News | Latest Breaking News Stories & Headlines

People with suitcases walk past a branch of WHSmith store

WH Smith delays results once again over audit review

WH Smith has today delayed the publication of its preliminary annual results for the second time, as the travel retailer struggles with the fallout of accounting failures at its US operations.

Business • 12 Dec

The outside of a Cardfactory shop with balloons and posters in the window

Card Factory cuts profit forecast on weak UK store sales

British greeting cards and gifts retailer Card Factory has today warned of a drop in annual profit as it expects lower store sales in the UK high street to persist over the remaining festive weeks this year, sending its shares 27% lower.

Business • 12 Dec

The entrance to a big white Frasers department store

Market conditions tough but Frasers keeps profit outlook

Frasers, the British sportswear and fashion retailer, said market conditions were tough, consumer confidence very subdued and excess inventory was weighing on the industry as the company reported a 2.8% fall in first-half profit.

Business • 04 Dec

Woman shopping online with laptop, entering credit card details to make mobile payment online at home

Debenhams to implement pay plan without vote in stand-off

Debenhams Group said today it will push ahead with a new executive pay scheme worth up to £222m without seeking approval from shareholders.

Business • 27 Nov

Halfords profit rises by 1% on strong bicycle sales

Britain's Halfords has today reported a 1% rise in first-half profit, as strong bicycle sales helped offset costs and other inflationary pressures.

Business • 27 Nov

ASOS' shares drop after disappointing profit outlook

ASOS shares fell sharply today after the UK fashion retailer's 2026 profit forecast came in below expectations, even though the company reported a jump in full-year earnings.

Business • 21 Nov

JD Sports forecasts profit at lower end of expectations

British sportswear retailer JD Sports Fashion has today forecast annual profit at the lower end of market expectations, saying it was mindful of recent weak economic and consumer indicators in its key markets.

Business • 20 Nov

DFS Furniture sees profit boost as sofa demand rises

UK sofa retailer DFS Furniture said today it expects strong year-on-year growth in first-half profit, noting that its retail and made-to-order sofa business has outperformed a subdued furniture market.

Business • 14 Nov

M&S said today it was confident it will be back on track by its financial year-end in March 2026

M&S first-half profit hammered by impact of cyber hack

UK retailer Marks & Spencer said it will have fully recovered from April's cyber hack by March next year, forecasting second half profit "at least" in line with last year after it slumped 55.4% in the first half.

Business • 05 Nov

Baker Greggs sees sales growth slow again

Baker and fast-food chain Greggs reported a further slowdown in underlying sales growth in its latest quarter, blaming July's hot weather for weaker trading before a recovery in August and September.

Business • 01 Oct

Next cautious on second-half trading outlook

Fashion retailer Next has today reported a 13.8% rise in first-half profit and stuck to its full-year profit forecast but said it remained cautious about trading for the rest of the year, expecting sales growth to slow.

Business • 18 Sep

AO World ups annual profit outlook, plans share buyback

UK electronics retailer AO World today laid out plans for its first-ever share buyback and raised the lower end of its annual adjusted pre-tax profit forecast, with the announcement sending its shares as much as 15.6% higher.

Business • 15 Sep

John Lewis on track for full year profit growth

UK retailer the John Lewis Partnership posted a deeper first-half loss but struck an upbeat tone on its Christmas prospects, citing rising customer numbers, and forecast full year profit growth.

Business • 11 Sep

A green sign above an entrance to a Dunelm Group store

Dunelm says no clear signs of consumer recovery

UK homeware retailer Dunelm Group said today it was yet to see signs of a sustained consumer recovery in the market, but said it was "pleased" with trading in the early part of its financial year 2026.

Business • 09 Sep

Hot summer boosts sales at electrical retailer Currys

Electricals retailer Currys said group sales were up 3% in the first four months of its financial year, putting it on track to meet forecasts.

Business • 04 Sep

JD Sports underlying sales fall in Q2 on weak UK

JD Sports Fashion reported a deeper decline in underlying sales for its second quarter, reflecting weakness in the UK, though there were signs of stabilisation in its key US market after a sharp decline in the previous quarter.

Business • 27 Aug

WH Smith cuts profit forecast after accounting blunder

UK travel retailer WH Smith has today lowered its annual profit outlook after a review revealed earnings had been overstated in its North America division, sending its shares tumbling over 30%.

Business • 21 Aug

UK toy chain The Entertainer hands ownership to its staff

One of the UK's biggest toy chains is set to become employee-owned after the founders said they were handing over control to the group's 1,900 staff.

Business • 11 Aug

M&S's website said today that its click and collect services had resumed

M&S UK click & collect services back 15 weeks after hack

Marks & Spencer has resumed taking click and collect orders for clothing on its UK website after a nearly four-month hiatus following a cyber hack and data theft.

Business • 11 Aug

Next sales boosted by warm weather and M&S disruption

Clothing retailer Next has today raised its annual profit outlook for the third time in five months after reporting better than expected second-quarter sales, benefiting from warm weather and disruption at cyberattack-hit rival Marks & Spencer.

Business • 31 Jul

Greggs first-half profit drops as heatwave slows sales

British baker and fast food chain Greggs is keeping its foot on the pedal in an expansion drive, despite a slowdown in sales growth that dragged down first-half profit by 14%, its boss said today.

Business • 29 Jul

Mike Ashley's Frasers' annual revenue misses expectations

Frasers Group has today reported lower-than-expected annual revenue as the British retailer grappled with a tough luxury market and took a hit from closures of unprofitable stores, sending its shares lower.

Business • 17 Jul

Currys posts annual pre-tax profits above estimates

British electricals retailer Currys has today reported annual adjusted pre-tax profit above market expectations, as higher sales and tight cost control helped offset pressures from increased wages and costs.

Business • 03 Jul

Greggs warns of profit dip as heatwave deters customers

UK baker Greggs warned today that its annual operating profit could dip below last year's levels as unusually high temperatures in the UK discourage customers from eating out, sending its shares sinking nearly 15%.

Business • 02 Jul

AO World's annual profit jumps 27% as consumer sales soar

AO World's chief executive said today he expects the British electronics retailer to maintain its growth momentum this year after strong sales from returning and new customers boosted fiscal 2025 profit to record levels.

Business • 18 Jun