Shares in recruitment firm Page Group drop amid macroeconomic uncertainty despite record profits January 14, 2019 Recruitment firm Page Group saw its shares fall by seven per cent today after it said in its annual results statement that Brexit uncertainty has affected the job market. The FTSE 250 recruiter said that while it had increased its number of fee-earning staff by 561 in the first three quarters of 2018, this slowed [...]
Stock markets slide as Chinese data reveals impact of US-China trade war January 14, 2019 European stock markets have tumbled after weak Chinese trade data laid bare the impact of the US-China trade war. China’s export and import figures fell dramatically in December, going against analysts’ predictions of a rise. Read more: Markets lift as US-China talks reach conclusion Negotiations between the two nations concluded last week without a resolution, although [...]
Littlewoods and Very owner Shop Direct enjoys Christmas sales bounce January 14, 2019 Very and Littlewoods operator Shop Direct saw a rise in revenues over the festive period, as Black Friday discounts and Christmas shopping boosted sales. Revenue climbed 3.7 per cent year-on-year for the seven weeks to 28 December, with clothing and footwear seeing a particular bounce, rising eight per cent at group level. Very, the company’s [...]
Apple chip supplier Dialog Semiconductor predicts low quarterly sales January 14, 2019 Apple chipmaker Dialog Semiconductor today said it expects quarterly sales to be at the bottom end of its target range after the iPhone manufacturer issued a shock profit warning. Dialog reported preliminary revenue of roughly $431m (£336m) for the fourth quarter, which is at the lower end of its $430m to $470m forecast. In October [...]
New Look aims to cut debt by £1bn in restructuring plan January 14, 2019 New Look will cut debt by £1bn as part of a restructuring deal agreed with investors, the fashion retailer announced this morning. The company has agreed a debt-for-equity swap proposal to reduce debt from £1.35bn to £350m. The firm also announced a new capital raise of £150m through the issuing of new bonds. The firm [...]
Revolution Bars suffers share price drop in wake of profit warning January 14, 2019 Cocktail group Revolution Bars saw its share price dive this morning as it became the latest UK retailer to issue a stark profit warning, in spite of a Christmas boost for the business. Shares in early morning trading plummeted 17 per cent as the Manchester-based group warned of an expected 20 per cent drop in its [...]
JD Sports eyes strong profits thanks to international expansion January 14, 2019 JD Sports today said it expects full-year profits to hit the higher end of its targets as international growth helped defy tough retail conditions. The sports retailer reported total sales growth of 15 per cent in the 48 weeks to 5 January, with like-for-like sales up five per cent in the same period. Read more: Retail [...]
Footfall slides in December as discounting does little to boost retail woes January 14, 2019 The number of shoppers visiting retail parks, shopping centre and high streets continued to slide during December, as attempts to claw back revenue lost earlier in the year through festive discounting failed to lift the fortunes for many of Britain’s bricks-and-mortar brands. New figures released by Springboard this morning have found that footfall in December tumbled [...]
HMV future could be decided this week as bid deadline looms January 13, 2019 The future of music retailer HMV will be decided this week as the deadline for rescue bids draws close. HMV collapsed into administration for the second time in six years late last month. Its administrator KPMG has set a deadline of Tuesday for suitors to lodge bids for the chain, Sky News was the first [...]
Fears over business rates mount as Britain’s major retailers prepare to form action group January 13, 2019 Some of Britain’s biggest retailers are coming together in an urgent bid to seek business rates relief from the government, City A.M. has learned. Around 50 major high street names are joining a mass lobbying effort to curb forthcoming rises in their property tax, as profits plunge in the face of falling sales and online [...]