London Report: Scotland and MPC minutes the main focus for the City September 14, 2014 ALL EYES will be on the result of Thursday’s Scottish referendum, with market watchers keen to know whether or not the 300-year-old union will continue. As far as more normal risk events are concerned, the main one will be Wednesday’s release of the latest set of MPC meeting minutes. That will be complemented by the [...]
Jackets and swim trunks propel Pentland near £2bn in revenues June 23, 2014 HIGHER international sales of Speedo swimwear and Berghaus jackets helped leisure group Pentland boost revenues by 10 per cent last year to £1.9bn, according to annual results. The group, which owns a variety of iconic UK fashion brands like Boxfresh, Mitre and Ellesse and licenses for footwear by Kickers, Lacoste and Ted Baker, reported a [...]
JD Sports half-time report good as World Cup gives sales a boost June 17, 2014 JD Sports has enjoyed a boost in sales in the build-up to the World Cup, the retailer said yesterday. However, the company remained tight-lipped on like-for-like sales figures, warning they would be “misleading” because of the different trading conditions in the lead up to the tournament. In an interim management statement covering the 18 weeks [...]
Analyst Views: Does JD Sports’ half-time statement bode well for the future? June 17, 2014 NICK BUBB | INDEPENDENT ANALYST It’s not often that retailers don’t provide like-for-like sales figures because they would look too good, yet that is what JD Sports stated in its trading update. Apart from the World Cup boost, it was moderately encouraging to hear that the struggling outdoor and fashion divisions are doing better. FREDDIE [...]
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 – [...]