LONDON REPORT July 15, 2012 A SLEW of company results this week culminates with a busy Thursday, when retail giant Sports Direct, Halfords, Kingfisher and Mothercare are all set to update the market. Accountancy software maker Sage is set to give an interim management statement today, which will be followed with a Capital Market Day for investors tomorrow. Panmure Gordon [...]
Business world wins praise in the honours list June 17, 2012 CARPHONE Warehouse founder Charles Dunstone was the sole business leader awarded a knighthood in the Queen’s birthday honours for 2012, announced over the weekend, in a year that saw industry and economic leaders garner just 12 per cent of accolades, down more than a full percentage point from 2011. However, Sir John Parker, chairman of [...]
Mulberry bags profit but sees shares slump June 14, 2012 MULBERRY lost almost a quarter of its market value yesterday after the British luxury handbag maker reported a marked slowdown in recent trading growth, despite full-year profits increasing almost two-fold. While pre-tax profit rose 54 per cent to £36m in the year to March, broadly in line with forecasts, the firm’s recent trading performance fell [...]
Investors send luxury firm to naughty step June 14, 2012 YESTERDAY’S reaction to Mulberry’s slowing growth has a hint of the schoolroom about it. An overachiever for the past couple of years, shareholders greeted the luxury brand’s slip with horror – like a teacher who expresses abject disappointment when their favourite A* student drops a grade. In markets as volatile as we’ve seen recently, though, [...]
Accessorise your summer look with some choice pieces June 6, 2012 WOMEN Eeugenia Kim Abby belt-trimmed straw sunhat, £230, netaporter.com Gleaming gold, this straw hat is just the right amount distressed, making for a beach-ready but oh-so-chic summer look. Top Shop Geo Triangle Collar, £15, topshop.com Elegant and easy, this collar necklace looks too classy to be cheap and cheerful, despite the price tag. The triangles [...]
PROPERTY NEWS IN BRIEF May 24, 2012 EMBERCOURT ROAD Price: £1.2m This five bedroom, four bathroom property has a large drawing room with a feature fireplace and French doors leading to the rear gardens. The property benefits from concrete floors and under-floor heating throughout. A ground-floor study has views out to the front. Contact Savills on 01372 461 900. HOLMBURY Price: £2.3m [...]
Another firm looks to Asia for growth March 14, 2012 IT’S an increasingly familiar story. A UK firm, starved of revenue at home, looks east to expand, hoping the growing middle classes in India and China will pick up where the British “squeezed middle” have dropped out. French Connection’s position at the more expensive end of the high street means it may be able to [...]
Mulberry forks out for new boss March 7, 2012 Luxury bag designer Mulberry has spent £3.39m on welcoming its new boss from rival firm Hermès. The British label dished out 200,670 shares to its new chief executive Bruno Guillon, who paid just £2 for each £18.90 share – leaving Mulberry to pay for the remaining £16.90 per share. However, Guillon will only reap value [...]
Mulberry ups forecasts as festive rise in turnover boosts share price January 19, 2012 LUXURY fashion brand Mulberry raised its annual profit forecast yesterday, after it enjoyed a 41 per cent rise in festive sales during the six weeks to 14 January. Like for like sales were up 35 per cent over the same period and wholesale orders for its spring/summer line were up 35 per cent on last [...]
Mulberry sees strong festive sales January 19, 2012 Luxury fashion company Mulberry Group expects 2012 financial year results to exceed its earlier forecast, led by strong Christmas and New Year sales, putting it firmly in the festive winners’ camp in the UK. The company, which designs, makes and sells leather goods and accessories, said retail sales for the 16 weeks to January 14 [...]