400,000 new businesses launched in 2013 so far, the spirit for entrepreneurship in Britain is alive and well. From entertainment to retail, our [...]
Before the open – 15/08 August 15, 2013 The Nikkei dropped sharply last night after finance minister Taro Aso denied prime minister Shinzo Abe was not considering a corporate tax cut – as the Nikkei newspaper had previously reported on Tuesday. Many have said such a tax cut would be a huge shot in the arm for Japan, which is languishing under huge [...]
Asos posts soaring profits October 25, 2012 Fashion retailer Asos this morning posted pre-tax profits of £44.5m in the year to August, up from £31.7m the year previously. Retail sales at the AIM-listed retailer rose to £538m over the year, with UK sales edging up to £205m. It posted a strong performance in overseas markets, and international sales were up 64 per [...]