Halfords reports boom in cycling sales during lockdown, but faces ‘acute’ supply shortages June 17, 2021 Halfords reported a continued surge in pandemic-inspired cycling sales but warned that supply shortages were a risk to its growth projections, in its annual results this morning. The retailer, which was classed as an essential retailer and was allowed to remain open during the lockdown, reported annual profits grew by 72 per cent, rising from [...]
Simply Be brand owner N Brown signs up Amanda Holden and Davina McCall for some celebrity firepower June 17, 2021 Retailer N Brown has leaned heavily on its core brands in the last few months as the business signed up Amanda Holden and Davina McCall to provide some celebrity firepower. The business said that its five core brands, Jacamo, Simply Be, JD Williams, Ambrose Wilson and Home Essentials saw revenue grow by 15 per cent [...]
Pre-Fed jitters keep US stocks below record highs at open June 16, 2021 US stocks opened just below record highs today as investors stayed on the fence ahead of potential hints from the Federal Reserve on when it would taper its monetary stimulus. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.1 per cent, while the S&P 500 opened flat, remaining near an all-time time. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite [...]
Today’s Fed meeting: Those who eat get fat, those who don’t regret June 16, 2021 According to an old Turkish saying ‘those who eat get fat, those who don’t regret.’ Traders would pick this up as taking a long equity position as investors continue to navigate an environment of low to negative yields on less risky holdings, with all eyes on the Federal Reserve later today. “It’s the Turkish way [...]
Made.com shares fall after £775m London IPO June 16, 2021 Shares in Made.com fell in their debut this morning after the furniture retailer listed in a £775m London initial public offering. The online furniture brand, which has enjoyed rapid sales growth during the pandemic, set its offer price at 200p per share. This will give the company a market capitalisation of roughly £775m. It was [...]
Debenhams could return to the high street to land beauty deals for Boohoo June 16, 2021 Boohoo is reportedly in talks about opening a Debenhams store to land deals with beauty and cosmetic brands that want to operate with a physical presence. Boohoo chief executive John Lyttle told The Times that if the talks came to fruition one small Debenhams store would return to a high street just outside of London. [...]
Road to recovery: FTSE 100 closes at highest point since the start of the pandemic June 15, 2021 The FTSE 100 has returned to its highest point since the start of the Covid-19 crash that wiped hundreds of billions of pounds off the index last year. The market ticked back up to 7,172.48 after gaining another 25.8 points on Tuesday, a 0.4 per cent rise. It means that the index is currently at [...]
Sales at H&M soar as restrictions ease but lag behind pre-pandemic levels June 15, 2021 Sales at H&M jumped in the retailer’s second quarter of 2021, however they remained well below the pre-pandemic sales recorded during the same period in 2019. Between 1 March to 31 May 2021, net sales at the clothing retailer grew 62 per cent in the period from a year earlier, or 75 per cent measured [...]
On the Beach revenue plummets as travel restrictions batter sales June 15, 2021 Online holiday retailer On the Beach saw its revenue sink in the six months to March 2021 as lockdown restrictions hit sales. The company posted an adjusted group revenue of £12m during the half year, some 77 per cent lower than the £52.8m reported in the same period in 2020. Group gross profit also plunged [...]
Hospitality chiefs call for more clarity as ‘freedom day’ set for delay June 14, 2021 The owner of the Franco Manca Pizza chain David Page has warned the “lack of concrete delay” to the government’s lockdown easing roadmap is the biggest problem facing the hospitality sector. Boris Johnson is expected to announce a four week delay to so-called “freedom day” later today, just a week before the 21 June date [...]