By: Felix Armstrong

Retail Reporter Felix Armstrong is City AM's retail reporter, covering retail, hospitality and property news. He has previously written for The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph and The i Paper. Email Felix at Felix.Armstrong@cityam.com

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FTSE 100 Live: Stocks to gain; oil steadies as Democrats push to end Iran war

FTSE 100 Live

Welcome back to City AM‘s FTSE 100 live blog. It’s Wednesday morning and UK stocks are set to gain, the day after hotter-than expected US inflation figures knocked investor sentiment to wipe out London’s earlier rallies on Tuesday. Brent crude prices are rising slightly this morning though they still remain near ten-week lows. In the [...]
WH Smith faces turnaround test to deter shortsellers

Retail

New WH Smith boss Leo Quinn is preparing to face shareholders. Felix Armstrong unpicks the many troubles facing the travel retailer Announcing the sale of its high street business in March last year, Carl Cowling, then WH Smith’s chief executive, hailed a “pivotal moment” for the retailer, promising “substantial growth and value for all stakeholders”. [...]
TM Lewin pivots to casualwear as AI drives dearth of new graduates

Retail

Shirtmaker TM Lewin is pivoting towards t-shirts and knitted sweaters as the AI-driven cutback in graduate hiring means fewer young workers need shirts and ties. The retailer, which was established in 1898, has expanded its range of casualwear since returning to British high streets after its collapse into administration at the start of the decade. [...]

Tinned tuna and hand sanitiser sales soar after shoppers told to stockpile

November 10, 2026

Essentials like tinned tuna and hand sanitiser began flying off of the shelves in the days following the government’s warning that Brits should start stockpiling. In the ten days after shoppers were told to build up piles of essentials, sales of hand sanitiser jumped by 83 per cent year-on-year, according to Worldpanel by Numerator. This [...]
Asda loses ground on rivals as turnaround efforts stall

November 10, 2026

Asda’s turnaround efforts have stalled after the discount supermarket was the UK’s only major grocer where sales fell last month. The supermarket chain posted £4bn in total takings in the 12 weeks to 1 November, 0.5 per cent lower than the same time a year ago, according to Worldpanel. The company’s share of the grocery [...]
As it happened: Oil at lowest since August; stocks hit by US inflation shock

November 10, 2026

Welcome back to City AM‘s FTSE 100 live blog. It’s Tuesday morning and UK stocks are climbing higher, with Georgian bank Lion Finance and carmaker Rolls Royce among the top risers. Tech stocks rebounded in the US overnight, despite Nvidia losing more than four per cent over its ‘honeytrap’ scandal. Oil prices are falling further [...]
An ex-DJ and a former Lord Mayor: Who is behind Poundland bidder Xyra Group?

November 10, 2026

Xyra Group is pulling ahead in the race to buy Poundland. Felix Armstrong explores who is behind this little-known investment firm A former DJ, an ex-builder and the 695th Lord Mayor of the City of London walk into a boardroom. Could they walk out as the new owners of Poundland? Xyra Group, an obscure investment [...]
Shoppers hold back spending ahead of Black Friday

November 10, 2026

British shoppers are holding back on spending ahead of Black Friday, dealing a further blow to retailers after they missed out on significant support at last month’s Budget. Total retail sales in the UK increased by 1.5 per cent year-on-year, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), against growth of 1.6 per cent in the [...]
Whitbread shareholders reject activist investor’s push for board seat

November 9, 2026

Premier Inn owner Whitbread has fought off pressure from an activist investor after shareholders rejected its bid for a board seat. The FTSE 100 hospitality firm hailed the “decisive” victory and said it would now ramp up efforts to deliver on its turnaround plan, which saw the group sell off all of its restaurants as [...]
Poundland ‘frontrunner’ Xyra Group asks retailer’s founder to join bid

November 9, 2026

The little-known investment firm emerging as a “frontrunner” to buy Poundland has called on Steve Smith, the retailer’s founder, to bolster its bid for the struggling firm. Xyra Group Holdings, founded by 23-year-old Manvedeep Singh, has asked Smith to lend support to their £12.5m bid to keep Poundland afloat as the discount retailer veers towards [...]

FTSE 100 Live: Stocks to gain; oil steadies as Democrats push to end Iran war

Where to eat in London on Beaujolais Day 2026

By: Felix Armstrong

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