Analysts say Frasers ‘was right’ about Mulberry as it faces long road to recovery November 19, 2024 Analysts have painted a grim picture for the future of British luxury fashion brand Mulberry, which announced its half-year results this morning. It implied job cuts with talk of “streamlining” the business, and told markets that retail sales and revenue dropped 17 per cent and 19 per cent, respectively. Its share price fell 10 per [...]
Why a 24 per cent drop in insolvencies is not all it seems November 19, 2024 At first glance, the Government’s new figures on insolvencies appear cheery, with the number of companies going bust over the last year down 24 per cent, from 2,293 to 1,747. But analysts have suggested figures may have more to do with falling interest rates than the general health of the economy, in addition to warning [...]
Insolvencies set to rise as Budget hikes business costs, Begbies Traynor warns November 18, 2024 A combination of elevated interest rates and higher business costs resulting from the Budget is set to lead to a spike in insolvencies, Begbies Traynor has warned. In last month’s Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves increased the amount employers have to pay in NICs by 1.2 per cent, and lowered the wage threshold at which employers [...]
Marston’s in ‘strong’ position as pub chain outperforms market October 9, 2024 Pub operator Marston’s has reported sales growth ahead of the wider market and said its profit this year will be in line with expectations. The FTSE-listed firm told markets this morning that total retail sales for the 52-weeks to 28 September were 5.8 per cent higher than the prior year, with growth in like-for-like sales [...]
Kingfisher shares soar: B&Q owner sales dip as customers shun ‘big-ticket’ items September 17, 2024 B&Q owner Kingfisher has reported a “resilient” set of results after a series of profit warnings last year, but weaker sales in France continued to weigh on profit. According to its half-year earnings for the six months ended 31 July 2024, sales fell by 1.8 per cent overall, to £6.75bn from £6.9bn, while gross profit [...]
WH Smith shares jump on buyback plan after pension buy-out frees up cash September 11, 2024 WH Smith has announced strong revenue growth, driven by a boost in its airport and train station stores and a £50m share buyback programme. It also announced a £85m cash benefit as the result of its pension fund buy-out. Shares in WH Smith rose more than 12 per cent in early trades. Revenue at the [...]
Barratt: Profit halves at housebuilder but firm optimistic after Redrow deal September 4, 2024 Housebuilder Barratt reported a halving in profit and drop in completions amid a challenging housing market, but has said it is optimistic about the future. Barratt said its total home completions in the year ended 30 June reached 14,004, down 18.6 per cent from 17,206 in 2023 but at the upper end of the company’s [...]
Hays results ‘lay bare’ UK recruitment crisis August 22, 2024 Recent results from the UK’s leading recruitment firms have been, quite frankly, dismal: profit has collapsed across the board as firms struggle to stay afloat amid a sharp downturn in the market. The sector boomed in 2020 after the tech sector led to a surge in hiring, and increases in wage offers helped attract new [...]
Hays: Recruiter’s profit crashes as ‘low confidence levels’ hit hiring August 22, 2024 Global recruitment giant Hays has become the latest industry player to report a dismal set of results, citing cost-cutting at previously high-spending firms and cautious hiring. The FTSE-250 company had already warned it was set for a “subdued summer” due to expenses related to its cost-cutting drive designed to boost long-term profitability in a tough [...]
Natwest to ‘suffer significant shortfall’ with a 90 per cent loss after Island Poke collapse August 8, 2024 Natwest is on course to “suffer a significant shortfall” following the collapse of London-based Hawaiian food chain Island Poke, it has been revealed. The bank is one of the major creditors to the business which was sold in a pre-pack administration to a subsidiary of hospitality incubator White Rabbit Fund in July. The food business [...]