Croda sees strong start to year April 26, 2012 ■ British chemical maker Croda International’s first-quarter profit rose seven per cent helped by growth at its consumer care and performance technologies divisions. The company, which caters to cosmetics, healthcare, agriculture and homecare markets, said its quarterly results represented a strong start to the year. Croda reported January-March pre-tax profit of £65.1m from £60.7m a [...]
Borders and Southern in placing April 26, 2012 ■ Falklands oil explorer Borders and Southern yesterday announced a £46m placing aimed at further investigation of a gas find reported this week. The company placed 55.3m shares at £0.84 per share. Borders said more work would be carried out on its Darwin East well. Its share price fell after it announced the gas find [...]
Polyus confirms stake sale April 26, 2012 ■ Russia’s largest gold firm, Polyus Gold said yesterday it is working towards its goal of securing a premium listing in London and selling a 7.49 per cent stake held by its subsidiary, Jenington International. The stake is estimated to be worth up to $700m (£432m).
Asos hit as rate of growth dips in tough times April 26, 2012 ONLINE fashion retailer Asos yesterday reported a double whammy of a slowdown in sales growth, coupled with a drop in prices due to the reduction in spending power of its teenage customers. In the company’s fourth trading quarter in the three months to 31 March UK sales nudged up by only four per cent year-on-year. [...]
Costa coffee rolls in the beans for parent company Whitbread April 26, 2012 A SHARP rise in sales at the Costa cafe chain helped take its parent group Whitbread to an 11 per cent profits rise. The high street coffeehouse grew revenue by 27.5 per cent to £541.9m and upped its profits by 38 per cent to £69.7m in the year to 1 March. The strong performance boosted [...]
Starbucks sees 19pc profit jump despite lower sales in Europe April 26, 2012 EUROPE proved to be Starbucks’ achilles heel yesterday with the global coffee chain reporting lower than expected second-quarter global sales after demand in the region fell. Sales from cafes open at least 13 months fell one per cent in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) during the quarter, far short of expectations amid a [...]
Nintendo sees first annual loss as Wii sales slide April 26, 2012 NINTENDO sank to its first annual operating loss as its consoles failed to stave off the rise of mobile gaming. The Japanese company fell to a ¥37.3bn (£285m) operating loss from a ¥171bn profit last year. Net profits plunged ¥43.2bn into the red compared to a ¥77.6bn profit last year. The Kyoto-based company saw sales [...]
Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey boosted by order book growth April 26, 2012 HOUSEBUILDER Taylor Wimpey said yesterday that stable market conditions and a growing order book had helped it make a strong start to 2012, at the higher end of its expectations. The UK’s second largest housebuilder by volume said that its order book, excluding legal completions to date, had risen 23 per cent since the end [...]
HUGO BOSS PLANS CHINA EXPANSION April 26, 2012 GERMAN fashion house Hugo Boss said yesterday it would focus on opening its own stores and expanding into China as growth in the rest of the luxury industry slows in 2012. The group reported first quarter sales of €607m with operating profit up 13 per cent at €148m.
Greenwich to host cruise liners April 26, 2012 ■ Plans for a cruise liner terminal in Greenwich were approved yesterday, paving the way for the royal borough to become a new destination on cruise ship itineraries. Mayor Boris Johnson gave the go-ahead to the plans yesterday, which could be complete in two years.
