From early accounts it appears that retailers may have taken a beating over the Christmas period. A fall in overall sales volumes won’t cheer investors, but analysts will be looking more closely at the level of discounting and inventories post the January sales.
The grocers aren’t immune to any high street pull-back even if their top-lines aren’t as dependent on discretionary spending as other retailers.
Sainsbury's (SBRY) chief executive Mike Coupe is set to step down in May, replaced by Simon Roberts, current retail and operations director at the supermarket group. Click here to get the lowdown from Tom Dines.
How long do you hold on to a rising balloon? Fevertree Drinks (FEVR) reported a fall in UK sales following a poor Christmas trading season. Performance in the mixer specialist’s other locales remains positive, but the question is whether the brand’s slight decline at home indicates a weakening market for spirits, specifically gin. Click here to get the IC view.
Anglo American (AAL) has formally made an all-cash takeover bid for Sirius Minerals (SXX) at 5.5p. The offer - valuing the company at £405m - leaves many shareholders in the red after Sirius’ dramatic fall in value since August 2019. Good news for North Yorkshire as we head towards Brexit, but the polyhalite miner’s existing shareholders may be hoping for a rival bid. Click here for Alex Hamer’s rundown on events.
Alex has also been looking at BHP’s (BHP) first half operational update, with the Olympic Dam and Antamina mines to the fore. Click here to get the latest details.
It has been a big week for BAE Systems (BA.) which has bought the military global positioning system (GPS) business belonging to Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of US defence giant UTC (US:UTX), for $1.9bn (£1.5bn). BAE has also agreed to acquire Raytheon's (US:RTN) Airborne Tactical Radios business for $275m in cash. Click here to get Alex Janiaud’s take on the marquee deals.
