All City & finance articles – Page 459
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NewsKesa manoeuvres to keep ‘economic interest’ in Comet
Kesa could keep an economic interest in Comet, the embattled electricals chain it has put up for sale, under a proposal being discussed with private equity firm OpCapita.
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OpinionWHSmith pushes the envelope
WHSmith has never been the most exciting of retailers. In the last few years its City updates have followed the same reassuring yet predictable path – rising profits as further cost savings are found, and falling sales, particularly in its high street arm.
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NewsSharp sets out strategy as Debenhams records 10% profit increase
New Debenhams chief executive Michael Sharp has revealed his growth strategy for the department store, as he revealed full year pre-tax profit jumped 10% to £166.1m..
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NewsSports Direct profits jump 13.3% as sales grow
Sports Direct retail gross profit advanced 13.3% to £119m as sales thrive.
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NewsArgos continues to drag down Home Retail as profits slump
Argos has continued to drag down the performance of its parent Home Retail in the first half, as group pre-tax profit slumped 70% to £28m.
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OpinionComment: Ted Baker is no ordinary retailer
“Better product, better design. It’s that simple.” That was the explanation given by Ted Baker chief executive Ray Kelvin to analysts last week as he unveiled a 12.7% increase in first-half profits.
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NewsRising costs and promos take blame for dip in Clarks’ profits
Footwear retailer Clarks has blamed a poor performance in the UK for a steep fall in group profits in the first half to July 31.
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AnalysisMothercare in crisis: What do retailers need to know?
After a profits warning and the departure of chief executive Ben Gordon, where does the retailer go from here?
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OpinionThere is still a future for Mothercare in the UK
Brutal business, retail. For his first eight years at Mothercare, Ben Gordon could do no wrong.
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NewsMothercare suffers but retail improves
While retailers rose over the week, Mothercare’s shares went in the opposite direction as desperate trading in the UK claimed the scalp of chief executive Ben Gordon on Tuesday.
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NewsRecord travel performance helps WH Smith to higher profits
WH Smith’s profits rose 4% in the year to 31 August, helped by record profits from its travel division.
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AnalysisEmerging retailers: Still flying high?
Two years ago, 10 of the top emerging retailers gathered for a Retail Week photo shoot at the top of London’s Gherkin. Today, Charlotte Hardie revisits them to find out how they have fared amid the trials and tribulations of the continued downturn.
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NewsWickes Q3 like-for-likes down 2% as big ticket items suffer
DIY retailer Wickes like-for-likes slipped 0.5% in the 39 weeks to October 1, but worsened in the most recent 13 week period, falling 2%.
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NewsBurberry sales soar 30% in first half
Luxury fashion brand Burberry saw total revenue surge 30% to £830m in the six months to September 30.
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NewsMothercare chief executive Ben Gordon to exit
Mothercare chief executive Ben Gordon is to leave the struggling retailer by mutual consent with its board.
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OpinionComment: Are recessions as much about psychology as economics?
Show faith in the worth of your offer and it’ll rub off on consumers, says Simon Burke
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NewsBig grocers avoid worst of price falls
Store stocks were down across the board over the week but food and general merchandisers’ declines were limited versus the wider market, although that was ahead of a Mothercare profit warning.
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OpinionChinese whispers hit Burberry
For evidence of shareholder short-termism, look no further than luxury goods retailer and brand Burberry.
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NewsConsumers experiencing crisis of confidence, top retailers say
Leading retailers feel the squeeze as shoppers tighten their belts further and consumer confidence plummets, and fear no immediate improvement on the horizon.
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OpinionGovernment needs to lift shopper confidence
As David Cameron sat down on Wednesday morning to make the finishing touches to his speech to the Tory conference, he could have done worse than take a look at that day’s statements from Tesco, Mothercare, SuperGroup and Sainsbury’s.