Who killed Toys ‘R’ Us? February 5, 2018 Toys ‘R’ Us, the $6.9bn (£5bn) toy-store chain, became one of US retail’s biggest-ever bankruptcies when it filed for so-called ‘Chapter 11 protection’ last September. Market watchers were quick to point the finger of suspicion at Amazon. But is that right? In the spirit of Agatha Christie, we ask: who killed Toys ‘R’ Us? In [...]
‘Supermarket giants doomed’ – no, just history repeating February 2, 2018 Investors, analysts, journalists or other market commentators often become convinced some scenario or trend definitely will or will not play out. Check back a few years later, however – always anyone bothers – and that certainty may prove unwarranted. Three or four years ago, for example, many were arguing it was ‘game over’ for supermarket [...]
One month after the Mifid II tsunami, the City is keeping its head above water February 2, 2018 This Saturday, City workers will be able to celebrate surviving through one month of a dreaded new regulatory environment. Bankers, traders and fund managers were welcomed back from the Christmas break – if they were lucky enough to have one – by the second Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, or Mifid II, touted as the [...]
Apple, Amazon and Alphabet in race to $1 trillion market cap as tech titans post massive sales numbers February 1, 2018 The race to become the first $1 trillion (£701bn) tech giant encountered fresh twists and turns last night as Apple, Alphabet and Amazon revealed their latest results. Apple, the world’s largest firm by market capitalisation, led the way as the trio posted a combined $125bn of sales. It beat revenue and earnings expectations but unit [...]
Online stalwart Asos is in for a fashion face-off with Amazon’s wardrobe service January 26, 2018 What do Debenhams, House of Fraser, Mothercare and Asos not have in common? Cracking Christmas clothing sales. While the high street’s stalwarts struggled to attract bargain-hunting shoppers over the festive season, their smaller online-only rival yesterday revealed a 30 per cent rise in sales for the final four months of 2017. Asos, or as As [...]
Brexit didn’t break the UK in 2017 January 25, 2018 When the UK voted to leave the EU in June 2016, many experts forecasted economic doom—if not immediately, then in the not-too-distant future. Some sentiment-related, short-term volatility followed, but the UK didn’t fall into recession following the referendum. Similar projections arose going into 2017, but those fell flat, too. Through all the noise and warnings [...]
As the global elite meets in Davos, it’s trebles all round for investors January 23, 2018 A WHO’S who of the world’s elite are in attendance at this year’s annual World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alpine town of Davos. At the Hotel Belvedere, an epicentre for billionaires, superstar chief executives, and heads of state (Donald Trump, the first sitting US President to attend, can arguably claim to be all three), [...]
Troubles at Steinhoff prompt private equity bidders Advent, Apax, Bain, CD&R, CVC and KKR to circle Poundland January 21, 2018 Speculation over the future of Poundland has attracted a pack of prospective private equity bidders ready to snap up the discount retailer. Buyout giants including Advent International, Bain, Clayton Dubilier & Rice, CVC and KKR are sniffing around the company in the expectation that it might soon be sold by its disgraced South African parent [...]
Bloodbath: Bonmarche, Carpetright and Dignity share prices plummet more than 20 per cent January 19, 2018 Shares in two of the UK’s largest companies fell more than 40 per cent this morning, after they put out disappointing trading updates. Carpetright fell 44.1 per cent to 90p in early trading, while Dignity shares lost 51.3 per cent, falling to 933.5p. Meanwhile retailer Bonmarche also plummeted by 24 per cent to 96.1p in [...]
Carpetright share price drops nearly 50 per cent as it warns profits will be “significantly” lower January 19, 2018 Troubled retailer Carpetright has slashed its full-year profit expectations after a “sharp deterioration” in UK trading. Shares in the firm dropped more than 48 per cent to 85p at the market open. UK like-for-like sales dropped by 3.6 per cent in the period due to lower customer footfall, the company said in a gloomy trading [...]