Italy consumers confident after two-year gap September 25, 2013 CONSUMER confidence in Italy has finally rebounded this month, responding to the Eurozone’s fragile recovery from an 18-month recession. According to official statistics released yesterday, Italian consumer confidence is in positive territory for the first time since August 2011, just after the European Central Bank’s last attempt to hike interest rates. The headline index for [...]
Mr Men exchange market wisdom September 25, 2013 CHINA’S online shopping giant Alibaba has dumped Hong Kong in favour of New York for its upcoming initial public offering, but it seems that the Hong Kong stock exchange’s boss is remaining philosophical about his market’s way of doing things. While we’re used to bulls and bears in the financial world, more unusual are Charles [...]
Baker crashes Labour’s party September 25, 2013 LIBERAL Democrat politician Norman Baker made audacious inroads into the Labour Party conference yesterday, taking a bus ride along the Brighton seafront to promote a new transport initiative aimed at young people. The Capitalist’s mole at the conference said Baker was not spotted by attendees spilling out from the nearby Brighton Centre during his lunch-time [...]
Better trading lifts Topps Tiles’ income outlook September 25, 2013 TOPPS Tiles, Britain’s largest specialist tile retailer, said yesterday that cost savings and better trading in its fourth quarter would help the firm post a small rise in full-year profit. The company, which has 328 stores and also sells flooring, said it expected to post an adjusted pre-tax profit for the 52 weeks to 28 [...]
Punch Taverns moves towards restructuring after profit drops September 25, 2013 PUB company Punch Taverns said yesterday full-year profit fell by almost a quarter, and that the firm could kick off a restructuring plan later this year. Pre-tax profit for the year to 17 August fell 23 per cent to £49m after it reduced the size of its estate. Revenues fell seven per cent to £458m. [...]
Laura Ashley to target younger homebuyers after drop in sales September 25, 2013 LAURA Ashley is planning to tap in to the recovery in the housing market by targeting younger customers for its homewares division after a lacklustre performance from its fashion range hurt sales and its shares. Famous for its feminine and floral designs, the 60-year-old firm said yesterday it planned to make its furniture, home accessories [...]
New products help PZ Cussons lather up sales September 25, 2013 PRODUCT launches and flat costs have helped consumer goods group PZ Cussons trade in line with forecasts since June, the firm said in an update yesterday. The firm, which relaunched Imperial Leather over the summer, said the appointment of Kate Moss as a brand ambassador had also given a boost to its St Tropez fake [...]
Canadian entertainment group boosted by media acquisition September 25, 2013 ENTERTAINMENT One yesterday reported that its revenues are significantly higher for the year so far, compared to 2012, on the back of its purchase of Alliance Films in January. In the trading statement the Canadian entertainment company said its full-year earnings are expected to be in line with management expectations. “Digital revenues in the division [...]
Analyst Views: Are you impressed by PZ Cussons’ trading update? September 25, 2013 DARREN SHIRLEY SHORE CAPITAL“There’s a similar sort of momentum to this update as there was at the end of the [financial] year. There is some robust commentary about the performance in the UK. But particularly in the Nigerian business, the important period will be the next quarter. I would be surprised if there were any [...]
HBO swoops for Sky Living comedy series September 25, 2013 US NETWORK HBO yesterday snapped up the North American broadcast rights for a new Sky Living comedy series, written by and starring The Newsroom’s Emily Mortimer (right). Doll & Em, a six-part series produced by Mortimer and Alessandro Nivola’s King Bee Productions, will air on Sky this year.