Tesco to swell presence in China but profits are sliding October 2, 2013 Tesco has announced it's to join forces with China Resources Enterprise (CRE) to create the leading multi-format retailer in China. (Release) The companies have entered into definitive agreements to combine their Chinese retail operations. The joint venture will see Tesco's 134 Chinese stores – as well as its Chinese shopping mall business – combine with [...]
Crumbs! Cameron fails to use his loaf October 1, 2013 DAVID Cameron may have been pilloried yesterday for failing LBC’s everyman test and admitting he didn’t know the price of sliced bread, but after using our loaves and doing a little investigative work, The Capitalist has a crumb of sympathy for the Prime Minister. Whether one prefers artisan sourdough or tiger bread, the selection of [...]
Poundland eyes 2014 flotation as sales surge October 1, 2013 POUNDLAND is eyeing a possible initial public offering (IPO) in the first half of next year as the private equity owners of the discount retailer look to cash in on its surging sales. The chain, which has benefitted from thrifty shoppers seeking value during the economic downturn, posted a 15 per rise in sales to [...]
Aldi’s extra 1m customers help double profits September 30, 2013 DISCOUNT supermarket chain Aldi said yesterday it more than doubled its profits in the UK last year, as it lured more than a million shoppers from more upmarket rivals and grabbed a bigger share of the market. The German group, which will open its 500th UK store next month, posted a pre-tax profit of £157.9m [...]
Tesco puts its US chain into bankruptcy September 30, 2013 TESCO put its US grocery store chain into bankruptcy yesterday as part of a plan to sell most of the 167 stores to a private equity firm led by billionaire Ron Burkle. Under the proposed sale, an affiliate of Tesco will lend Burkle’s private equity firm Yucaipa $120m to help fund the takeover of the [...]
London Report: UK data to show the economy in healthier state September 29, 2013 EXPECTED improvements in the purchasing managers’ index (PMI) data for manufacturing, construction and services this week should all point to further signs of the UK’s economic growth. “The purchasing managers’ surveys are expected to show further robust growth in September across the services, manufacturing and construction sectors which would bode well for hopes that GDP [...]
Supermarkets in fuel pricing wars September 26, 2013 THE SUPERMARKET price war on petrol escalated yesterday, when some of Britain’s largest chains slashed costs for the second time in a matter of days and Sainsbury’s became the latest grocer to enter the fray. Asda said that it would cut unleaded petrol by 3p to 128.7p per litre and diesel by 2p to 135.7p [...]
Barclays wins Amec as latest broking client September 25, 2013 BARCLAYS continued the growth of its corporate broking business by winning the mandate to act as joint broker to Amec, the FTSE 100 listed engineering group, alongside Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofAML). The appointment comes just days after Amec abandoned plans to make a £700m bid for Kentz, the oil services group. Amec was [...]
Best of the Brokers for 26 September 2013 September 25, 2013 GREENCORE Numis has given food company Greencore an “add” recommendation and lifted its target price to 153p ahead of its 26 November full year report. The analyst said plus points include “the absence of the horse meat issue and possible improvement from UK cakes & desserts.” TESCO Shares in Tesco fell 3.5 per cent yesterday, [...]
London Report: Slide in energy shares helps to drive FTSE down September 25, 2013 BRITAIN’S top shares fell yesterday, led down by Carnival after a profit warning triggered downgrades, while Centrica and SSE fell after the opposition Labour Party talked of an energy price freeze. Carnival slid 6.7 per cent to 2,098.26 pence, the FTSE 100’s top faller for the second session in a row, after Tuesday’s warning of [...]