More finance – Page 164
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OpinionSecond time lucky for New Look flotation?
New Look is heading the pack of private equity backed retailers considering a return to the market next year.
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OpinionA battle has been won at Marks & Spencer
M&S can afford to be satisfied, though not complacent. It still has a long road to travel to regain past levels of success.
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OpinionThe empire strikes back
Tesco publishes its first-half results a week on Tuesday. Sainsbury’s follows with its second-quarter numbers a day later. And this year the pair’s performance – even though not over comparable periods – will be even more of a needle match than usual.
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OpinionMind your own shop
There seems to be a general consensus now that while 2009 may have been slightly better than many retailers expected, 2010 might be a little more challenging.
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OpinionA new age of reason
Visits in the past two weeks to the US and Australia have unearthed encouraging signs to counter the fears of a recessionary pandemic that abounded 12 months ago.
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OpinionLehman’s ghost laid to rest?
Tuesday was the anniversary of Lehman’s collapse, which a year ago sent retail sales plunging within hours of its demise.
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OpinionTransparently good
Kingfisher and Sports Direct showed both sides of the corporate governance coin this week.
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OpinionA good write-up
There’s been plenty of writing down of retail assets over the past year or two, but precious little writing up.
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AnalysisWill retail rise to round two of VAT war?
A VAT increase is looking like an inevitability. George MacDonald asks what promotional feats retailers will need to pull off to counter the blow to consumer confidence in the January Sales season
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OpinionThe billion Dollar question
At last, a retail IPO. Dollar General’s flotation is happening in the States not the UK, but success would be a sign that markets may be fully opening again and that stores can win investor backing.
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OpinionCompetition still hot in grocery
So farewell then – for now – to Paul Foley. The Aldi UK boss’s abrupt departure last week led to speculation that the wheels have come off his juggernaut.
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AnalysisDoes David Cameron think retail?
Many retailers are disillusioned with Labour rule in the downturn but would a Conservative government led by David Cameron really be the answer to their woes?
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OpinionHome comforts
There are new signs of bounce in the hard-pressed homewares and furniture market, on which the springs went more than a year ago.
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OpinionCarpetright rules the roost
Lord Harris must be licking his lips. The carpet king has long dominated the sector but the collapse of his nearest rival Allied Carpets is set to consolidate his control of the UK’s floorings market.
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OpinionNo time to be counting chickens
The 11-day rally in the FTSE may have ended on Tuesday, but the record run enjoyed by equities over the preceding fortnight showed investors have real confidence that green shoots are emerging.
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OpinionNext boss Simon Wolfson excels again
Next boss Simon Wolfson is making a habit of beating expectations. So good has recent performance been that Next brought forward its trading update and upped internal profit forecasts by £30m.
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OpinionTables could turn in grocery
Auctioning off a 25lb pork pie could only have happened at a Marks & Spencer AGM, and it could only have been fronted by the showman himself Sir Stuart Rose.
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AnalysisIs a wave of retail floats imminent?
The prospect of retail IPOs is rising, but the shaky economy and recent cash calls could make talk of floats so much hot air. By George MacDonald
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OpinionA kick in the ballots
Some of the biggest retailers have been forced on the defensive in the face of shareholder uprisings unparalleled in more than a decade.
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Analysis
Alan White has been busy updating the City
The N Brown boss might have married last week, but instead of honeymooning he’s been busy updating the City. Lisa Berwin looks at the driving force behind the catalogue group