FTSE 100 movers: Compass marches north, grocers retreat on consumer crunch
12th May 2016 14:53
(ShareCast News) - The FTSE 100 index started weakly, built up steam and then lost it again on Thursday, sitting 0.8% lower at 6,113.32 late in session. Despite gold losing some of its lustre, Randgold Resources topped the pile while precious metals giant Fresnillio was another on the leaderb
Read moreRetail sales fall in April as cold hits footwear and fashion, says BRC-KPMG
10th May 2016 10:27
(ShareCast News) - British retail sales in April fell on a like-for-like basis compared to last year, with non-food sales outweighing positive food sales. The monthly Retail Sales Monitor (RSM) from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG showed total sales were flat for a second month in a row
Read moreMorrisons gains and Tesco loses as UK supermarket sales slow, Kantar says
4th May 2016 09:47
(ShareCast News) - Sales at all four of the big four UK supermarkets fell in recent weeks as grocery growth slowed markedly post-Easter, according to data from Kantar Worldpanel. Although Sainsbury's was stronger than its rivals, sales fell for the first time since last July, losing 0.4% in the 12 w
Read moreSainsbury's profits fall less than forecast from price fallout
4th May 2016 07:11
(ShareCast News) - Sainsbury's annual results showed the severe hit to its finances by the industry price war and ensuring food price deflation but profits fell less than analysts expected. Total sales from Sainsbury's 601 supermarkets fell 1.1% to £25.8bn, while like-for-like sales fell 0.9%. Pure
Read moreWednesday preview: Sainsbury's reports full year results amid Home Retail deal
3rd May 2016 12:48
(ShareCast News) - J Sainsbury reports its full year results on Wednesday in the wake of its agreement to buy Argos owner Home Retail Group. The group is expected to report a drop in earnings for the year to 31 March 2016, amid fierce competition from smaller discounters and a pricing war among supe
Read moreHome Retail hit by impairment charge from Sainsbury's takeover
27th Apr 2016 08:09
(ShareCast News) - Argos owner Home Retail Group reported a full pre-tax loss of £804m after taking a hit from a £852m impairment charge as a result of its £1.4bn takeover by Sainbury's. The loss compares with a £93.8m profit in the year to February 2015. Sales fell 1% to £5.68bn, with revenues from
Read moreCMA forces supermarkets to change price promotion tactics
27th Apr 2016 07:17
(ShareCast News) - The UK competition regulator has demanded several large supermarket groups to review their promotions and has been forced to arrange specific changes with US-owned Asda, with a government consultation set to begin into legislation and guidance on unit pricing. The Competition and
Read moreTuesday broker round-up
26th Apr 2016 13:09
(ShareCast News) - Premier Foods: Jefferies upgrades to buy with a 60p target. Aberdeen Asset Management: Citigroup downgrades to sell with a 265p target. Smiths Group: Jefferies keeps at buy with a target price of 1100p and Credit Suisse reiterates outperform with a target of 1275p. Close Brother
Read moreHousebuilders and supermarkets lead gains
22nd Apr 2016 15:50
(ShareCast News) - Housebuilders were on the upside of the FTSE 100 for much of Friday, with some brokers turning less cautious on the sector than they have been in recent months. Analysts at Canaccord Genuity reiterated ratings on three of the top movers, including Barratt Developments, Berkeley Gr
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Mining bears outweigh construction bulls
22nd Apr 2016 13:54
(ShareCast News) - London's blue chips were on the back foot as the week came to a close, weighed down as the miners continued to lose ground for a second session and despite oil prices launching a new move higher. After the European Central Bank's tough-talking stance on Thursday, miners were being
Read moreThursday broker round-up
21st Apr 2016 12:16
(ShareCast News) - Petrofac: Jefferies downgrades to hold with a 855p target. ARM Holdings: Goldman Sachs stays at buy with a 1400p target, Citigroup keeps at neutral with a target price of 1045p and Exane BNP Paribas reiterates outperform with a target of 1300p. Zoopla: Barclays downgrades to equa
Read moreSainsbury's ditches 'brand match' for lower everyday prices
7th Apr 2016 11:23
(ShareCast News) - Sainsbury's has announced plans to scrap its 'brand match' scheme by the end of the month as the next step in its recent strategy to focus on lower regular prices. The supermarket said the move reinforced its commitment to offer lower prices on key products that customers buy on a
Read moreCredit Suisse upgrades Sainsbury's on Home Retail deal
7th Apr 2016 08:58
(ShareCast News) - Credit Suisse upgraded Sainsbury's to 'outperform' from 'underperform' and lifted the price target to 290p from 240p. The bank said the acquisition of Home Retail should boost profits, provide opportunities to grow sales, reduce costs, expand Sainsbury's customer base and improve
Read moreSainsbury's restructuring puts 'hundreds of jobs at risk'
5th Apr 2016 13:56
(ShareCast News) - The creation of a new management role at supermarket chain Sainsbury's could put hundreds of jobs at risk, according to Britain's biggest trade union. Sainsbury's said on Tuesday that it was getting rid of the store trainer role currently held by 870 employees. Instead, the group
Read moreTesco nears growth as supermarkets sales speed up, says Kantar
5th Apr 2016 08:26
(ShareCast News) - The rot is stopping at Tesco and an imminent return to growth is on the cards, according to supermarket industry data, though both the market leader and Sainsbury's have lost ground to rivals. Overall UK supermarkets are enjoying increasingly rapid growth as the year goes on, acco
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