Power steering March 9, 2014 What happens when Bernie Ecclestone leaves Formula One? HE IS one of Britain’s best-known chief executives, and over 40 years has transformed Formula One from an amateur pastime into a billion-pound business and the world’s most-watched annual sports series. Bernie Ecclestone has become a household name through his appearances on F1’s glitzy grid, and his [...]
The week in brief March 2, 2014 Cadbury in £7.5m communication campaigns launch The confectionery company has invested £7.5m in a campaign for its new Dairy Milk Ritz and Lu products. A 30-second TV ad, created by Fallon and directed by David Wilson, premiered on British TV on Saturday. Cadbury hopes this will help position the brand in the afternoon tea break [...]
Profits at Sports Direct in shape February 19, 2014 SPORTS Direct posted a strong rise in profits over the Christmas quarter yesterday but stayed silent on talks with Debenhams after buying an option in the retailer last month that could see it eventually own a 6.6 per cent stake. The sports chain controlled by billionaire Mike Ashley said it had “no further comment” on [...]
Analyst Views: What was your reaction to Sports Direct’s interim statement? February 19, 2014 SANJAY VIDYARTHI | LIBERUMAs flagged at the interims in December, Sports Direct has reported a slowdown in third quarter sports retail sales, but this has come with strong gross margin expansion, which is key… We think this is a decent performance and we maintain our view that it is well positioned to drive long term [...]
London Report: FTSE pauses for breath as sharp rally peters out February 19, 2014 THE UK’S top shares steadied yesterday as analysts bet the strong rally that followed a slump in emerging markets has run out of steam, though Sports Direct gained on robust profits. The FTSE 100 closed up 0.28 points – flat in percentage terms – at 6,796.71 points. It hit 6,810.48, its highest since late January, [...]
What you need to know before the US open February 19, 2014 A modest open is expected in the US today, as stock futures fell on investor caution. Another weather victim: housing starts for January came in lower than expected at 880,000 from 1.1m in December (revised up from 999,000). Analysts were expecting a figure of 950,000. And it looks like it extended another icy finger into [...]
What you need to know before the open February 19, 2014 European bourses are set to open slightly lower this morning, with Bank of England minutes in focus, followed by Fed minutes later on. Today’s UK average earnings data is expected to stay unchanged at 0.9 per cent for the final quarter – still an improvement but a large gap when it comes to proximity to [...]
Ferrari profits from cutting its car sales February 18, 2014 Ferrari has managed to lift its revenues and profits despite capping production last year in a bid to keep the exclusive image of its sports cars intact. The Italian car maker has today posted revenues of €2.3bn (£1.9bn) for 2013, up five per cent, while net profits were up 5.4 per cent at €246m. [...]
Brothers who built brand with purpose February 16, 2014 Annabel Palmer talks travelling, Topman, and the English weather with Rob Forkan – the tsunami orphan who co-founded new flip flop brand Gandys INNOCENT may have pioneered a whole new approach to marketing (the company has even published a book about its “story,” and “what they’ve learned”), but no business tale will ever be as [...]
London Report: Retail sales revival drives FTSE up to late January levels February 11, 2014 The UK’S top equity index rose for a fifth straight session yesterday, boosted by retailers which were up strongly on industry data that provided more evidence the economic recovery is slowly gathering momentum. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed up by 1.2 per cent, or 81.11 points, at 6,672.66 points – marking the index’s highest [...]