FTSE 100 climbs despite new coronavirus rules but US stocks mixed September 22, 2020 After plunging yesterday, the FTSE 100 rose despite the UK government imposing new coronavirus restrictions, while US stocks were mixed. The UK blue-chip index was up 0.9 per cent to 5,858 points in afternoon trading. That was down significantly from its opening figure of above 6,000 yesterday, however. The FTSE 250 had risen 0.2 per [...]
Kingfisher profit jumps as online sales rise during lockdown September 22, 2020 B&Q-owner Kingfisher increased its pre-tax profit by 62.4 per cent in the first half of the year as a strong second quarter and online sales growth boosted the retail group. The FTSE 100 firm also said it had seen “an encouraging start to the second half of the year”. It said like-for-like sales were up [...]
FTSE 100 reshuffle: ITV set to tumble from the big league September 1, 2020 The FTSE 100 is set for another dramatic reshuffle as the blue-chip index adapts to life during the coronavirus pandemic, with telly stalwart ITV almost certain to drop from the list and bargain retailer B&M likely to rise. FTSE Russell, which runs the index, will decide who’s up and who’s down according to prices at [...]
B&Q owner Kingfisher forecasts higher profits as demand continues July 22, 2020 DIY retailer Kingfisher has forecast higher interim pre-tax profits as strong demand continued as lockdown restrictions started to ease. The figures Kingfisher, which owns B&Q, said like-for-like sales in the second quarter jumped 21.6 per cent, while year to date sales were down 3.7 per cent. The group, which also owns Screwfix, said based on [...]
Dwindling number of female chiefs as Card Factory boss leaves June 26, 2020 Karen Hubbard’s departure from Card Factory leaves no women at the top of any FTSE retailer. Hubbard claimed the status as the only female boss after a considerable drop in the number of women at the top of FTSE firms. This is despite around 60 per cent of the retail workforce are women while approximately [...]
FTSE 100 and Wall Street gain on signs of economic recovery June 23, 2020 The FTSE 100 closed up and Wall Street posted strong gains on Tuesday afternoon after new economic data signalled that business activity across the US, UK and the Eurozone was recovering faster than expected. Having risen steadily throughout the morning, the FTSE 100 pushed ahead in afternoon trading today as traders welcomed the most significant [...]
B&Q-owner Kingfisher bounces back after initial lockdown hit June 17, 2020 B&Q-owner Kingfisher has reported more than one-fifth rise in second quarter profit, as its stores in the UK and Europe emerged from coronavirus lockdowns. The home improvement group said on Wednesday that underlying sales grew 21.8 per cent year-on-year in the three months to June 13, as customers took on more DIY projects than before [...]
FTSE 100 quarterly review highlights the economy’s winners and losers June 4, 2020 Home-repairs company Homeserve, cybersecurity firm Avast, DIY group Kingfisher and gambling giant GVC were the four companies announced yesterday as being promoted to the FTSE 100 – the index of the 100 biggest UK companies.Cruise giant Carnival, airline easyJet, aerospace components firm Meggitt and British Gas-owner Centrica are all making way. The FTSE reshuffles its [...]
Coronavirus lockdown: Kingfisher sales plunge due to store closures May 12, 2020 B&Q owner Kingfisher reported plummeting sales in the first quarter due to coronavirus lockdown measures, but said trading was beginning to bounce back after stores reopened. The DIY retailer said first quarter like-for-like sales were down 24.8 per cent to £2.2bn due to the impact of coronavirus. Online growth increased fourfold from mid-March as Kingfisher [...]
B&Q reopens all 288 stores after social distancing measures implemented April 30, 2020 B&Q has reopened all of its UK stores from today after implementing new social distancing measures. The DIY retailer said all of its 288 stores were now open following temporary closures when the UK coronavirus lockdown was announced last month. Hardware shops were included on the government’s list of essential retailers that are allowed to [...]