M&S margins in squeeze July 10, 2011 MARKS & SPENCER gives a first quarter trading update this week, with analysts predicting pressure on margins after the retailer launched its earliest ever summer sale. Chief executive Marc Bolland is overhauling the retailer with a plan aimed at improving web sales and bringing in hundreds of new food lines. Keith Bowman at Hargreaves Lansdown [...]
THERE IS NO BATTLE: KLOSTERMANN DENIES FRAUD LORD FEUD August 18, 2011 DON’T BELIEVE the “tittle tattle” you read in the gossip columns, says Brocket Hall owner Dieter Klostermann, who yesterday turned to this gossip column to put the record straight about that feud with Lord Charlie Brocket. Klostermann’s leisure group CCA International bought Brocket Hall in 1996, after Brocket was jailed for a £4.5m classic cars [...]
Markets hit by US debt wrangling July 25, 2011 Stocks suffered another difficult day as sovereign debt worries, this time from the US, weighed on markets. The FTSE 100 saw volatile trading with low volumes as investors anxiously watched for signs of a breakthrough between Democrats and Republicans over the US’ national debt ceiling. The parties are at loggerheads and have just days left [...]
FTSE up but GDP data casts shadow July 26, 2011 Investors were apparently gaining in confidence that the US would break its deadlock over a debt deal as the FTSE 100 opened on the front foot today. The US is under pressure to rescue its Triple A credit rating by upping its debt ceiling – a controversial move which has driven a wedge between Republicans [...]
Luxury’s new wave of miniature fashion fans June 5, 2011 GUCCI, Burberry, Missoni, our small but perfectly formed progeny are getting increasingly luxurious tastes. Or, more to the point, we are on their behalf. Luxury designer clothing, gadgets and home wears for children are booming as parents – even throughout a recession – lavish increasing amounts on their little darlings. According to the Datamonitor Group, [...]
Miners lead FTSE up as China injects confidence July 13, 2011 The FTSE 100 bounced back today despite the deepening Eurozone crisis which has seen Ireland’s credit rating downgraded to junk by ratings agency Moody’s. Miners led the fight back on the blue chip index while investors across Europe were given a boost by positive economic data from China. Its GDP rose 9.5 per cent in [...]
M&S set to outline plans for growth alongside profit rise May 22, 2011 HIGH STREET stalwart Marks & Spencer is expected to post a 12 per cent rise in full-year profit tomorrow, as the retailer outlines plans for growth overseas and online. M&S is likely to post a £710m pre-tax profit, according to consensus estimates, which is set to lead to a rise in its dividend to 16.5p, [...]
BURBERRY SEES PROFIT FUELLED BY ASIA November 16, 2010 PROFITS have soared at fashion company Burberry after strong sales in Asia. The luxury goods group beat forecasts with a 49 per cent rise in first half pre-tax profits to £129m China has become one of the fastest growing markets for the company’s red and black checked patterned goods. Meanwhile luxury brand Barbour, famous for [...]
THE TIPSTER May 23, 2011 WITH another ash cloud looming, attention will inevitably turn to the airline sector that saw such high levels of disruption back in April 2010, when major airlines saw their profits take a battering on the back of long periods of aircraft down-time and general flight disruption. Admittedly, authorities know what they’re dealing with this time, [...]
Banks hit by S&P Greece default blow July 4, 2011 Banking shares took a hit in early trading after ratings agency S&P issued a fresh warning over the Greek debt crisis. S&P said Greece would be likely to default if it follows a debt rollover plan in which French banks would allow the country to pay back its debt to them over decades. Investors were [...]