Thomas Cook September 28, 2010 INVESTORS have lost patience in trusting Thomas Cook to deliver an Indian summer. Yesterday’s £10m downgrade to full-year profits comes fast on top of August’s profit warning, and sent investors scurrying for warmer climes. The shares’ 6.3 per cent fall to 171.7p means they now stand at their lowest point since December 2008, and are [...]
Jacques Vert sales on the rise September 28, 2010 Jacques Vert’s like-for-like sales rose 3.6 per cent for the first 22 weeks of its financial year. The womenswear group, which includes the Jacques Vert, Windsmoor, Planet and Precis chains, said that gross margin over the period was in line with expectations, but slightly lower than last year. In a statement co-inciding with thecompany’s AGM [...]
Aston Martin UK’s coolest brand September 28, 2010 Sports car maker Aston Martin is the coolest brand in Britain, according to a survey. Renowned for making vehicles driven by James Bond, it came top of the annual poll, reclaiming the number one spot from Apple’s iPhone which came second. Apple’s iPod was named third coolest, followed by Blackberry and stereo and TV maker [...]
IRN-BRU PUTS FIZZ IN AG BARR PROFIT September 28, 2010 IRN-BRU maker AG Barr has seen its profit and revenues fizz in the first half and is planning to sell more drinks south of the border through advertising campaigns. The Scottish drinks firm saw pre-tax profit rise 18.8 per cent to £16m from £13.5m the year before. Chief executive Roger White (pictured) said: “In Scotland [...]
JJB discounts send share price down September 28, 2010 JJB SPORTS saw is shares slide yesterday after it admitted it would be forced to step up promotions in the face of the gloomy consumer environment. The retailer said tough times required slashing prices – but the stock plummeted after the announcement closing 14.6 per cent lower at 9.4p. The 249-store-group said sales at stores [...]
Travel cover market slow September 28, 2010 THE need for comprehensive travel insurance has been highlighted this year by the Icelandic volcanic eruption and the travel chaos that ensued. The plight of Britons without adequate coverage – often examined in gruesome detail by the press this summer – has meant that we are more wary of the need for better safeguards when [...]
Game Group to close 85 UK stores as sales plunge September 28, 2010 COMPUTER games retailer Game swung to a worse-than-expected first-half loss as it cut prices to hold market share, and said new technology products will take time to benefit its results. Game, which trades from over 1,300 outlets in nine European countries and Australia, said 85 UK stores would close because of difficult trading. The retailer, [...]
Withdrawals still a drag on Man’s profits September 28, 2010 THE WORLD’S biggest listed hedge fund, Man Group, has clocked up an eighth consecutive quarter of net withdrawals, as an improved performance from its flagship AHL fund failed to stem the outflow of private client money. Man, which in May agreed to buy GLG Partners in a $1.6bn (£1.01bn) deal, recorded net outflows of $600m [...]
ANALYST VIEWS: WHAT IS THE OUTLOOK FOR MAN GROUP? September 28, 2010 DAVID MCCANN | NUMIS “Flows, performance and fees were weaker than expected in the first half, but we remain positive on the stock as we believe the combined Man/GLG could become one of the most powerful forces in both product and distribution in the alternatives space, in which we expect structural growth in the future.” [...]
High street sales jump September 28, 2010 THE British high street enjoyed a surprisingly healthy September, according to the CBI’s distributive trades survey with the balance of retailers reporting that sales were higher compared to a year earlier rising to the highest level since May 2004. A net 49 per cent said that sales volumes were greater than a year earlier thanks [...]