FTSE 100 falls after interest rates are left on hold – London Report November 6, 2015 The Bank of England’s (BoE) decision to keep interest rates at record lows for the 80th month wasn’t able to prevent the FTSE closing down last night, finishing with a loss of 0.8 per cent at 6,364.9 points. The FTSE had been trading in negative territory throughout the morning ahead the BoE’s announcement but rallied [...]
FTSE 100 index opens marginally down despite gains from RSA, AstraZeneca and Glencore November 5, 2015 The FTSE 100 opened marginally lower this morning, despite a positive outlook from AstraZeneca and RSA, and continued support for Glencore following on from yesterday. The UK's top bluechip index was down 0.25 per cent at 6,395 points, led lower by supermarket Morrisons, which reported sales continued to tumble this morning. Total sales excluding fuel were down two per cent, while [...]
Morrisons share price falls as interims show profits plummet 35 per cent; chief executive David Potts admits turnaround will be “a long journey” November 5, 2015 Morrisons' share price fell this morning after the supermarket revealed yet another set of bad results, with underlying profits down more than a third. The figures The troubled supermarket, which yesterday sold off its convenience stores arm, said underlying pre-tax profits had tumbled 35 per cent to £117m, while turnover had dropped 5.1 per cent [...]
Morrisons third quarter results: Sales fall again but chief executive David Potts remains upbeat November 5, 2015 Sales continue to fall at troubled supermarket Morrisons – but the new team headed by David Potts are putting a brave face on the turnaround process. The figures In the 13 weeks to 1 November, total sales excluding fuel were down two per cent, while like-for-like sales dropped 2.6 per cent. The supermarket, which is at the beginning of [...]
Mining giants bounce back to push up FTSE 100 – London Report November 5, 2015 The FTSE 100 ended yesterday’s session slightly higher, boosted by gains in mining companies and Marks and Spencer. The UK’s blue-chip index ended the day 0.46 per cent up at 6,412 points. The day’s biggest riser was Glencore, the embattled mining giant, which has been struggling to reassure investors worried about the size of its [...]
At the close: Mining companies Glencore, Anglo American and BHP Billiton take FTSE 100 higher November 4, 2015 The FTSE 100 ended Wednesday's session slightly higher, led by gains in mining companies. The UK's top blue chip index ended the day 0.46 per cent up at 6,412 points. The day's biggest riser was Glencore, the embattled mining giant, which has been struggling to reassure investors worried about the size of its debt pile. It today announced a [...]
Morrisons supermarket takes a bite out of £3bn sandwich market November 2, 2015 Morrisons is going head-to-head high street chains such as Pret a Manger and EAT by launching its own range freshly made sandwiches, as the embattled chain looks to revive sales at its stores. Britain’s food-to-go market is expanding rapidly along with changing consumer habits and is now worth around £6bn, with the sandwich market worth around [...]
Morrisons staff to sue after disgruntled colleague Andrew Skelton posted bank, salary and National Insurance details online October 27, 2015 Morrisons staff are planning to sue the supermarket after a data leak led to personal details of almost 100,000 employees being posted online by "a former colleague with a grudge". Bank, salary and National Insurance details were posted by Andrew Skelton, a senior internal auditor at Morrisons' Bradford head office, on data sharing websites after being disciplined [...]
Best of the Brokers for 27 October 2015 October 27, 2015 To appear in Best of the Brokers, email your research to notes@cityam.com WM MORRISON SUPERMARKETS Shore Capital head of research and supermarket expert Clive Black has welcomed WM Morrison Supermarket’s announcement that it is partnering with UK Motor Fuel Group for forecourt convenience stores at five petrol stations. Black said the move demonstrated “better thinking” than Morrisons’ previous [...]
My Local: Mike Greene’s new convenience chain has a tough task ahead of it after Morrisons’ management October 26, 2015 Today’s grocery market is an unforgiving place for established supermarkets, let alone new retailers on the block. Many supermarkets are struggling against the seemingly inexorable changes sweeping the grocery industry. They face falling prices and shifting shopping habits, with shoppers moving simultaneously online and to the discount retailers. It is against this backdrop that Mike [...]