UK retail stocks came under pressure on Tuesday (26 Aug) after analysts at Deutsche Bank downgraded the sector citing an anticipated slowdown in consumer spending. The analysts highlighted discretionary spending growth falling to 3% in the second half from 7% in the first half, which was buoyed by sunny weather. The bank believes the back end of 2024 and the first half of 2025 may turn out to...

Warm Easter holiday weather boosted seasonal sales of outdoor and gardening products and encouraged consumers to get out and spend on 'big-ticket' projects. Among the beneficiaries was DIY chain Wickes (WIX), where revenue grew 6.9% in the 17 weeks to 26 April 2025. The specialty retailer highlighted 'strong volume-led' retail sales, up 9.2% on a like-for-like basis. Wickes, which opened its...

'Good start' to year Market share gains in UK, France, Poland Cautious outlook leaves investors cold Home improvement giant Kingfisher (KGF) delivered a welcome uptick in first-quarter sales driven by strong demand for seasonal categories at B&Q in particular. Why then, did shares in the DIY-stores operator drop 2.1% to 290p in early dealings? The answer appears to be the lack of a current...

Stocks in London closed higher on Tuesday, boosted by stronger American markets while higher metal prices pushed up Anglo American and Antofagsta.The FTSE 100 index closed up 25.79 points, 0.3%, at 8,663.80. The FTSE 250 rose 58.78 points, 0.3%, at 19,981.21, and the AIM All-Share climbed 4.32 points, 0.6%, at 693.44.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.2% at 866.14, the Cboe UK 250 closed 0.3% higher...

Weaker trends across broader marketGains in UK & Ireland, France, Poland'Encouraging' big-ticket sales in Q4Kingfisher (KGF) shares were the FTSE 100's biggest faller on 25 March, slumping 12% to 246.5p after the home improvement retailer reported declines in full-year revenue and profit amid weaker demand for big-ticket items.The B&Q-to-Castorama owner faced particular challenges in France,...

Blue chip stock prices in London and Paris opened higher on Tuesday, as investors await US house price index data.The FTSE 100 index opened up 24.40 points, 0.3%, at 8,664.22. The FTSE 250 improved 69.80 points, 0.4%, at 19,992.23, and the AIM All-Share was 3.98 points higher, 0.6%, at 693.00.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.4% at 867.61, the Cboe UK 250 was 0.2% higher at 17,437.22, and the Cboe...

Professional short sellers are currently circling a small group of UK consuming-facing stocks with the goal of profiting from falls in their share prices, potentially caused by Rachel Reeves' Budget decisions.The UK outlook is getting worse by the day, with business and consumer sentiment weakening amid concerns the new government doesn't have an effective plan to accelerate economic...

Ocado still the number one shortRetailers in general unlovedEnergy services stocks drilledShort-selling, or borrowing shares to sell in the hope of buying them back at a lower price, is not something most retail investors have the nerve or the skill-set to pull off as it requires a certain mindset and a willingness to tolerate heavy losses on occasion until your bets come right.For the pros,...

Stocks in London were mixed after opening higher on Wednesday, as UK inflation data increased the chances of the Bank of England holding rates steady tomorrow.The FTSE 100 index closed up just 3.91 points at 8,199.11. The FTSE 250 ended 59.13 points higher, 0.3%, at 20,601.99, and the AIM All-Share gave back 2.62 points, 0.4%, at 719.42.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.1% at 822.61, the Cboe UK...

Stocks in Europe were mostly higher at midday Wednesday, with UK inflation reaching an eight-month high but not forcing 'shares in interest rate-sensitive sectors' to retreat.In UK and European news, the UK consumer prices index rose by 2.6% in the year to November, picking up pace from a 2.3% rise in year to October and in line with FXStreet-cited market consensus. The closely watched CPI...

Stocks in London were in the green on Wednesday morning, as investors prepare for eurozone inflation data and the US interest rate decision this afternoon.UK consumer price inflation and producer price inflation data came out before the London open.According to the Office for National Statistics, the consumer prices index rose by 2.6% in the 12 months to November, picking up pace on-month from...

Kingfisher (KGF) 254.1pGain to date: 13.6%We added Kingfisher (KGF) to our list of Great Ideas in February at 223.5p arguing the valuation afforded the B&Q and Screwfix owner did not reflect the self-help levers being pulled by the company and the potential for an improvement in the consumer backdrop.WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE WE SAID TO BUY?For a time, our call looked like a particularly good...

Q3 like-for-likes down 1.1%Top end of profit guidance loweredRising costs to crimp 2026 profitsHome improvement giant Kingfisher's (KGF) sales missed guidance for the third quarter, with the retailer suffering a 6.4% revenue plunge in its second largest market, France, prompting the B&Q-to-Screwfix owner to lower the top end of its full year 2025 profit guidance.The DIY group also warned...

To date, a small, exclusive club of UK retailers have exceeded £1 billion in annual profits, a high street elite that includes Tesco (TSCO), Marks & Spencer (MKS) and Kingfisher (KGF). Some may view this £1 billion figure as merely symbolic, but breaching this barrier is no mean feat and demonstrates a retailer has a lasting place in consumers' affections and the scale to win in a...

Kingfisher (KGF) 313pGain to date: 40%We recommended buying into home improvement retailer Kingfisher (KGF) back in February at 223.5p on the basis of valuation (a single-digit price to earnings multiple and 5.5% dividend yield) and the potential for gains on the back of self-help measures and improving UK consumer confidence as interest rates come down.Although Kingfisher shares are just off...

Stocks in London held firm at the close on Monday, while the euro ebbed amid a slew of weak purchasing managers' index prints.The FTSE 100 index closed up 29.72 points, or 0.4%, at 8,259.71. The FTSE 250 ended up 13.28 points, or 0.1%, at 20,8451.82, but the AIM All-Share closed down 1.30 points, 0.2%, at 744.32.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.2% at 825.65, the Cboe UK 250 down slightly at...

London's FTSE 100 slipped slightly heading into Monday afternoon, as investors digest what was a busy week of interest rate action, while drab eurozone data put the European Central Bank in focus and hurt the euro.Elsewhere on mainland Europe, Frankfurt's DAX 40 traded resiliently in the face of weak German data, but French banks weighed on the CAC 40 on tax hike fears for larger companies.The...

Interim profit surprises analystsCore businesses performing wellFull-year range of forecasts raisedInvestors responded positively to a mixed half-year trading update from home improvement retailer Kingfisher (KGF) which included weaker-than-expected sales in France but higher-than-hoped pre-tax profit.The shares gained 17p or 6% to 307p making them the biggest riser on the FTSE 100 large-cap...

Q3 like-for-likes down 9.7%But signs of sales stabilisation'Significant' online gainsTopps Tiles' (TPT) shares slid 4.2% to a 52-week low of 39p after the UK's leading tile specialist reported a 9.7% plunge in third quarter like-for-like sales as 'challenging' market conditions persisted.The share price reaction might have been harsher had Topps not stressed that sales stabilised through the...

Stock prices in London closed mixed on Monday ahead of UK inflation data and a rate decision from the Bank of England, and as investors digested the latest house price reading.The FTSE 100 index closed down 4.71 points, 0.1%, at 8,142.15. The FTSE 250 ended up 39.36 points, 0.2%, at 20,159.72, and the AIM All-Share closed up 1.11 points, 0.2%, at 774.93.The Cboe UK 100 ended down slightly at...