FTSE 100 edges up as investors bide time before US election November 6, 2012 The leading share index was up this morning on a wave of corporate earnings releases, although trading was expected to be subdued as investors bided time before the closely-fought US election today. G4S and Marks & Spencer were risers on the FTSE 100 this morning, as they released positive trading updates. On the FTSE All-Share, [...]
M&S posts slide in profits November 6, 2012 Retailer Marks & Spencer posted falling profit in the six months to September, hurt by low consumer confidence. Pre-tax profit came in at £290m for the group, down from £307m over the same period last year. Britain’s biggest clothing retailer said this morning that recent trading had been “volatile”, making it cautious about the outlook [...]
M&S hires Knicker Queen Janie Schaffer November 5, 2012 MARKS & Spencer has hired Janie Schaffer (left), Victoria’s Secret’s chief creative officer and the founder of lingerie chain Knickerbox, to be its director of lingerie and beauty. Schaffer, known as “The Knicker Queen”, is to join the retailer early next year and will succeed Frances Russell, who has been promoted to director of womenswear, [...]
M&S chief to report drop in half-year profit November 4, 2012 MARKS & Spencer’s chief executive Marc Bolland is expected to come under renewed pressure this week as the retailer admits to falling first half profits for the second time in two years. Bolland, who has been at the helm of the FTSE 100 retailer for two years, is expected to announce interim pre-tax profits of [...]
Raft of firms set to release figures as Bank debates if more QE needed November 4, 2012 THE biggest question for UK investors this week is whether the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will opt for more quantitative easing. The decision, which will be announced on Thursday, comes after strong jobs and GDP data. “Strong third quarter GDP data suggested that underlying growth was slightly stronger than previously thought and [...]
M&S to launch four overseas sites October 30, 2012 ■ Marks & Spencer is to step up its international growth plans with the launch of four new foreign language websites next month. The retailer revealed that it will expand online in Germany, Spain, Austria and Belgium on 19 November after opening its first two overseas sites in France and Ireland in the past year. [...]
Asos posts soaring profits October 25, 2012 Fashion retailer Asos this morning posted pre-tax profits of £44.5m in the year to August, up from £31.7m the year previously. Retail sales at the AIM-listed retailer rose to £538m over the year, with UK sales edging up to £205m. It posted a strong performance in overseas markets, and international sales were up 64 per [...]
Bosideng London founder Mr Gao is a man with a plan October 21, 2012 THE LAST time you walked on South Molton Street you would have gone past The Hog in the Pound, a not especially enticing-looking pub that sat at the top of the famous road where it meets with Oxford Street. Walk there today and it looks completely different. Let’s just say it’s had an upgrade; £25m [...]
Rapid responses October 18, 2012 Greek reform [Re: Greece must stop hitting snooze and wake up to economic reform, yesterday] Although Matthew Melchiorre is right to criticise Greece’s politicians for failing to reform their state, he misses a bigger issue. Politicians aren’t operating in a vacuum. Much of the Greek public – quite unlike the Estonians or Irish – doesn’t accept [...]
Analysts give mixed welcome as Bostock joins Asos board October 10, 2012 ANALYSTS yesterday welcomed the long-anticipated announcement that Asos has hired Kate Bostock to join its ranks but questioned whether the former Marks & Spencer executive would fit into the online retailer’s culture. Asos confirmed that Bostock, would join its board in January as executive director, product and trading. Bostock stepped down from her role as [...]