Weak banks help drive FTSE to three-month closing low June 15, 2011 BRITAIN’S top shares ended lower yesterday, weighed down by banks on worries over the UK government’s drive for tougher regulation and Europe’s debt crisis, while commodity stocks also pressured the index. The FTSE 100 closed down 60.58 points, or 1.0 per cent, at 5,742.55, its lowest finish since March 18. Banks fell ahead of chancellor [...]
Sainsbury’s sales up as shoppers buy bargains June 15, 2011 Supermarket chain Sainsbury’s has seen like-for-like sales grow 1.9 per cent in the past three months, excluding sales of fuel but including VAT, confirming the subdued consumer spending trend. It warned that customers were turning to its own-brand products to try to spend less on food and had focused on products included in meal deals. [...]
Tesco blames fuel price for UK sales dip June 14, 2011 TESCO stoked fears over the financial pressures on British consumers yesterday by posting sales growth in all international regions except the UK. The UK’s biggest supermarket blamed high petrol prices for eating into household incomes and causing an 0.1 per cent fall in UK sales excluding petrol and VAT in the past three months. It [...]
Investors ignore growth abroad to focus on UK woes June 14, 2011 MAYBE Tesco should move its primary listing to Hong Kong. Then investors might pay more attention to Asia, where sales grew by 11.4 per cent at constant exchange rates in the first quarter. The region accounted for around 17 per cent of sales and trading profit last year, a figure that will only grow. Or [...]
Oil companies and banks help to push the FTSE 100 higher June 14, 2011 Britain’s top share index rose yesterday, with oil majors and banks gaining as above-forecast data from the United States and signs that the Chinese economy could avoid a hard landing boosted appetite for riskier assets. Britain’s FTSE 100 ended 29.67 points higher, or 0.5 per cent at 5,803.13 points, after inching up 0.1 per cent [...]
FTSE climbs as risk appetite returns June 14, 2011 London stocks are gaining ground this morning after heartening economic data from China led Asia to a positive finish overnight and boosted commodities. Energy and metals prices are rising after data showed China’s inflation rate remains high at 5.5 per cent. That rate was better than some expected, though, while retail sales data also showed [...]
Tesco UK sales fall short June 14, 2011 Tesco, the world’s No.3 retailer, missed forecasts with a second consecutive quarterly fall in underlying sales in its main UK market as cash-strapped shoppers cut back on discretionary spending. The supermarket group said sales at stores in the UK open at least a year fell 0.1 per cent, excluding petrol and changes in VAT sales [...]
Leahy invests in tech firm June 12, 2011 FORMER Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy has invested £2m of his personal wealth into a British software startup. He has bought a ten per cent stake in MetaPack, a small technology firm that co-ordinates customer deliveries for several big retailers. The company counts Sir Terry’s former employer, from which he stood down as chief executive [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS June 12, 2011 TESCO Evolution Securities rates the supermarket “sell” with a target price of 375p. The broker expects to see 7.5 per cent growth in group turnover when Tesco reports first quarter figures on Tuesday, with international gains making up for flat underlying UK like-for-like sales. Evo thinks Tesco is underperforming the UK market and has concerns [...]
Rugby’s phoenix still on the rise June 9, 2011 ANYONE who had even whispered talk of a return to the Premiership when London Scottish were at rock bottom a decade ago would have been wheeled off by men in white coats, suspected of suffering one high tackle too many. Relegated nine divisions after an ownership disaster dragged them into administration just after the advent [...]