en-us Reuters UK) - Autumn selling boosted housebuilders Berkeley Group BKGH and Bellway BWY, but uncertainties such as a looming general election, unemployment and mortgage shortages are curbing enthusiasm."We've got a situation of imbalance at the moment. Until we get the feel-good factor and we see mortgages back,...]]> Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:15:47 -0800 BWY BWY Reuters UK) - UK commercial real estate debt in default or in breach of lending agreements more than doubled to 30 billion pounds in the first half of the year, the Financial Times reported, citing a survey.The survey showed that 43 billion pounds of loans is due to mature this...]]> Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:45:19 -0800 Reuters UK) - Housebuilder Berkeley Group BKGH posted half-year results down over a third on Friday, impacted by a lower number of transactions and a drop in selling prices.The London-based developer and builder posted a pretax profit in the six months to end October down 35 percent to 52.0...]]> Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:30:23 -0800 Reuters UK) - The price tag for bailing out UK banks has hit 850 billion pounds but Britain's spending watchdog says the final cost to taxpayers will not be known for years.The independent National Audit Office NAO said Friday the government was justified in asking the public...]]> Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:00:18 -0800 Reuters UK) - Chancellor Alistair Darling will deliver a pre-budget report next Wednesday that defers tough new measures to cut Britain's budget deficit while increasing taxes on the wealthy and focussing resources on boosting the economy, the Financial Times reported on Friday."We don't anticipate any dramatic fiscal tightening," said...]]> Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:15:20 -0800 Reuters UK) - Kingfisher, Europe's biggest home improvement retailer, beat forecasts with a 28 percent rise in third-quarter profit and a further cut in debt, helped by better market conditions and cost cutting.But the British group, which runs market leaders B&Q in Britain and Castorama in France,...]]> Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:15:26 -0800 Reuters UK) - The Co-operative Group announced price cuts and promotions Monday which it said were worth 200 million pounds as it joined the battle among supermarkets to lure Christmas shoppers.Britain's fifth biggest food retailer said Monday its offers would include its first ever triple dividend payment.Normally Co-op members...]]> Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:30:26 -0800 Reuters UK) - Holidaybreak Plc HBR posted a fall in full-year profit as impairment of goodwill and other charges offset a rise in revenue, and the specialist holiday firm said sales intake in the current year to date was down 3 percent.The company, which offers short breaks within the UK...]]> Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:00:57 -0800 Reuters UK) - Corporate travel firm Hogg Robinson Group Plc HRG posted a 46 percent fall in first-half pretax profit due to lower activity levels amid the economic slowdown and slashed its dividend.However, the company said it expected full-year performance to be in line with market estimates."We have seen some...]]> Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:16:45 -0800 Reuters UK) - Newspaper group Daily Mail & General Trust beat its forecast with a 23 percent drop in profits as consumer media advertising showed little improvement but business-to-business publishing held up.The group, which owns trade publications, events and top UK mid-market tabloid newspaper the Daily Mail,...]]> Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:15:35 -0800 Reuters UK) - DSG International DSGI, Europe's No.2 electricals retailer, reported a pick-up in sales in recent weeks, helped by store upgrades and demand for Microsoft's MSFT new Windows 7 computer operating system.DSG, which runs the Currys and PC World chains, said on Thursday sales at stores...]]> Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:15:21 -0800 MSFT MSFT Reuters UK) - Jarvis Plc JRVS swung to a loss in the first-half of the year hurt by restructuring costs and reduced volume in the rail business, and forecast full-year operating levels to be broadly breakeven on new project delays.The rail network services company said adjusted pretax loss was 3.6...]]> Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:00:55 -0800 Reuters UK) - Pubs and restaurants operator Mitchells & Butlers MAB reported full-year pretax profit at the top end of expectations and said trading in its new financial year had started well as consumer confidence improves.The owner of Harvester, Toby Carvery and the Sizzling Pub Co said on Wednesday...]]> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:46:04 -0800 Reuters UK) - DSG International, Europe's second-biggest electrical goods retailer beat expectations for first-half losses as it battles recession and said it was seeing improving trends in its businesses in recent weeks."While we are cautious about the outlook for 2010, we are well-positioned as we enter into peak trading,"...]]> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:45:39 -0800 Reuters UK) - Compass Group Plc CPG, the world's biggest caterer, reported a 33 percent rise in full-year pretax profit, at the top end of market expectations, on the back of new business wins, a weak pound, and cost cutting.The company, which feeds office and factory workers,...]]> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:15:40 -0800 CPG CPG Reuters UK) - Soft drinks maker Britvic BVIC reported a better-than-expected 23.4 percent rise in full-year profit, helped by market share gains, and said trade in the new year had started well.Britain's second biggest soft drinks maker behind Coca-Cola Enterprises CCE on Wednesday posted a pretax profit of 86.5...]]> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:00:43 -0800 CCE CCE Reuters UK) - Sales of non-food ranges at grocers are set to rise 40 percent over the next five years, a study said on Wednesday, piling pressure on specialist retailers already hit by recession and online competition.Grocery specialists IGD forecast sales of non-food ranges such as clothing, electricals and...]]> Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:31:56 -0800 Reuters UK) - Lloyds Banking Group Plc LLOY pushed ahead with the world's largest rights issue on Tuesday, setting a price of 37 pence per share as it taps shareholders for 13.5 billion pounds to avoid costly state support.The new shares were priced at a 60 percent...]]> Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:15:35 -0800 Reuters UK) - Tile and wood flooring retailer Topps Tiles TPT raised 15.4 million pounds from a share placing to bolster its balance sheet against a possible double-dip recession.The company, which trades from 321 stores in Britain and Holland, on Tuesday posted a better-than-expected 45-percent fall in...]]> Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:45:48 -0800 Reuters UK) - Tile and wood flooring retailer Topps Tiles TPT on Tuesday posted a 45 percent fall in year profit but said signs of stability were returning to its markets.The firm also said it plans to place up to 17.1 million new shares with existing and new institutional...]]> Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:01:01 -0800