After all the drama around high inflation rates in recent sessions, pockets of Asian and European markets managed to push ahead on Thursday. The Hang Sang jumped 0.5%, the Nikkei nudged up 0.2% and the DAX advanced 0.1%.
In the UK, the FTSE 100 traded 0.6% higher, with banking stocks leading the way. Lloyds and NatWest were among the biggest risers, no doubt driven by investor expectation of higher interest rates and how that might have a positive impact on the banking sector’s earnings.
THG declared it had made ‘substantial progress’, but investors who have suffered a 92% share price loss since the company joined the stock market may think otherwise. While it has reported record first-half revenue at £1.1 billion, it is still making an operating loss. Costs have been going up and margins are being squeezed.
Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: “THG boasts of a loyal customer base but when it sells commoditised products, this loyalty is going to be tested as consumers look hard for ways to save money – and that could mean buying their protein or beauty products from somewhere else.”
“Consumers are certainly thinking twice before they hit the ‘buy’ button and that is evident in DFS’ results. It says recent order volumes have ‘softened markedly’ relative to pre-pandemic levels. The idea of splashing £1,000 on a sofa will seem unfathomable to many people in the current climate, explaining why big-ticket retailers are so vulnerable if we’re heading into a recession.
“Even food suppliers are finding life hard. Hilton Foods is suffering from the cost-of-living crisis as consumers are watching every penny. That means higher prices for meat and seafood are becoming too much for many people to stomach, feeding into lower sales volumes for Hilton. It has joined the gang of companies issuing profit warnings, adding up to a barrage of bleak news for investors to digest.”
Leave a Comment