Coming to America: Primark signs deal for a further seven stores in the US October 20, 2014 Primark is to open a further seven stores in the US, including its first in New York, through a lease deal with Sears Holdings revealed today. The value retailer is taking on around 520,000 gross square feet of retail space in mall-based stores in the north east of the US. Primark will take on [...]
Eurozone fears pull down FTSE to one-year low – London Report October 9, 2014 THE FTSE 100 yesterday hit its lowest level for a year after early gains fell away in a broad-based sell-off as investors became anxious about signs of serious weakening in the Eurozone economy. The blue-chip index, which hit 6,544 points in morning trading, due mainly to a rise in mining shares, ended the day down [...]
Next’s bad weather forecast casts dark shadow on markets – London Report September 30, 2014 BRITAIN’S top share index slid yesterday, with retailers falling after Next said it would have to lower its full-year profit forecast if the unusually warm weather continued. The FTSE 100 fell 23.88 points, or 0.36 per cent, to 6,622.72 points. Britain’s Number. 2 clothing retailer’s warning sent its shares down 3.79 per cent to 6,605p while [...]
Best of the Brokers for 16 September 2014 September 15, 2014 To appear in Best of the Brokers, email your research to notes@cityam.com ASSOCIATED BRITISH FOODS Numis has upgraded to “hold” from “reduce”, but cut the target price to 2,496p from 2,572p. The broker has slightly reduced forecasts, but still believes positives include the growth record of Primark, a strong balance sheet, and lack of major [...]
Associated British Foods nears deal for first Primark warehouse in the US September 8, 2014 ASSOCIATED British Foods said yesterday its clothing giant Primark was close to striking a deal for a warehouse in the US to support its first foray in the country. Primark is set to open a 70,000 square foot store in Boston in 2015, and it is also in talks to open a further nine shops [...]
Even Primark sales aren’t sweet enough to save Associated British Foods from a 4pc share price slump September 8, 2014 Associated British Foods (ABF) went on the offensive in a trading update this morning, saying it expects strong Primark sales to contribute to an increase in adjusted earnings per share for the year ending September 13 – but that wasn't enough to stop shares falling 4.4 per cent in early trading as investors worried about [...]
Hammerson sells Mayfair HQ for £54m September 2, 2014 Hammerson has sold off its last remaining office building as part of a strategy set out two years ago to focus solely on retail property in the UK and France. The FTSE 100-listed company announced yesterday that it had sold its 50 per cent stake in 10 Grosvenor Street in Mayfair to its joint venture [...]
Lidl clothing range: Discount retailer challenges British supermarkets on fashion front August 20, 2014 Not content with challenging big British supermarkets on food prices, discount favourite Lidl is taking the stores on in the fashion stakes. The German retailer is about to launch a fashion range for women that includes jeans, shoes and even leather jackets, with a men's range to follow later this year. From August 25th shoppers [...]
Warm weather boosts Primark as it buys Pavilions shopping mall July 10, 2014 Associated British Food (ABF) said yesterday that Primark’s acquisition of Pavilions shopping centre in Birmingham to house a four-floor store was “an exception to the rule” as it posted a fresh set of soaring sales. Finance director John Bason said the deal would pave the way for a 150,000 square feet store in around two [...]
Associated British Foods adjusts earnings guidance as Primark profits rise July 10, 2014 Associated British Foods (ABF) has raised its annual earnings guidance after a 22 per cent rise in sales from its budget fashion brand Primark offset the continued weakness of the sugar market. ABF now said it expected its adjusted earnings per share to be above the 98.9 pence paid in 2012-13. Previous guidance had indicated [...]