Stapleton exits after mixed stint Henry Birch hops into the hot seat Strong finish to year to March 2025 Shares in Halfords (HFD) rallied 10% to 136.5p in early dealings after the car parts-to-bicycles seller delivered its second profit upgrade in four months following a 'strong finish' to its financial year. But the news that really fueled the share price jump was chief executive Graham...

The UK market's long-awaited IPO comeback is conspicuous by its absence. There were only four floats in the first quarter of 2025 versus 15 takeover situations, meaning the UK market continues to shrink in size. Last summer, there was market euphoria about a new government coming into power and how that would create more certainty for businesses. They might not like all policies, but they...

London's blue-chips made modest gains Tuesday, supported by defensive sectors, while global sentiment remained cautious amid worries over potential US tariffs on imports.The FTSE 100 index ended up 30.16 points, 0.4%, at 8,533.87. The FTSE 250 jumped 219.01 points, 1.1%, at 20,588.51, and the AIM All-Share rose 3.93 points, 0.6%, at 715.32.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.4% at 855.97 on Tuesday,...

European stocks were higher on Tuesday afternoon, with New York stocks set for a quieter start after a tumultuous Monday trade which saw tech stocks dive.The FTSE 100 index added 51.82 points, 0.6%, at 8,555.53. The FTSE 250 was up 190.59 points, 0.9%, at 20,560.09, and the AIM All-Share rose 3.37 points, 0.5%, at 714.76.The Cboe UK 100 was 0.6% higher at 857.38, the Cboe UK 250 rose 1.0% at...

Wickes raises full year 2024 guidanceHalfords upgrades full year 2025 profit expectationWickes shares up 11%, Halfords shares up 19%Shares in Wickes (WIX) gained over 11% to 170p in morning trading as the DIY retailer reported a strong trading update for the six months ending 28 December.The company delivered continued sales and volume growth in retail with revenue up 3% year-on-year.Wickes...

Flat underlying profitsDiscretionary spend remains weakHalfords 'comfortable' with FY25 consensusCycling and motoring products purveyor Halfords (HFD) has been the bearer of bad news for some time, with savage earnings downgrades sucking plenty of air from the tyre seller's share price.Today's (26 November) first half results revealed flat profits with discretionary spending weak and consumers...

Like-for-likes down 0.1%Delivering £30 million of savingsFY 2025 outlook unchangedMotoring-to-cycling products purveyor Halfords (HFD) reported broadly flat first half sales as cash-strapped consumers continued to cut back on big ticket, discretionary purchases.Yet the performance was actually better than it first appeared, when you consider the car batteries and bikes seller was lapping...

Annual profits plunge nearly 20%Tyre and cycling markets depressedAutocentres arm continues to motorProfits at motoring-to-cycling products purveyor Halfords (HFD) went into reverse in the year to March 2024 as the ongoing cost-of-living crisis sapped consumer demand for bikes, tyres and other big ticket products.Shares in Halfords cheapened 5% to 142.8p as the Worcestershire-based retailer...

Given recent share price-denting profit warnings, the pressure is on motoring-to-cycling products retailer Halfords (HFD) to halt the cycle of downgrades with upcoming results for the year ended 29 March 2024 on 27 June.Shares doesn't hold out much hope for upgrades any time soon as the backdrop is tough, with the bicycles market highly promotional and the retail motoring market choppy,...

Car parts, bikes and tyres seller Halfords (HFD) has let investors down again. The retailer?s latest profit warning (28 February) pinned on weakening demand for bicycles as well as wet weather, which has deterred customers from visiting its stores and purchasing winter and car cleaning products in the fourth quarter.Halfords now expects to deliver pre-tax profit in the £35 million to £40...

Stock prices in London were in the red at midday Wednesday, as the FTSE 100 suffered a blow from disappointing results from St James?s Place and Reckitt Benckiser.The FTSE 100 index was down 50.42 points, 0.7%, at 7,632.60. The FTSE 250 was down 120.21 points, 0.6%, at 19,043.45, and the AIM All-Share was down 4.26 points, 0.6%, at 741.39.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.7% at 764.22, the Cboe UK...

Demand weakened further in Q4Profit guidance lowered by 25%Flat profits expected next yearCar parts-to-bicycles purveyor Halfords (HFD) has cut its current-year profit guidance by 25% and sees flat profits next year at best, crushingly disappointing news that sent shares in the Worcestershire-based retailer skidding 26% lower to 148p.Halfords pinned the blame for the material earnings...

Stocks in London opened lower on Wednesday morning, amid steep falls for St James?s Place and Reckitt Benckiser, ahead of key US data.The FTSE 100 index opened down 15.96 points, 0.2%, at 7,667.06. The FTSE 250 was down 74.73 points, 0.4%, at 19,087.93, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.18 points, 0.2%, at 743.47.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 767.49, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.5% at...

Nearly 4,500 UK retailers in ?critical? distressOnline-only players under pressureFailures likely as ?debt storm breaks?According to the latest Red Flag Alert data from Begbies Traynor (BEG:AIM), almost 4,500 UK retailers are now in ?critical financial distress? as poor consumer confidence, sticky inflation and higher interest rates force consumers to pull in their horns ahead of Christmas.New...

We are now a little more than a fortnight away from Christmas Day with TV adverts pushing festive products, high streets adorned with Christmas decorations and shops flush with discount offers.The so-called 'Golden Quarter' including Black Friday is the most hotly contested period of the year amongst retailers and those that suffer disappointing sales or resort to overly-promotional strategies...

First half PBT up 15.8%But full year profit guide downgradedSofter sales in discretionary categoriesCar parts-to-bicycles retailer Halfords (HFD) has warned annual profits will fall short of previous guidance after seeing weak sales of discretionary big ticket products such as bicycles and tyres in the past few months as consumers contend with higher interest rates and the ongoing...

Predators continue to swoop on the UK stock market's undervalued prey and a number of consumer-facing firms have drawn bids or flagged takeover interest since Shares addressed the mergers and acquisitions theme on 16 November.High-profile targets include Hotel Chocolat (HOTC:AIM), City Pub Group (CPC:AIM) and Musicmagpie (MMAG:AIM), and given the lowly valuations currently ascribed to UK...

BT and Aurelius circling MusicmagpieRedde Northgate/Halfords merger talks rumouredAnalyst sees some logic in proposed tie-upsPotential bids for two unloved stocks have come out of the blue and from unexpected suitors to boot, as the UK takeover machine continues to whir.Shares in Musicmagpie (MMAG:AIM) fluttered 30% higher to 25p after the refurbished electronics seller confirmed it is in...

The Schroder Recovery Fund (B3VVG60) aims to generate capital gains superior to the FTSE All-Share Total Return Index, net of fees, over a three- to five-year horizon by investing in 'UK companies which have suffered a severe setback in either share price or profitability'.The fund was launched back in 1970 and has stood the test of time, beating its target return over one, three and 10 years...

Higher oil prices after recent production cuts from Saudi Arabia and Russia hit investor sentiment in London on Wednesday.Stocks closed lower fearing the effects that elevated oil prices would have on inflation and, in turn, the outlook for global interest rates.The FTSE 100 index closed down 11.79 points, or 0.2% at 7,426.14 on Wednesday. The FTSE 250 ended down 39.60 points, or 0.2%, at...