Warner gets ready for takeover offers February 20, 2011 WARNER Music Group is ready to hear from up to 20 takeover bidders this week, a source close to the company confirmed yesterday, as the major label races to the market ahead of rival EMI. New York-listed Warner hired Goldman Sachs last month to examine its options, which could lead to the sale of all [...]
FTSE briefly breaks 6,000 mark in final pre-holiday trading December 23, 2010 LONDON’S last full trading day before Christmas saw the lead share index briefly break the symbolic 6,000 mark before finally closing at 5,982. Energy shares led the rally with BP up 1.4 per cent, underpinned by gains in the price of crude, which held around $90 (£58.30) a barrel and neared a two-year high. Some [...]
Dunelm hit by tough Xmas January 11, 2011 HOMEWARE retailer Dunelm said it was cautious about the second half of the year due to the impact of tax rises and higher cotton prices, following a tough Christmas. Dunelm, which sells products like curtains, bedding, blinds, rugs and lighting, announced yesterday that like-for-like sales fell 1.2 per cent in the 26 weeks to 1 [...]
Dunelm hit by tough Xmas January 11, 2011 HOMEWARE retailer Dunelm said it was cautious about the second half of the year due to the impact of tax rises and higher cotton prices, following a tough Christmas. Dunelm, which sells products like curtains, bedding, blinds, rugs and lighting, announced yesterday that like-for-like sales fell 1.2 per cent in the 26 weeks to 1 [...]
CITY VIEWS: CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF BUYING GOODS OR SERVICES THROUGH YOUR SMARTPHONE? January 5, 2011 ADRIAN MILNE | ACCENTURE “Yes. I really like the idea of purchasing food – and especially pizza – through my smartphone” ANDREW HIBBARD | TRANSATLANTIC REINSURANCE I’m on the fence. I could see myself buying from Amazon but with items like clothes, I’d much rather try them on” KEIR MCCARTHY | BULLHORN “Definitely. In fact, [...]
Morrisons in slim Xmas sales rise January 10, 2011 Wm Morrison Supermarkets posted a modest rise in Christmas sales – held back by disruption from severe weather and a tough consumer backdrop. Britain’s fourth-biggest grocer behind market leader Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s said sales at stores open at least a year rose one per cent excluding fuel and VAT sales tax in the six [...]
Park sees Xmas savings jump December 9, 2010 Christmas savings group Park has reported a jump in savings as a growing number of people are putting money aside for the coming festive season. The company, which encourages consumers to put away regular savings for Christmas and guarantees a minimum of one per cent interest, said Christmas savings increased by 37 per cent to [...]
Primark fuels AB Foods sales rise January 20, 2011 Primark-owner Associated British Foods reported a ten per cent rise in first-quarter sales led by its discount fashion retailer and saw further growth ahead despite the effect of higher commodity costs. The London-based group, which markets Silver Spoon sugar, Twining tea and Ovaltine drinks, said on Thursday its 214 Primark store chain had traded well [...]
Tax officials’ bonuses to be curbed after bumper 2010 January 23, 2011 BONUSES received by tax officials will be curbed in line with the rest of the public sector, following revelations that top HMRC staff received a bumper £13m bonus payment between them last year. The Revenue paid out almost £800,000 more on staff bonuses last year than it did in 2009, despite a blunder in the [...]
Tax officials’ bonuses to be curbed after bumper 2010 January 23, 2011 BONUSES received by tax officials will be curbed in line with the rest of the public sector, following revelations that top HMRC staff received a bumper £13m bonus payment between them last year. The Revenue paid out almost £800,000 more on staff bonuses last year than it did in 2009, despite a blunder in the [...]