FTSE dwindles as defensive stocks drop ahead of Fed and euro news September 10, 2012 BRITISH blue chip shares dipped yesterday as weakness in defensive stocks outweighed strength in risk-sensitive cyclicals, such as miners, and investors positioned for more newsflow out of Europe and the United States. The FTSE 100 closed down 1.60 points, or 0.03 per cent, at 5,793.20, with the index yo-yoing in a tight range around the [...]
Retailers report but all eyes on world economy September 9, 2012 THE GLOBAL economy will once again set the tone for the markets this week, with a crucial German ruling on the new bailout fund due on Wednesday and a potential move on QE3 by the US Federal Reserve on Thursday. Greek leaders will today meet with their creditors to outline further austerity measures. And UBS’s [...]
Primark and a Jubilee bake-off helps AB Foods lift its revenues July 12, 2012 ASSOCIATED British Foods yesterday said it was on track for a big rise in full-year adjusted earnings as cash-strapped shoppers braved wet weather to snap up budget fashions at its Primark clothing chain. The FTSE 100 company, which also owns brands such as Silver Spoon sugar and Twinings tea, said a 16 per cent growth [...]
Primark keeps AB Foods on track July 12, 2012 Associated British Foods confirmed that it is on track for substantial growth in full-year adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings per share after a strong performance from its discount fashion chain Primark boosted year-to-date revenues. The London-based food and retailing group said that revenues rose 11 percent in the 40 weeks to 23 June, or [...]
FTSE pegged back by miners July 9, 2012 The FTSE 100 edged down in early trading today as disappointing jobs data out of the US on Friday continued to cast a shadow over global markets. The 80,000 increase in payrolls in June was slightly below market expectations for an increase of about 90,000 and was not enough to reduce the unemployment rate, which [...]
Banks and miners lead FTSE lower June 8, 2012 Miners and banks led the FTSE down in early trading as investors shunned riskier assets and ran for cover as global economic growth stutters. The fall tracked losses on Wall Street yesterday and Asia overnight despite an initial boost after China cut its interest rates in an attempt to accelerate its growth. But US Federal [...]
Troubling times for retailers to the squeezed middle April 29, 2012 SPARE a thought for the squeezed middle. No, not the ordinary family as defined by Ed Miliband, but the places they shop and the things they buy. The mid-market consumer firm is finding the going very tough indeed. There has been much written about Tesco’s troubles in recent months, punctuated by a series of ignominious [...]
AB Foods given lift by Primark and sugar arm April 24, 2012 ASSOCIATED British Foods yesterday forecast a significant rise in full year profits, fuelled by its Primark chain and sugar business. The food and retail group said earnings in the six months to 3 March rose by five per cent with higher sugar prices giving the FTSE 100 group momentum. The company, whose brands include Silver [...]
FTSE in modest rise as investors eye Fed April 24, 2012 The FTSE 100 saw a modest rally this morning led by banking and commodity stocks as investors looked for signs that the Federal Reserve will inject more liquidity into markets. London’s blue chip index was dented yesterday by uncertainty over who will be the next president of France, the collapse of the Dutch government and [...]
AB Foods buoyed by Primark April 24, 2012 Associated British Foods forecast a “substantial” rise in full-year earnings as under-pressure British shoppers turned to its Primark discount fashion stores and it benefited from high sugar prices in the first half of its financial year. The London-based food and retailing group said earnings per share rose five per cent to 34.4 pence in the [...]