Sainsbury’s beats forecasts with sales hike October 6, 2010 J Sainsbury has posted second-quarter sales towards the top end of forecasts, as new stores, online shopping and demand for non-food lines helped it to grow share in a tough market. The group said it expected conditions to remain difficult for shoppers as the government hikes taxes and cuts spending to rein in its debts. [...]
Tesco talks up economy as profit lifts October 5, 2010 TESCO said yesterday that the UK was unlikely to slide back into recession as it reported a 12.5 per cent increase in first half profit to £1.6bn. The world’s third largest retailer said it had been boosted by the strength of Asian markets, offsetting “modest” UK sales growth in the 26 weeks to 8 August. [...]
Tesco October 5, 2010 SIR Terry Leahy effectively signs off with yet another set of results which shows Tesco is negotiating choppy economic waters in a calm and assured way. While UK sales growth of three per cent is far from stellar, growing Asian markets have helped to keep the ship moving forward. Analysts point to the surprise forecast [...]
Tesco in £1.8bn profit October 5, 2010 Tesco has made a £1.8bn profit in first half profits – a 14 per cent jump from the same period the year before. The world’s third biggest retailer said the rise in underlying pre-tax profits came despite “modest” UK sales growth in the 26 weeks to 28 August. Sales across the group jumped by more [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING October 3, 2010 THE SUNDAYS The Sunday Telegraph EURO MAY NOT SURVIVE, CAUTIONS STIGLITZ One of the world’s leading economists has warned that the future of the euro is “looking bleak” and the fragile European economic recovery could be irreparably damaged by a “wave of austerity” sweeping the continent. Joseph Stiglitz, the former chief economist of the World [...]
Retailers go head to head with results October 3, 2010 SUPERMARKETS are set for a showdown this week as Tesco, J Sainsbury and Marks & Spencer post interim results. Smaller retailers Ted Baker, Halfords and Greggs are also due results, in a week that will indicate how the High Street has fared since the general election. Tesco is expected to post a 10 per cent [...]
Tesco plan to sell mortgages delayed by FSA October 3, 2010 TESCO’S plans to sell mortgages in Britain could face a delay because it has yet to receive approval from the country’s financial services watchdog. “The FSA (Financial Services Authority) is just being careful. It is a new process and it is very difficult,” a Tesco spokesman said. He declined to comment on a report in [...]
FTSE falls on weaker banks, despite advance made by BP September 30, 2010 BRITAIN’S FTSE 100 closed lower yesterday as weaker banks outweighed gains from energy stocks on stronger crude prices and comments suggesting BP could resume paying a dividend in 2011. The FTSE 100 closed 20.65 points, or 0.4 per cent lower at 5,548.62. It gained 6.2 per cent in September and 12.8 per cent in the [...]
Tesco boss slams short-term investors September 26, 2010 TESCO boss Sir Terry Leahy has launched a stinging attack on City investors for failing to act in the best interests of Britain’s public companies. Writing in today’s Times, Leahy said shareholders would benefit from becoming more engaged with the firms they invest in. This would also free up managers from dealing with the goals of [...]
Sainsbury ponders expansion in China September 26, 2010 J SAINSBURY has sent a team to China to decide whether the supermarket group can begin a war on a new front with its arch-rival Tesco. Senior executives met with officials from China’s Ministry of Commerce when they visited London this week. Darren Shapland was moved from finance director to a business development role at [...]