FTSE 100 index rises over 6,000 mark as it opens sharply higher on oil companies as share price of BP and Shell rise with pharmaceuticals including Shire and AstraZeneca January 13, 2016 The FTSE 100 climbed back over the 6,000-point mark in the first hour of trading today, as the index rose after positive trade data from China helped abate fears of a possible slowdown in the world's second largest economy. Improvements in Chinese export data appear to suggest that while the economy is slowing, things may not be nearly [...]
Sainsbury’s share price drops, while Home Retail Group’s rises on back of detailed plan for renewed Argos bid January 13, 2016 Sainsbury's trading update may have beaten expectations – but attention has been focused on the supermarket's bid for Argos parent Home Retail Group. Although the original offer was rebuffed, Sainsbury's has until 2 February to decide whether to make a second bid. Renewed speculation has pushed Home's share price up five per cent, although Sainsbury's share [...]
Ted Baker posts double-digit sales growth over Christmas January 13, 2016 Ted Baker has avoided the warm weather woes hurting other fashion retailers this year to post a double-digit increase in sales over Christmas. The figures The lifestyle brand increased retail sales 10.1 per cent in the eight weeks to 9 January. Its ecommerce arm performed particularly well, with sales up 39.1 per cent. Average [...]
Sainsbury’s share price drops despite beating expectations as supermarket offers more detail on possible Argos deal January 13, 2016 Sainsbury's share price dropped this morning, despite beating expectations for the crucial Christmas period – and lifting the lid on its reasons for making a bid for Argos parent Home Retail Group. The figures Total retail sales for the supermarket were up 0.8 per cent in the 15 weeks to 9 January. Including fuel, sales were down [...]
Supermarket bosses have nowhere to hide January 13, 2016 Who said there’s blood on the high street? Retail stocks rose well into green territory yesterday, Morrisons up nine per cent and Debenhams a whopping 16 per cent higher, after both reported a jump in like-for-like sales. Defying City expectations, the pair of troubled FTSE-250 outlets remind us that retail should not be viewed as an [...]
Retailers sound alarm bells after one of toughest Christmas periods on record January 13, 2016 UK retailers have suffered one of their worst Christmas trading periods on record, according to new research showing a surge in the number of companies struggling to make ends meet. Turnaround specialist Begbies Traynor said 26,013 UK retailers entered the year in significant financial distress – nearly double the amount recorded in the fourth quarter [...]
Don’t leave your tax return until the last minute, warns Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, as deadline date for online filing falls on a Sunday this year January 12, 2016 The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has today urged people not to leave filing their tax return to the last second. The representative body for accountants warned that 31st January – the deadline date for filing a self-assessment tax return online – and 30th January were the busiest days for filing [...]
Aldi sold one million turkeys this Christmas January 12, 2016 Traditional retailers might have had a tough Christmas trading period, but Aldi continues to prove it's no turkey. The German grocer today said it experienced its highest ever sales in a single day this festive period – peaking on 23 December – since launching in the UK 25 years ago. The discount retailer welcomed "hundreds of [...]
Creme Egg on their face? Sales of Cadbury favourite drop after controversial recipe change January 12, 2016 It was the recipe change that provoked egg-sasperation among British consumers. A year ago today, confectionery fans across the UK were left shell-shocked, after Cadbury announced a changes the recipe of its much-loved Creme Eggs, abandoning its Dairy Milk recipe for the chocolate shell. "It's no longer Dairy Milk," a spokesman admitted at the time. "It is similar, but not [...]
FTSE 100 index opens up on supermarkets as share price of Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer rise following Morrisons results January 12, 2016 The FTSE 100 index opened higher this morning as housebuilders and supermarkets made gains. The UK's blue-chip index rose 0.2 per cent to 5,883 points, led higher by Tesco, Sainsbury's and housebuilder Berkeley Group. The index made gains despite continued scepticism about the state of the Chinese economy. Read more: And they’re off – Shire and Baxalta agree $32bn [...]