World Cup brings good news for JD Sports June 17, 2014 Retailer JD Sports Fashion has received a boost to its trading performance thanks to the World Cup, which has enhanced the most significant part of the company's business, the sports fascias. JD Sports said it was pleased with the underlying performance of this segment, while outdoor business is maintaining positive progress. However, the company said [...]
London Report: Healthy economic data due as the UK’s growth continues June 16, 2014 ONGOING growth is expected to be reflected in healthy economic data out this week, showing strength in public finances, consumer price inflation, retail sales and manufacturing. Howard Archer of IHS Global Insight said: “Consumer price inflation is expected to have edged back down to 1.7 per cent in May as some transport prices ease back [...]
Sports Direct eyes Cotswold June 12, 2014 SPORTS Direct has joined the bidding for Cotswold Outdoor, as Mike Ashley’s high street retailer looks to the great outdoors again following its unsuccessful bid Blacks Leisure two years ago. The firm is understood to have lodged a bid for Cotswold’s parent company AS Adventure, which owner Lion Capital has put up for sale with [...]
JD Sports chief executive steps down with immediate effect May 30, 2014 The chief executive officer of JD Sports, Barry Bown, will be stepping down from the board of the British retailer with immediate effect. Bown had been with the company since 1984. JD Sports said that with the role of executive chairman having been in place since 2004 and the development of the company's senior management [...]
JD Sports posts a jump in profit as Blacks and Millets break even April 15, 2014 A STRONG performance from JD Sports’ sportswear arm helped profits sprint ahead of expectations last year, despite losses at the retailer’s struggling fashion business. Adjusted pre-tax profit rose 27 per cent to £77m in the year to the beginning of February, beating analysts’ forecasts of around £71m. Chairman Peter Cowgill said the turnaround of Blacks [...]
JD Sports shares settle after profit surprise April 15, 2014 JD Sports has reported a profit before tax jump of 27 per cent to £77m, beating analysts' estimates of £74m. The results tell something of a mixed story, though. While its sportswear division is full-steam ahead, with profits up 20 per cent to £93.4m, in fashion it saw an operating loss before exceptions of £6.4m – [...]
What you need to know before the open April 15, 2014 European markets are expected flat to mixed this morning, following yesterday’s turnaround on the back of a strong retail sales reading from the US, which quelled fears over the situation in Ukraine. The concern is, though, that investors have over-valued the retail sector. And meanwhile, there are worries that the EU’s somewhat muddled response to [...]
London Report: Cheer for UK as real pay up and inflation falling April 14, 2014 BRITAIN’S economy is set to put the recession firmly behind this week with news of the first real wage growth in four years and falling unemployment. Inflation and unemployment data are expected to show wage growth in March beating inflation. Capital Economics’ Paul Hollingsworth said: “The latest earnings data should show that the squeeze on [...]
The UK’s 50 biggest companies that still have all-male boards March 26, 2014 UK companies are closing in on a government target to see women in 25 per cent of FTSE 100 board positions. That's according to the 2014 Cranfield Female FTSE board report, which shows that just 48 more women are needed on the boards of Britain's top companies for the target to be met. Just two [...]
Prezzo, Wagamama and GBK bring mobile payments to the high street March 21, 2014 RESTAURANT group Prezzo is introducing mobile payments to its 200 UK stores in a move that allows customers to pay directly from their smartphones without bringing a debit or credit card with them. The new payment technology, rolled out in partnership with PayPal, lets customer split a bill between friends and pay for their meal at [...]