Holiday season sees bumper bike sales for Halfords January 16, 2014 Halfords Group has reported strong growth for the 15 and 41-week periods to 10 January. The company received a boost from bumper retail cycling sales, which grew 19 per cent over the 15 week period to 10 January. The group enjoyed a particularly strong performance in accessories and children's bikes. Online retail sales also boomed [...]
Here’s how Argos made a fierce comeback at the end of last year January 16, 2014 Argos has become the latest digital winner at Christmas, as more companies label their online offering the strand that brought them festive sales success. Internet and mobile technology sales buoyed the high street shop's Christmas performance, despite a "challenging consumer environment", owner Home Retail Group said this morning. In a separate statement, the parent company confirmed [...]
Ladbrokes says it’s on track – but will markets buy it? January 16, 2014 Gaming company Ladbrokes has said it expects operating profit for the year ended 31 December 2013 to be roughly in the middle of the current range of analysts' forecasts of £129.8m to £151m It also confirmed that the upgrading of the gaming machines estate will be completed in time for the World Cup in June [...]
What you need to know before the open – 16/01 January 16, 2014 European markets are expected to open a shade higher this morning, after yesterday's five-and-a-half-year high. US inflation numbers are out later today and are predicted to show that prices rose in December – following in the footsteps of yesterday's increased PPI figures. Yesterday's Beige Book survey also reinforced a continued pick up in the economy. [...]
Primark’s “excellent” Christmas bolsters AB Foods January 16, 2014 Primark has come in, as expected, as a winner over Christmas – proof that cheaper products can keep value in bricks and mortar. The budget high street store saw "excellent Christmas trading" as consumers continued to flock to its stores. Sales jumped 14 per cent at actual rates (12 per cent at constant rates) [...]
Bovis Homes average sale price jumps 14pc January 16, 2014 British housebuilder Bovis Homes has reported impressive results in its trading update for the year ended 31 December 2013. In line with other competitors Bovis has reported a hefty increase in its average sales price. The company announced that its average sales price jumped 14 per cent to £195,100 up from £170,700 in 2012. The [...]
Labour’s bank plans slammed January 15, 2014 MARK Carney dismissed key planks in Labour’s agenda for bank reform yesterday, in a humiliating blow for Ed Miliband. The governor of the Bank of England argued against a “crude bonus cap” and plans for limiting big banks’ market share. Meanwhile the Labour leader called for the government to reject any demand from RBS that [...]
Fears rise over crash in key shipping index January 15, 2014 WORRIES over the strength of the global economic recovery have been sparked this week by a near 40 per cent collapse in a key benchmark. The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) records the cost of shipping raw materials around the world, and is used by some analysts as an indicator of economic health in the near [...]
Carney: House price boom set to end in 2016 January 15, 2014 BANK of England governor Mark Carney expects the recent surge in the property market to cool by 2016, as figures today confirm that house sales have returned to levels last seen in early 2008. The governor said that he is projecting “a continuation of the current momentum into 2014, before decelerating around the middle of [...]
Game on: Retailer eyes a float as Grand Theft Auto helps its revival January 15, 2014 GAME’s radical turnaround since collapsing into administration in 2012 was underscored yesterday after the retailer revealed that sales had almost doubled over Christmas, paving the way for a potential float. Total sales rocketed 83 per cent in the six weeks to 4 January, helped by the popularity of Grand Theft Auto V. The firm is [...]