Today’s election result and the implications for consumer and business confidence are likely to influence whether or not a clutch of retail initial public offerings get under way.
Fashion group New Look, which pulled a proposed flotation in February as a result of market conditions, and online grocer Ocado are the most prominent retailers waiting to decide whether to go ahead with IPOs.
KBC Peel Hunt analyst John Stevenson said that, assuming the election brought stability and ratings agencies did not downgrade the UK, IPOs should be possible.
Collins Stewart analyst Greg Lawless said market certainty is needed, and the deficit and problems in Europe “will weigh on the UK”.
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