HMV sales drop over quiet summer September 21, 2012 Embattled music retailer HMV said today that like for like sales dropped nearly 12 per cent over in a “very quiet” summer. Like for like sales fell 11.6 per cent in the 20 weeks leading up to 15 September and total group sales fell 14.8 per cent, following the closure of 60 of their 273 [...]
Hysteria is a coy toothless cartoon September 20, 2012 FILM HYSTERIA Cert 15 | * Hysteria, the story about the invention of the vibrator in Victorian London, could have been the perfect companion piece to Maggie Gyllenhaal’s sexually-charged 2002 movie, Secretary. It promises to be an exploration of female desire, a subject that remains something of a taboo in mainstream cinema. Instead, we get [...]
Huge iPhone sales set to boost Apple September 17, 2012 APPLE shares are in sight of a new record high of $700 this week, after early demand for the new iPhone 5 proved far greater than expected. Purchases made over the weekend were accompanied by a warning that delivery would take up to three weeks to arrive, after the initial batch of devices sold out [...]
MP: regulator is stalling redress to small firms September 16, 2012 THE FINANCIAL Services Authority (FSA) has been accused of delaying the redress payments to small firms hit by interest rate swap mis-selling, according to a campaigning MP. The redress system was set up by the FSA in conjunction with banks, but Guto Bebb MP believes the regulator may be delaying the scheme as some banks [...]
Next surprises with warning of autumn lull September 13, 2012 SHARES in Next tumbled 7.2 per cent yesterday after the fashion chain braced investors for a slow autumn. The group announced a better-than-expected 10.2 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to £251.3m for the six months to July. But Next spooked the markets by admitted that sales were “disappointing” in August and early September. Revenues [...]
Home Retail Group boosted by sales growth at Argos September 13, 2012 HOME Retail Group yesterday reported a return to quarterly growth at its flagship Argos chain, with sales up 1.4 per cent at £867m. Online purchases paid a key role in this growth, as they rose by 16 per cent, representing 42 per cent of total Argos sales. But the wet summer weather hit the group’s [...]
Nintendo up as Wii U ready for Christmas boost September 13, 2012 NINTENDO yesterday announced that its next generation Wii U video game console will be released in time for Christmas, as it aims to get a head start on rivals Sony and Microsoft. The Japanese company – which reported its first annual loss in its 123-year history this year as sales of its current Wii console [...]
Thorntons beats expectations as turnaround plan gains pace September 12, 2012 CHOCOLATE firm Thorntons yesterday posted better-than-expected results yesterday, as the beleaguered chain ended its first year of a three-year turnaround plan to revive the business. Group revenue fell to £217.1m from £218.3m the year before in the year to 30 June, while profit before tax and exceptional items fell 79 per cent to 0.9m, a [...]
High speed internet on your phone September 11, 2012 Q When will 4G be available on my mobile phone? A EE has started testing ahead of a rollout in the coming weeks in London, Cardiff, Birmingham and Bristol, with 12 other cities to follow by Christmas and more expansion next year. Only new EE customers will have 4G, although chief executive Olaf Swantee said [...]
Dixons wins Olympic boost from TV sales September 6, 2012 DIXONS Retail said this summer’s sporting events helped boost trading at its UK and Irish operations, as Europe’s second largest electricals retailer posted a five per cent rise in first quarter like-for-like sales. Chief executive Sebastian James said customers bought five times as many 55 inch TVs and treble the amount of Smart TVs than [...]