Morrisons feels the pinch over Christmas
11th Jan 2015 10:21
Retailer Wm Morrison is expected to announce that it was the worst-performing supermarket among the industry's big four over the Christmas season. City analysts expected the group to post a 3.8% drop in like-for-like sales for the six weeks to 4 January, worse than the 0.3% fall posted by Tesco for
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Supermarket stocks pull back after strong surge
9th Jan 2015 13:47
Supermarket stocks were under pressure on Friday, with Tesco in particular pulling back after a 15% surge the previous session, following the announcement of its turnaround plan and resilient Christmas sales. Dampening Tesco's shares was the news that ratings agency Moody's had cut the UK grocer'
Read moreLondon midday: Weak UK production data dampens stocks ahead of US jobs report
9th Jan 2015 11:35
Disappointing UK economic data and nervousness ahead of a key labour-market report in the States sent London's FTSE 100 lower on Friday morning, as stocks pulled back after a surge the previous session. By around lunchtime, the Footsie was trading nearly 0.7% lower at 6,527 with weakness among super
Read moreLondon open: Markets slip ahead of US data, supermarkets and housebuilders fall
9th Jan 2015 09:06
UK stocks endured a subdued start on Friday morning following a huge jump the previous session as markets paused for breath ahead of the pivotal US jobs report. The FTSE 100 was down 0.2% at 6,554 early on, with supermarket stocks pulling back after a strong rally and housebuilders hit by some negat
Read moreLondon close: UK stocks at best levels this year as Tesco jumps 15%
8th Jan 2015 16:42
London's FTSE 100 surged by 2.3% on Thursday to close at its best level this year as a massive gain in the share price of heavyweight supermarket group Tesco gave fellow retailers a lift. Increased hopes for central-bank stimulus in Europe, a stabilisation of oil prices and improving economic data f
Read moreSector movers: Supermarket stocks surge as Tesco pleases with revival plans
8th Jan 2015 15:28
The food and drug retail sector was trading nearly 10% higher on Thursday as investors gave a warm welcome to revival plans at industry giant Tesco, which reported a less-than-expected fall in sales over the crucial Christmas period. Tesco's shares were up nearly 13% at 205.3p in afternoon trade aft
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Tesco surges on turnaround plans, M&S hit by weak sales
8th Jan 2015 14:12
Tesco's shares surged nearly 14% after it said it would cut costs substantially next year, close 43 unprofitable stores and lower prices, as chief executive Dave Lewis attempts to turn around the struggling supermarket chain. The news came as the company unveiled a "broad-based improvement" in UK tr
Read moreLondon open: Tesco leads stock surge ahead of economic data, BoE decision
8th Jan 2015 08:45
Big gains from Tesco and a strong finish on Wall Street helped drive UK markets higher on Thursday morning, as investors awaited a flurry of economic data and a policy decision by the Bank of England (BoE). Heavyweight grocer Tesco was leading the risers early on after investors applauded the superm
Read moreSector movers: Grocers drop as investors try to gauge duration of price war
7th Jan 2015 14:33
Grocery giant Sainsbury on Wednesday unveiled better-than-expected numbers on like-for-like sales for the third quarter. Those dropped by 1.7%, considerably less than the 3.2% drop which analysts had plugged into their spread-sheets. As Shore Capital emphasised in a research note e-mailed to client
Read moreBroker tips: Supermarkets, Oil services, Sky, Premier Foods
6th Jan 2015 12:23
After one of the worst years in living memory for investors and management in the British supermarket sector, broker Shore Capital expects expect 2015 to be another "very active and interesting" year, though the sector's nadir "may have been reached". "Given the collapse of profits over the last 12-
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks weighed down by economic data, oil and Greece
6th Jan 2015 11:49
Disappointing economic data and a continued slide in the price of oil pushed UK stocks firmly into the red on Tuesday, with the FTSE 100 trading at its lowest in three weeks. Ongoing concerns about a Greek exit from the Eurozone were also doing their bit to dampen market sentiment further. "The Gre
Read moreUK supermarket sector poised for strong cash generation, says Shore Capital
6th Jan 2015 10:50
After one of the worst years in living memory for investors and management in the British supermarket sector, broker Shore Capital expects 2015 to be another "very active and interesting" year, though the sector's nadir "may have been reached". Trading updates from the major supermarkets are due thi
Read moreOriel highlights upside risk at Tesco as grocers report on Christmas trading
5th Jan 2015 11:00
With all three of the listed UK supermarkets due to report on Christmas trading this week, Oriel Securities has predicted that Tesco is the most likely to "surprise on the upside". Like-for-like (LFL) sales at Tesco "should benefit from improved customer service and aggressive promotional and vouche
Read moreMonday newspaper round-up: ECB, UK retailers, PRA...
5th Jan 2015 06:40
A Financial Times survey of economists has uncovered scepticism surrounding a potential quantitative easing (QE) programme by the European Central Bank. Most economists questioned by the paper said they expected growth and inflation to remain weak even with QE. The Guardian reports that John Lewis'
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Petrol prices, Public borrowing, British supermarkets
2nd Jan 2015 09:26
Petrol prices are heading to below £1 a litre for the first time since 2009 in a big pre-election boost for consumers. Plunging world oil prices coupled with a new supermarket price war is driving down pump prices, lowering inflation and leaving consumers with a cash windfall which is boosting econo
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