FTSE 100 lifts 0.13 per cent on better than expected November retail sales December 17, 2021 The FTSE 100 is up 0.21 per cent this morning after retail sales made a stronger than expected recovery in November.
UK bricks and mortar sales have stronger-than-expected November, but Omicron threatens festive figures December 17, 2021 Black Friday deals on toys, clothes and tech pushed UK retail sales up by a better-than-expected 1.4 per cent in November, as shoppers hit the high street for their early Christmas shopping, the Office for National Statistics said today. Last month’s UK retail sales figures were 4.7 per cent higher than a year earlier, the [...]
Outlook 2022: UK equities December 16, 2021 The UK holds many mispriced opportunities for stockpickers. Pick-up in M&A activity is striking. Stock market fit for the future. Sue Noffke, Head of UK Equities: UK shares remain cheap because of the perceived significant political and economic risks of Brexit, which continue to linger and depress the valuation of the UK stock market. We [...]
Boohoo lowers guidance as more shoppers return clothes with shares plunging 22pc December 16, 2021 Online fashion retailer Boohoo has lowered its guidance for the financial year as profits have been hit by higher return rates, supply chain challenges and inflation skyrocketing. Boohoo said that it was expecting net sales growth to be between 12 and 14 per cent, for the financial year ending 28 February. It had previously forecast [...]
Hammerson total gross sales proceeds hit £495m for year after contracts exchanged on Glasgow shopping centre December 15, 2021 Property developer Hammerson has exchanged or completed sales of six non-core assets for total gross cash proceeds of £92m since the half year. The development and investment firm said the largest asset was an exchange of an unconditional contract for the sale of Glasgow shopping centre Silverburn. The deal was from 50/50 joint venture partners [...]
Zara owner Inditex posts record sales and profits as founder’s daughter prepares for top job December 15, 2021 The Spanish owner of Zara has reported sales and profits at record highs, as it continues to bounce back from a hit at the start of the pandemic. Inditex said sales and net profits were higher than pre-pandemic levels in the three months to the end of October. Shares in the retailer were down on [...]
Ocado anticipates ‘best-ever Christmas’ as it eyes new Zoom site openings December 14, 2021 Ocado has forecast its “best-ever Christmas ahead” and said it anticipated mid-teens sales growth for 2022. In a trading update for the 13 weeks to 28 November, the grocer said there was “strong momentum in under-lying demand”. It posted retail revenue of £547.8m for the quarter. This was compared to £570.1m in the same period [...]
Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct and House of Fraser empire kicks off £70m share buyback plan December 13, 2021 Retail baron Miek Ashley has announced the start of a £70m share buyback plan for Frasers in an attempt to boost the company’s share price. Bosses at the group, which includes department store House of Fraser and retail chains Sports Direct and Game, said the plan is to reduce the number of shares in circulation. [...]
Omicron to drive markets amid busy week of economic data December 12, 2021 Once again, Omicron news is set to drive sudden reactions from investors amid a busy week of closely watched economic data. Sentiment is more muddled due to uncertainty over the extent the reintroduction of tougher Covid-19 prevention measures in the UK could whack economic growth over the coming months. Despite greater confusion over the trajectory [...]
What is next for Hong Kong’s stock market? December 10, 2021 The Hang Seng Index is down close to 12.8% year to date. What lies ahead, as fears about Omicron dog markets? Hang Seng Index – what is weighing on the index? Year to date (YTD), the Hang Seng Index remained in the red with -12.8% total return, largely trailing behind its global peers such as Nikkei’s 4.1% [...]