All City & finance articles – Page 559
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News
Woolworths trouble could knock rivals, City fears
The performance of Game, HMV and WHSmith are at risk as a result of the problems of Woolworths, which has held talks about a sale to restructuring specialist Hilco.
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News
Frenzy of festive discount vouchers fuel fear of bloodbath on high street
An unprecedented raft of “secret Sales” and promotional vouchers is likely to spark a high street bloodbath ahead of what retail chiefs are warning will be the toughest Christ-mas ever.
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News
Andy Bond: Christmas will be OK but new year won’t
Asda chief executive Andy Bond has warned that while shoppers will spend slightly less this Christmas, the first quarter of next year will be “when things get really tough” for retailers.
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Opinion
It’s bad but it will get worse
The bold 1.5 percentage point interest rate cut was supposed to help restore consumer confidence.
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News
Sir Stuart Rose: 'step-down' in trading in last fortnight
There has been another marked fall in consumer spending in recent weeks, Marks & Spencer executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose has said.
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News
Woolworths in talks to sell retail arm to Hilco for £1
Woolworths is understood to be in talks to sell its high street business to specialist distressed fund Hilco for 1.
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News
West End at risk of losing top Euro ranking
London’s West End is at risk of losing its title as Europe’s number one shopping destination as pressures from Westfield London and other developments begin to take their toll.
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News
Inflation plunges at record rate
Inflation has fallen at the steepest rate in more than a decade, driven down by cheaper fuel and food.
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News
John Lewis sales fall again
Department store business John Lewis suffered a 14 per cent sales fall last week, it is understood.
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News
Carphone Warehouse confirms potential business split
Carphone Warehouse chief executive Charles Dunstone has confirmed that he is looking at splitting the retail and broadband arms of the business as the company reported EBITDA growth of 51 per cent to 112 million in the 26 weeks to September 27.
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News
Comet hit as suppliers' insurance cover cut
Some suppliers to electricals retailer Comet have had credit insurance reduced, it is understood.
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News
Interest rate cut fails to boost shoppers' festive spending plans
The dramatic interest rate cut earlier this month has done nothing so far to stimulate Christmas spending, updated GfK NOP data shows.
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News
Asos sales and profits soar
Online fashion retailer Asos has once again defied the economic downturn, reporting a jump in pre-tax profits of 68 per cent to 4.1 million for the six months to September 30.
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News
More Otto jobs under threat in costs review
Otto UK has revealed its on-going review could have an impact across all departments after entering into a consultation period with its buying and creative teams.
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News
Top Woolworths shareholder: business is worth £340 million
Property magnate confident the chain has a future or a buyer could be found, despite City critics.
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Analysis
Rent holidays: Survival of the weakest
For retailers staring into the abyss a break from paying rent can be a last-gasp solution but, asks Ben Cooper, is it really always going to be the lifeline they are hoping for?
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AnalysisCost cutting: The lean machine
In these cash-strapped times deep and sustainable cost cutting is the name of the game. Charlotte Hardie looks at how retailers can trim the fat without their service suffering.
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Opinion
Interest rate cut might just work
When the chief executive of Tesco reportedly breakfasts at the weekend with the Governor of the Bank of England, emphasising the extreme fragility of consumer confidence and pressing for an interest rate cut, it’s a sure sign of torrid times.
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News
Majestic profits plummet 25% as champagne loses its fizz
Majestic Wine suffered a 25.5 per cent drop in first-half pre-tax profits after champagne sales slumped as corporate customers slashed expenditure.
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News
Analysts hail Tesco’s Far East growth plan
The financial sun is rising on Tesco’s Far Eastern businesses, analysts believe following a tour of stores in the region.