When is a 44 per cent plunge in pre-tax profits not horrendous
news? When analysts had braced themselves for an even greater
decline. And that’s the case with Marks & Spencer, which
saw half-year profits fall to £307.8 million for the 26
weeks to 27th September; according to The Telegraph, analysts had expected
profits to be in the £280 million-£295 million range.
Total half-year sales rose less than 1 per cent, to £4.2
billion, but like-for-like sales dropped 5.7 per cent.
“Like a giant Santa’s Grotto for the 21st
century”: That’s how Wales Online opens its article on
Amazon’s Swansea Bay warehouse, which employs more than
800 staff and expects to hire another 200 to help it meet
Christmas demand.
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