Poundland eyes Peacocks stores

POUNDLAND would be interested in snapping up stores from stricken discount clothing chain Peacocks after enjoying a bumper Christmas.

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Pawn-again stars beat the gloom

AUSTERITY Britain may have claimed many corporate casualties and triggered a flurry of profit warnings but pawn- broking has been thriving amid the high street gloom.

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Warren Buffett backs Tesco

BILLIONAIRE investor Warren Buffett has increased his stake in Tesco in a move seen as a vote of confidence in the supermarket after last week's shock profits warning.

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Primark boost for owner ABF

CHUNKY-KNIT cardigans and stripy jumpers helped discount chain Primark ward off the winter chills blowing down the high street.

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Britons back pubs in tax battle says Wetherspoon

JD WETHERSPOON yesterday said the public was behind its call for a VAT cut to save British pubs but the Government was "deaf" to the damage higher tax bills was doing to its and the industry's profits.

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Toy firm The Character Group hit as parents go for cut-price gifts

SHARES in toy and merchandising firm The Character Group fell yesterday as its Christmas sales were hit by parents hunting for discount presents.

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Asian buyers lift Burberry

LUXURY goods giant Burberry said high-spending tourists flocked to some of the world's wealthiest cities over Christmas and helped it offset a US -slowdown to boost sales.

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Rising home deals help Taylor Wimpey profits soar

HOUSEBUILDER Taylor Wimpey said its new "scientific" approach to cost-cutting had combined with rising house sales to drive an 80 per cent leap in profits.

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Peacocks on the edge

CLOTHING chain Peacocks is on the brink of administration as it struggles to reach a deal with lenders on reducing the amount of debt they are owed.

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Global expansion puts the fizz into SABMiller

SABMILLER is a global brewer that manufactures and sells a huge range of beers as well bottling soft drinks for Coca-Cola.

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