The year in preview: Our in-depth guide January 5, 2014 City A.M.’s journalists take a wide-ranging look at what 2014 has in store for the world of finance and business BANKINGRestoring faith means costly overhaulsA CAUTIOUS optimism pervades the British and European banking system at the start of 2014. The incoming economic recovery is at last improving customers’ creditworthiness, while the hard work running down [...]
London Report: Retailers set to reveal scale of 2013 hangover January 5, 2014 RETAIL figures due this week will reveal whether Britain’s major brands are going into the New Year with a Christmas hangover. Marks & Spencer and Tesco are both set to report on Thursday, and J Sainsbury on Wednesday, with figures likely to show retailers faced a dismal festive season. Debenhams has already set the tone, [...]
High street kicks-off sales frenzy ahead of Christmas December 19, 2013 DISCOUNTING activity in the crucial run-up to Christmas has begun in earnest as new figures out yesterday showed that nearly three quarters of retailers were now holding sales in a last-minute bid to win over shoppers. PwC said 72 per cent of the 100 high street retailers surveyed were now on sale or holding promotions [...]
Analysts cut forecasts amid fears discounts will hurt profits December 18, 2013 MARKS & SPENCER and a raft of other major high street names were hit by downgrades from analysts yesterday amid fears that discounting and low wage growth will take its toll on spending this Christmas. HSBC and Oriel both slashed their forecasts for M&S yesterday, warning that weak consumer confidence and further promotional activity was [...]
Inside Track: My top tip for 2014: Deutsche Post will buy Royal Mail December 18, 2013 IT wouldn’t be the final column of a calendar year without some predictions for the next 12 months. Here are my top three: Royal Mail will complete a journey from being wholly-owned by the UK state to wholly-owned by a German enterprise within little more than 12 months. Deutsche Post won’t get it delivered cheap, [...]
London Report: Supermarkets help to push FTSE down amid thin trading December 18, 2013 THE UK’s main equity index steadied in thin trade yesterday, with investors cautious before what is seen as a tight policy decision by the US Federal Reserve, and with a sell-off in retailers putting a lid on any gains. Strong US data, including yesterday’s forecast-beating housing starts, has fuelled expectations that the Fed could scale [...]
Asos and M&S downgraded by UBS. Here’s why December 18, 2013 Some sobering news for UK clothes retailers this morning, as UBS cut its ratings for both Marks and Spencer and Asos from 'buy' to 'neutral'. M&S is trading in the red, having shed over four per cent to 434p, and is topping the FTSE 100's biggest fallers this morning. UBS said: We cut our forecasts [...]
Brand Index: Never mind the hare and bear – Brits are going budget December 17, 2013 OUR RECENT online focus group of people from the so-called “squeezed middle” revealed that they are not feeling the benefits of the economic recovery and also have virtually no faith in politicians (from any political party) to help improve their lot. This week I will delve into which brands the squeezed middle are warming to this [...]
M&S hires Lloyds director to board December 17, 2013 Marks and Spencer has hired Alison Brittain, one of the most senior women in the banking industry, as a non-executive director. Brittain, who is currently head of retail banking at Lloyds, will help bring her experience of running one of the UK’s biggest branch networks to the group, which has suffered a decline in clothing [...]
I mince pie with my little eye… December 17, 2013 This week, we salute the humble mince pie. They’re as much a part of a British Christmas as Buck’s Fizz, crackers and pigs in blankets. Here, the City A.M. team gives their verdict on the best luxury pies in the run up to the big day Konditor & Cook Mince Pie Dozen 7.8/10 With the [...]