BEST OF THE BROKERS April 13, 2011 ITV Nomura rates the media group “buy” with a 115p target price. The broker notes recent press coverage claiming that Simon Cowell might not appear in the X Factor until the final show of the next series, but argues that the show might not suffer severely as a result. It points to the American Idol [...]
Asos profit estimated at top end April 13, 2011 online fashion firm ASOS said full year profit was likely to be towards the top end of expectations after a jump in fourth quarter sales. The fast-growing firm said retail sales increased 70 per cent to £93.4m in the three months to 31 March, its fiscal fourth quarter. That compares with a rise of 59 [...]
‘It would be an injustice if Paula Radcliffe never won Olympic gold’ April 12, 2011 HIS ANSWERS come as quickly as the hurdles he repeatedly conquered over 110m when Colin Jackson is asked which British Olympians he believes will capture gold next summer. Triple jumper Phillips Idowu, heptathlete Jessica Ennis, long jumper Greg Rutherford, Dai Greene, the Welsh 400m hurdler – all get a namecheck. And then the one he [...]
M&S poaches top man from Wm Morrison April 7, 2011 MARKS & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland has poached one of his former Wm Morrison colleagues, Christopher Taylor, to take charge of his convenience stores . Taylor, who was leading Morrisons’ expansion into smaller convenience stores, is the first of Bolland’s former executives to be hired by M&S since Bolland was himself poached as chief [...]
FTSE nears seven-year high as M&S boosts retail sector April 6, 2011 BANKS helped drive Britain’s top shares to a near seven-week high yesterday following a Portuguese debt auction, while Marks & Spencer rose on better-than-expected sales, lifting sentiment in retailers. The FTSE 100 ended up 34.07 points, or 0.6 per cent, at 6,041.13, its highest closing level since 18 February. Lex van Dam, hedge fund manager [...]
Protests about tax payments have no effect April 5, 2011 SOMETIMES no change at all can be as interesting as dramatic movements and that is certainly the case when we look at brands that have been targeted by UK Uncut over the past five months. The protest movement has attempted to shame brands that it claims have dodged UK taxes. A series of actions began [...]
Innovation seals Tesco car contract April 4, 2011 BUSINESS process outsourcing company The Innovation Group has won a maintenance, repair and servicing contract for Tesco’s new online vehicle sales service. Tesco Cars was launched yesterday in partnership with carsite.co.uk and will mainly sell vehicles with one previous owner. The deal will give customers access to Innovation Group’s national network of garages through an [...]
CITY VIEWS: WOULD YOU BUY A USED CAR FROM TESCO? April 4, 2011 Save or Borrow peer to peer at RateSetter.com JOE ST JOHN | LOCKTON “Yes, I use Tesco for many things, and their new areas seem to be doing well. It is a trusted brand.” JIMMY ATKINS | RFIB “Yes, but I would use a recognised used car dealer website too as they have more specific [...]
Tesco launches website for used-car sales April 3, 2011 SUPERMARKET chain Tesco yesterday launched an online used-car sales service, giving customers access to thousands of pre-checked vehicles at set prices. To avoid the pitfalls usually associated with buying a second-hand vehicle, all cars will undergo an RAC inspection and be provided with full service history and details of any damage. Tesco claims the service [...]
…As Coventry Building Society eyes loss-making good bank bid March 31, 2011 COVENTRY Building Society is putting together a bid for the loss-making “good bank” Northern Rock, the building society confirmed yesterday. Coventry is a surprise addition to the potential list of acquirers for the nationalised mortgage lender, its branches and its deposits, which includes self-styled challenger banks Virgin Money, Tesco Bank, OneSavings Bank and NBNK Investments [...]