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...

Firm cites 'very challenging' tradingUnviable stores set to closeDiscounter to pass final dividendStruggling footwear retailer Shoe Zone (SHOE:AIM) has halved its current-year profit guidance and plans to pass the final dividend for the year ended 28 September 2024 after experiencing 'very challenging trading conditions' since the Budget.Combined with increased costs also stemming from the...

It was an eight-line statement from a UK small-cap budget footwear maker but Shoe Zone's (SHOE:AIM) latest profit warning tells a much bigger story about the way global trade and supply chains could be changing.The company has been hit by rising container prices as shipping routes have been disrupted, largely thanks to attacks perpetrated by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. Vessels are rerouting...

European stocks were under pressure on Tuesday, while US equities are set to open lower, after eurozone inflation data veered towards being unfavourable, as core price pressure remains robust.The data may have given European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde some food for thought. Lagarde, and her Federal Reserve counterpart Jerome Powell, speak at a conference in Sintra, Portugal...

Full year forecast cut againPoor weather affected tradingShipping costs have surgedIt is perhaps not surprising that footwear retailer Shoe Zone (SHOE:AIM) lowered its full-year profit forecast amid increasing shipping disruption in the Suez Canal, which has led to 'significantly' higher container prices over the last six months.Investors were already braced for such news after the company...

It has been a turbulent couple of months for value retailer Shoe Zone (SHOE), which seems to have metamorphosed from cost-of-living-crisis winner to stock market pariah on the strength of a single comment by chief executive Anthony Smith.In the firm?s extremely brief AGM statement in mid-March, Smith celebrated a successful year of growth in 2023 while cautioning current-year trading was...

Strong second-half salesRecord profits generatedGuidance upgraded yet againShares in Shoe Zone (SHOE:AIM) rallied 8.2% to 230p after the budget footwear retailer said adjusted pre-tax profit for the year to 30 September 2023 was expected to be 'not less than £16 million'.That implies growth of more than 43% on last year's £11.2 million and is 18.7% ahead of broker Zeus Capital's £13.5...

Although the latest UK inflation figures are easy off, the cost-of-living crisis is still alive and kicking, as food, energy and petrol costs remain stubbornly high.This is bad news for consumers but good news for some companies who are benefiting from the doom and gloom on the high street and in households. Here are 10 names doing well.Shoe ZoneFootwear retailer Shoe Zone (SHOE:AIM) sells...

Shoe Zone saw bumper sales in JuneImproved margins expected to continueZeus Capital hikes profit forecast by 28.6%Cash-strapped consumers continue to flock to Shoe Zone (SHOE:AIM) in a bid to beat the cost-of-living squeeze judging by a second significant profit upgrade in as many months from the value footwear retailer.Shares in the discount boots, shoes, trainers and slippers seller skipped...

Shoe seller saw 'particularly strong' trading in May and early JuneMargins benefiting from falling shipping costsInvestors who stuck with stock following May wobble rewardedShoe Zone's (SHOE:AIM) shares strode 11% higher to 233p on Friday after the value footwear retailer hiked full year profit guidance following a strong start to the summer selling season and with lower container rates...

- H1 profits slightly ahead of expectations- Earnings pegged back by margin pressures- Solid growth in stores and onlineShares in Shoe Zone (SHOE:AIM) fell 12% to 212.5p after the value footwear retailer reported a 17.4% plunge in first-half profits as inflationary pressures crimped margins.Reflecting current consumer uncertainty ahead of the important summer and back to school selling...

Despite inflationary pressures and a cost-of-living crisis that is squeezing consumers' real disposable income, shares in household name retailers with nationwide physical store footprints have rallied hard since the back end of 2022.They include British retail institution Marks & Spencer (MKS), variety goods discounter B&M (BME), cut-price greeting cards seller Card Factory (CARD), athleisure...

Given profit can be subject to alterations and adjustments and presented in a flattering light, trying to find value purely based on the ratio between a company's share price and earnings per share can trip you up.A solution is to look at firm's cash flow instead. It is best practice to look at free cash flow which is the cash a company generates through its operations minus any capital...

The most recent retail sales figures from the Office for National Statistics make for illuminating if not uplifting reading. Sales in February were over 1% higher than January in volume terms suggesting consumers were feeling positive. Moreover, that gain took sales volumes back to where they were in February 2020 before the pandemic.Total non-food sales - that is department stores, clothing,...

The latest update from Primark-owner Associated British Foods (ABF) was encouraging for the company's shareholders. It flagged resilient demand as it upgraded profit guidance.Whether this is reflective of a consumer not feeling the pinch as much as feared or evidence that people are pursuing cheaper options is hard to judge from just one trading statement.However, this is not the only...

With the FTSE 100 hitting new all-time highs and global stock markets in the ascendency since the Autumn it has arguably become more difficult to find stocks which offer good value.This article delves into the unloved parts of the UK stock market to search for opportunities which investors may have missed. A problem with looking at cheaper stocks is they may be cheap for good reason and they...

Clothing retail will fall under the investor spotlight next week when Marks & Spencer (MKS) and Associated British Foods (ABF) report results, and bright spots are expected to be few and far between.Shares in Marks & Spencer dropped sharply last month after it warned of cost pressures and unveiled plans to cut more stores. In a presentation to institutional investors (12 October), it said it...

The retail sector has had a dire 2022, heavily sold off on fears earnings will disappoint as households curb spending due to rising UK inflation and the energy price crisis.Earnings expectations have been cut and investors have priced in a recession already, which means bargain hunters may take the view retailers are now oversold, particularly as prime minister Liz Truss' energy price...

- Shoe seller delivers another earnings upgrade- Pre-tax profits expected to be at least £10.5 million- Broker sees scope for 'attractive medium term earnings growth'Shares in Shoe Zone (SHOE:AIM) strode 6.9% higher to 155p after the value footwear retailer delivered its third earnings upgrade in as many months.Strong August trading driven by bumper demand for summer and 'back to school'...