Banks bolster FTSE at the close May 25, 2011 London stocks struggled to gain ground today as poor economic data on both sides of the Atlantic dismayed investors. A rally led by banking stocks late in the afternoon helped push the FTSE back into the black, with the FTSE 100 just 0.2 per cent higher at 5,870.14 at the close. Miners made muted gains [...]
M&S in store revamps as profit climbs May 24, 2011 MARKS and Spencer (M&S) yesterday unveiled a far reaching shake-up of its stores which will see branches in richer areas being stocked with more expensive lines. Chief executive Marc Bolland said the move – based on the spending power and demography of a local area – would see products better reflect the requirements of shoppers. [...]
DO YOU SHOP AT MARKS AND SPENCER, AND DO YOU THINK THE STORES NEED A REVAMP? May 24, 2011 STEVE HART | SAGICOR “I don’t shop there because I find it is very old fashioned and hard to find what you are looking for. I think the stores need a revamp to attract a younger range of customers.” ELLIOT CAPLAIN | ASPEN INSURANCE “Yes I am a big fan, the food is great quality. [...]
FTSE rallys on commodities but Eurozone doubts linger May 24, 2011 BRITAIN’S top shares rose yesterday as rallying commodity stocks helped the index recover some of its poise, but the advance may be short-lived as investors find themselves hemmed in by Eurozone debt concerns. The FTSE 100 closed up 22.52 points or 0.4 per cent at 5,858.41, having hit a two-month closing low on Monday after [...]
FTSE rebounds but Wall St fall goes on May 24, 2011 UK stocks rebounded today as miners regained ground after grim falls yesterday, though final gains were small. The FTSE 100 ended the session 0.4 per cent higher at 5,858.41 but recorded a high of 5,884.66 in the day’s trading as investor confidence returned. Bargain hunters moved in on miners, which recovered along with metals prices [...]
Miners buoy FTSE but ratings threat casts shadow May 24, 2011 Mining stocks put the FTSE 100 on the front foot in early trading as metal prices rose – boosted by Goldman Sachs recommending investors to buy into commodities. Commodities trader Glencore made its full market debt and rose slightly from its price on the so-call grey market, but remained below the 530p offer price of [...]
M&S profit up 13pc May 24, 2011 Retailer Marks & Spencer plans to test new store formats more tailored to their localities, it said, as it posted a 13 per cent rise in annual profit. The country’s biggest clothing retailer, which also sells upmarket foods and homewares, said it would start testing the new formats from October, as part of a series [...]
CHELSEA CHARMS THE CITY May 23, 2011 THE Queen was presented with a rare orchid named in her honour yesterday as this year’s Chelsea Flower Show 2011 opened with several well-known City players braving the strong winds for the annual gala preview. Centrica boss Sam Laidlaw, Marks & Spencer chair Robert Swannell, Lloyds chairman Sir Win Bischoff, newly appointed Tesco chair Sir [...]
Stelios rants as Michels exits easyJet May 23, 2011 SIR DAVID Michels, the former Hilton chief executive who once hoped to chair Marks & Spencer, said he would step down from the board of easyJet yesterday in his second such announcement in a month. Michels, easyJet’s deputy chairman, will leave the airline at the end of this year, when he completes his second three-year [...]
Fresh Eurozone debt fears see FTSE plunge to two-month low May 23, 2011 RENEWED concerns about the Eurozone debt crisis triggered a steep sell-off of Britain’s top shares yesterday, led by commodity stocks, with some analysts and investors seeing little on the horizon to tempt investors back into the market. The FTSE 100 index ended at its lowest closing level since 23 March, off 112.60 points, or 1.9 [...]