No Brexit storm for Kingfisher as it retains DIY crown with higher sales and profits September 20, 2016 B&Q owner Kingfisher has posted a strong set of results for the first six months of its financial year and said there is "no evidence" the EU referendum result dented its performance, sending its shares up two per cent at the open. The figures The DIY giant, which also owns Screwfix, said underlying pre-tax profits [...]
B&Q owner Kingfisher says it is still on track with its “ambitious” five-year plan May 24, 2016 DIY retailer Kingfisher posted growth in the majority of its markets in a trading update released this morning and said it was on track to deliver its "ambitious" five-year plan. The figures Total sales rose 5.1 per cent for the group to £2.73bn, including new openings in the three months to April, in line with expectations. [...]
Australia’s Wesfarmers in advanced talks to buy Home Retail Group’s Homebase for £340m January 13, 2016 Home Retail Group last night signalled the break-up of its retail empire after revealing that it is in advanced talks to sell Homebase to one of Australia’s biggest listed companies for £340m. The Perth-based Wesfarmers, which operates department stores and supermarkets as well as coal production facilities, began talks with Home Retail in September before [...]
Bank’s decision to hold rates helps FTSE rise – London Report October 9, 2015 THE BANK of England’s decision yesterday to keep interest rates at record low levels contributed to rises in the blue-chip FTSE 100 index. A continuing surge in energy and mining shares also helped the index to maintain a run of rises. The FTSE 100 ended 0.6 per cent stronger at 6,374.82 points, outperforming major European [...]
FTSE lifts after strong opening on Wall Street – London Report September 16, 2015 Britain’s top equity index turned higher in thin trade yesterday, as a strong start to trade on Wall Street helped lift mining stocks off their lows. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed up 0.9 per cent higher at 6,137.60 points, turning higher as Wall Street gained following a climb in retail sales. The move helped [...]
Weaker French demand weighs on Kingfisher September 16, 2015 SHARES in Kingfisher took a hit yesterday after the B&Q and Castorama owner said weaker-than-expected demand in France offset a stronger sales performance in Britain. The DIY giant, which also owns Brico Depot and Screwfix, said adjusted pre-tax profits fell by 2.3 per cent to £384m in the six months to 1 August, blaming adverse [...]
Tobacco firms take the puff out of FTSE amid merger talks – London Report March 31, 2015 WEAKER tobacco and commodity company stocks hit Britain’s leading share index yesterday – but the FTSE 100 still managed to make its biggest quarterly gain since 2013. The FTSE was down 118.39 points, or 1.7 per cent, at 6,773.04 by the close, but is up 3.2 per cent this year. Consumer staple stocks were responsible [...]
Stimulus hopes in China help to send FTSE up – London Report March 30, 2015 EXPECTATIONS that more infrastructure spending and policy stimulus in China will boost mining companies yesterday sent Britain’s top share index higher. The blue chip FTSE 100 index finished 0.5 per cent higher at 6,891.43 points, after dropping 2.4 per cent last week. The index rose towards a record high of 7,065.08 set last Tuesday, but [...]
Kingfisher share price jumps as it gives up on plans to buy French chain Mr Bricolage March 30, 2015 Looks like B&Q's owner has got itself into a (Screw)fix, after it revealed its plans to buy Mr Bricolage are about to fall through. In a statement to the stock market this morning, Kingfisher said its agreement to buy the French DIY chain, made almost exactly a year ago, was "made provision that it would [...]
Kingfisher in a fix over buying out Mr Bricolage March 24, 2015 EUROPE’S biggest DIY group Kingfisher yesterday suffered a setback to its bid for Mr Bricolage after facing opposition from one the French rival’s major shareholders. The B&Q owner, which makes about half of its annual profit in France, said the board of Mr Bricolage and the franchisee group ANPF, a major shareholder, “have reservations” about [...]