Primark store expansion plan offsets sales slump September 9, 2019 Primark is expected to report sales growth in its full-year results driven by the bargain retailer’s store expansion plan. Sales for the full-year, which will be announced in November, are expected to be four per cent up on last year, the retailer’s owner Associated British Foods (ABF) said in a trading update this morning. The [...]
How will global disruption affect small cap stocks? September 9, 2019 Small capitalisation stocks, or small caps, can offer the potential for higher returns compared with investing in larger companies, although they are not without risks. As with all equities, investors may not get back the amount they originally invested. As well as the potential for higher returns, investors are also being drawn to the sector [...]
Retail footfall drops again in August as economy slows September 9, 2019 The number of Britons venturing out to visit shops fell again in August, bringing yet more problems for a retail sector that has suffered a number of casualties this year. Read more: Hot weather fails to heat up retail sales in August Footfall fell by 1.3 per cent in August year on year, compared to [...]
Pendragon called on restructuring firms to mitigate effects of industry car crash September 8, 2019 As the car industry continues to splutter, one of Britain’s biggest dealers has turned to restructuring experts to try to halt its downward spiral of profits. Pendragon, which owns the ubiquitous Evans Halshaw car dealership brand, spoke to several firms about helping shake up its spending earlier this year, but the process was cut short [...]
New homes, shops and cultural venues are set to revitalise a hidden part of Brentford’s industrial past September 6, 2019 Although it is only divided from Kew by a thin stretch of river, Brentford and its West London neighbour could not be more different. Take their history, for example. While the former started out as a country retreat for royals, Brentford has built itself on being a hive of industry. In the Victorian era a [...]
Propping up the bar: Wetherspoons toasts no-deal Brexit by slashing the price of a pint September 6, 2019 Punters in the City looking for a cheap drink this afternoon are in luck, as pub chain Wetherspoons has slashed the price of a pint in a bid by chairman Tim Martin to prove a no-deal Brexit would be sustainable for pubs and retailers. Read more: Glass half empty? Wetherspoon shares fall as sales slow [...]
Hot weather fails to heat up high street retail sales in August September 6, 2019 Bricks and mortar retailers suffered a further blow last month as soaring temperatures failed to heat up high street sales. Like-for-like in store sales dropped 0.1 per cent in August from a base of minus 2.7 per cent in the same month last year as retailers were unable to convert rising footfall into purchases. Read [...]
Boden CEO steps down as retailer warns of tough year ahead September 5, 2019 Boden chief executive Jill Easterbrook has quit after three years in the role, the retailer announced today, as the fashion brand warned 2019 profit would take a hit from investment in its multi-channel offering. Easterbrook, a former executive at Tesco, will step down at the end of the year to develop a non-executive director portfolio, [...]
Political uncertainty spooks investors as UK equity outflows increase September 5, 2019 Cautious investors pulled £1.2bn from UK equity funds in July, with outflows increasing amid heightened political turmoil. UK equity funds experienced net outflows of £1.2bn, a significant increase on the £744m of outflows reported for June, according to figures from the Investment Association (IA). The funds have consistently seen new outflows over the past year, [...]
Boohoo shares soar as online retailer boosts full-year guidance September 5, 2019 Shares in online retailer Boohoo soared to an all-time high this morning after the fast fashion firm increased sales growth guidance for the year. Boohoo’s share price was up 15.37 per cent to 280.7p after the company announced sales growth would be between 33 per cent and 38 per cent, against previous guidance of 25 [...]