Back on track? Toymaker Hornby’s sales in line with expectations as shares rise February 7, 2017 Shares in Hornby steamed ahead by as much as 24 per cent in early trading as it said that full year revenues are on track to be in line with expectations. In a trading update, Hornby said: “As previously announced, revenue is expected to decline by around 20-25 per cent this financial year due to [...]
Gospel Oak to Barking line reopens on 27 February but more disruption is on the cards after work wasn’t completed on time February 7, 2017 Good news: the London Overground line between Gospel Oak and Barking will reopen to passengers on Monday 27 February. Bad news: despite a phased eight-month closure, the work hasn't been finished on time and more needs to be done. Work began on the £130m upgrade in June 2016. Along the 14-mile route, a number of [...]
New Look suffers “disappointing” sales drop during crucial Christmas shopping period February 7, 2017 New Look did not have a very merry Christmas, failing to bag a sales boost during the most important period of the year for retailers. The figures New Look said group like-for-like sales fell 4.6 per cent in the 13 weeks to 24 December, with sales in the UK down 4.7 per cent on the same [...]
FirstGroup gets Brexit boost from sterling despite flat performance in UK February 7, 2017 FirstGroup enjoyed a Brexit boost as the devaluation of sterling delivered a strong revenue increase despite its continued struggles in its UK buses business. The figures Group revenue increased by 12.8 per cent because of the devaluation of sterling since the EU referendum, as foreign earnings became more valuable. Without the sterling boost the group’s [...]
UK retail sales fell in January in a reversal of fortunes for the sector February 7, 2017 UK retail sales fell in January as shoppers curbed spending on non-food items. On a like-for-like basis, retail sales fell 0.6 per cent in January as compared to the same month a year before, reversing a sales rise of one per cent in December. Total sales rose just 0.1 per cent, against a 3.3 per [...]
Unicredit shares down more than five per cent as Italy’s biggest bank kicks off Italy’s largest ever rights issue February 6, 2017 Unicredit shares are currently trading down more than five per cent after Italy's biggest bank kicked off its bumper €13bn (£11.2bn) rights issue this morning. The rights issue, which is the country's largest ever, forms part of a wider turnaround plan announced by Unicredit's relatively new chief executive Jean Pierre Mustier late last year to bolster the lender's [...]
Watch news: Omega’s new hashtag-inspired timepiece and a Tudor for lefties February 6, 2017 The hashtag that Omega Built The story could well be titled “Swiss watch brand in social-media savvy shocker”. Because Omega has gone and launched a watch based on an Instagram hashtag. Since 2012, thanks to Fratello Watches founder Robert-Jan Broer, fans of Omega’s Speedmaster chronograph (NASA’s preferred wristwatch, no less) have been sharing pictures of [...]
Flopshop: Arcadia Group brand Topshop’s sales drop over Christmas February 5, 2017 Sir Philip Green’s fashion brand Topshop suffered a like-for-like sales drop of nearly 11 per cent over Christmas, the most important shopping period of the year. The Sunday Times has reported that sales across the Arcadia Group as a whole, which includes Dorothy Perkins, Wallis and Evans, fell by about 6.5 per cent. The poor [...]
Horse racing betting tips: The Sun will come out in Saturday’s Edinburgh National February 3, 2017 PLENTY of southern-based trainers are making the long pilgrimage up to Musselburgh in search of better ground. Nicky Henderson’s well-regarded Charli Parcs missed his intended engagement at Cheltenham last Saturday because of the conditions and will be a warm order in the Triumph Hurdle Trial (1.30pm) if lining up. A far more interesting betting heat [...]
Renters rejoice: Homelet predicts a fall in housing costs for February February 3, 2017 London renters don't often have much to smile about: crazy demand to see 'cosy' apartments, sky-high agency fees (although they will soon be a thing of the past), and the endless march of rents taking an ever-larger chunk of our pay…until now. Renters in the capital may get a small respite this month, with Homelet [...]