Tuesday preview: Carpetright, inflation, RICs ...
12th Dec 2011 17:00
Floor coverings seller Carpetright, set to release interim figures on Tuesday, is not only battling waning consumer confidence but also a moribund housing market, so its half-year numbers could be grim. Indeed, Singer Capital Markets thinks the half-year figures will the worst in the company's histo
Read moreWeek ahead: Retailers in focus ahead of Christmas
9th Dec 2011 09:25
Retailers will be in focus next week, with Carpetright, Sports Direct and Moss Bros among the companies scheduled to report. The outlook statements in particular will be closely-watched by the markets ahead of the key Christmas trading period. However, this holiday season may not be the 'most wonde
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Shaftesbury, Cineworld, Christmas shares
1st Dec 2011 07:06
The Tempus column in The Times ponders which stocks would fit into a share portfolio consisting of stocks exposed to London and the South East only, and suggests that one would be Shaftesbury, the property company whose assets consist almost entirely of shops, restaurants and bars in the West End. I
Read moreFTSE 250 Movers: Chemring comes under fire
18th Nov 2011 15:21
Military decoy flare and mine detection firm Chemring was the biggest faller after it said unexpected delays in customer orders means full-year revenues will be around 5% below the board's expectations, while operating profit will be shy of market projections. In contrast, struggling foods manufac
Read moreLondon midday: Banks plummet, retailers buck trend
4th Oct 2011 12:29
A decent performance from the retail sector was not enough to pull the market higher by lunchtime, as investors bailed out of banking, engineering and mining stocks on concerns over the global economy. Jean-Claude Juncker, chairman of the Eurogroup finance minister committee, has said that there wi
Read moreSector movers: Coppers prices boost industrial miners
30th Aug 2011 15:56
The industrial metals and mining sector was the best performing sector on Tuesday afternoon, helped by rising copper prices. By 15:49, the copper price was 1.29% higher at $416.25, a $5.30 gain on the day, as a pay dispute and strike at the world's third-largest copper mine, the Grasberg mine in In
Read moreTough trading continues at Carpetright
2nd Aug 2011 07:56
Carpetright reiterated that it sees no respite from the challenging environment over the next year but reported an improvement in first quarter like for like UK sales. The carpet and floor coverings retailer, which axed its dividend in June and posted a sharp fall in annual sales and profit, noted
Read moreBetfair boss spends £1m
15th Jul 2011 17:27
Betfair's chairman and co-founder Edward Wray has opened his account at the online gambling group in a big way, splashing out £1m on shares. He took 152,578 at 655.4p a pop. The purchase comes amid a spell of weakness for Betfair's stock price after the mixed full-year results it reported at the en
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Ocado, Betfair bounce back
28th Jun 2011 15:04
The UK mid-cap stock index was in the green for the first time this week as investors remained in a buoyant mood over the resolution of the Greek debt crisis. Grocery deliverer Ocado Group and online betting exchange Betfair Group, which had seen a plunge in their share prices on Monday, recovered
Read moreBroker tips: Carpetright, London & Stamford, Thorntons
28th Jun 2011 12:49
While Carpetright's full-year pre-tax profit was 40% down year-on-year, Peel Hunt notes that it came in marginally ahead of its downgraded forecasts, and raises its numbers slightly for the carpet and flooring retailer. Pre-tax profit for the year ended 30 April came in at £16.9m, ahead of expectat
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks gain on euro hopes
28th Jun 2011 12:16
Stocks are still going well on hopes that the Greek crisis will soon be acted on. However, Cable & Wireless Worldwide is lower after saying chief executive Jim Marsh is to step down after the telecommunications group concluded profits are likely to fall short of previous expectations due to slower
Read moreBroker snap: Peel Hunt raises numbers for Carpetright
28th Jun 2011 11:45
While Carpetright's full-year pre-tax profit was 40% down year-on-year, Peel Hunt notes that it came in marginally ahead of its downgraded forecasts, and raises its numbers slightly for the carpet and flooring retailer. Pre-tax profit for the year ended 30 April came in at £16.9m, ahead of expectat
Read moreLondon open: FTSE 100 moves higher, C&W Worldwide and Carpetright slump
28th Jun 2011 08:29
The FTSE 100 has climbed as investors await progress in troubled Eurozone member Greece, but gloomy updates C&W and Carpetright are reminding investors of the fragile state of our own economy. Cable & Wireless Worldwide's chief executive Jim Marsh is to step down after the telecommunications group
Read moreLondon pre-open: Cautiously firmer
28th Jun 2011 07:36
Today is yet another big day for Greece, and therefore the future of the eurozone, with the country's parliament set to vote on the package of austerity measures that the country needs to implement if it is to get the next tranche of bailout money from the European Union and the International Moneta
Read moreCarpetright axes payout as profits slide
28th Jun 2011 07:08
Carpetright axed its dividend after a sharp fall in sales and profits in the year to 30 April and says it sees "no respite" from the tough trading conditions that are hurting the carpet and flooring retailer. Pre-tax profits slid to £6.6m from £22.3m the previous year on revenues that fell to £486.
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