Walmart in overseas lift as US drags May 17, 2011 WALMART posted a bigger-than-expected jump in quarterly profit yesterday despite a further drop in sales at US stores. A strong performance overseas fuelled the profit as the US market lagged behind. Walmart’s international sales rose 11.5 per cent to almost $28bn (£17.2bn) for the three months to the end of April. Markets including China and [...]
Oil price fall fuels hopes of cheaper petrol May 11, 2011 CRUDE oil prices dropped below $100 a barrel and US petrol futures slumped yesterday, fuelling hopes that UK forecourt prices may fall substantially soon. Crude futures plunged more than five per cent in the week’s second major oil price fall, with light sweet crude for June hitting a low of $97.50 (£59.55). Brent crude traded [...]
THE TIPSTER May 9, 2011 SAINSBURY’S, the third largest supermarket by market share after Tesco and Asda, is expecting a rise in pre-tax profit by eight per cent to £659m when it reports on Wednesday. The top three chains have all dropped market share since April 2010, which suggests shoppers may be looking for cheaper alternatives such as Aldi and [...]
Tesco rapped over Asda claim April 13, 2011 Supermarket giant Tesco has been reprimanded for making misleading claims about rival Asda prices. In a national press advertisement, Tesco featured a selection of fresh food products displaying their in-store prices, and those of the same or equivalent products at Asda. Tesco was hitting back at Asda’s price guarantee campaign which guarantees the price of [...]
US investor gives Home Retail a boost April 5, 2011 HOME Retail Group saw its shares jump yesterday after US private equity firm Madison Dearborn Capital Partners upped its stake. The Argos and Homebase owner issued a profit warning last month but was buoyed by the move from across the Atlantic. Tradewinds Global Investors, controlled by Chicago-based Madison, held 4.25 per cent of Home Retail’s [...]
SocialGO swings into profit March 30, 2011 UK social network SocialGO saw its revenues rise 183 per cent year-on-year after adding a number of high profile clients including Hilton Hotels, Texas Instruments, Asda and Levi’s. The firm said its profits were £238,000, compared to a loss of £24,000 the previous year. SocialGO focuses on providing personalised social networks for schools, sports clubs, [...]
TESCO CAPS ITS PRICE CHECK OFFER March 27, 2011 TESCO has been forced to cap its offer to refund double the difference on products that can be bought for less at Asda. The supermarket giant has introduced a £20 maximum refund on its Price Check offer after canny shoppers researched Asda deals and made sizeable claims. Tesco claims they profited by finding Asda promotions.
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS March 27, 2011 HDG Mansur The real estate fund and asset management firm has appointed Jeremy Thorman as sales liaison manager for its mixed-use development in Finzels Reach, Bristol. Thorman will manage the link between sales and construction for the £255m development, working with senior managing director Michael Baker. Thorman joins from European Land and has also held [...]
Sainsbury’s misses quarter four target as times get tough March 23, 2011 J Sainsbury, the third-biggest supermarket group, missed fourth-quarter sales forecasts and said trading was likely to remain tough as shoppers face rising fuel prices and government spending cuts. The group, which trails Wal-Mart’s Asda and industry leader Tesco by annual sales, said on sales at stores open over a year rose one per cent, excluding [...]
Morrisons profit up as it unveils share buyback March 10, 2011 Supermarket group Morrisons has reported a rise in annual profit and issued details o f a share buyback plan. The company announced a pre-tax profit of £874m for the 12 months to the end of January, up from the £858m it made in the same period a year ago. Like-for-like sales, excluding fuel and VAT, [...]