Kingfisher PLC Add to portfolio

The FTSE 100 slipped on Tuesday morning, despite rising oil prices boosting energy stocks and soaring trading at B&Q owner Kingsfisher (KGF). The blue-chip index fell 23 points, 0r 0.3%, to 6,775, declining for a second day follow last week’s more than 6% gain. Global indices remain at or close to record highs, although the FTSE 100 continues to trade at a discount to peers,’ said Neil Wilson, chief analyst at Markets.com. Schroder European (SERE) real estate investment trust eased 0.5p or 0.5% to 102.5p after an update showing rent collection in the last quarter had improved slightly to 89%, with a net increase of 1.4% to €268.6m in the portfolio’s valuation in the three months to 31 December.

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It is an online platform connecting tradespeople with households in need of DIY help. Kingfisher already has a relationship with the firm in France through its Castorama and Brico Depot stores, but it is the first time such a service has been offered to customers in the UK. As part of the deal, NeedHelp founder Guillaume de Kergariou will retain a 20% stake and remain as chief executive, it added. The number of jobs completed through its platform is set to reach 58,000 in 2020, and Kingfisher is hoping to cash in on the surge in DIY projects as the Covid-19 pandemic saw more homeowners turning to home improvements. It revealed total group sales rose by 17.6% to £3.5 billion for the quarter to October 31, with a 17.4% increase in like-for-like sales. But the company, which also runs Screwfix in the UK, said it saw like-for-like sales growth slow to 12.6% in the first weeks of the current quarter as it was impacted by a tightening of restrictions across Europe.

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Shares in the DIY retailer Kingfisher (LSE: KGF) – which operates under the B&Q and Screwfix brands in the UK, and Castorama and Brico Dépôt in France and elsewhere – have seen a significant rally since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March. As many people have been forced to work from home due to Coronavirus, this has enabled consumers to rediscover their homes and find ways to improve it. Taking charge in September 2019, the new CEO and veteran of French retailer Carrefour, Thierry Garnier, said that although its stores are useful for showroom and advice purposes, they are central to online sales. Announced at the full year 19/20 results, the ‘Powered by Kingfisher’ strategic plan will see initiatives such as the company roll-out its own exclusive brands, a reorganisation of its commercial operating model as well as accelerated e-commerce plans with a focus on fulfilment from its stores. The dividend was suspended, cost measures were introduced, and additional liquidity arrangements were implemented above its existing cash position. Although it is still early days to assess the impact of Garnier’s strategic plan and uncertainty over Coronavirus remains, I am optimistic about the long-term prospects for Kingfisher.

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TOP NEWS: Kingfisher Sales Soar As B&Q Owner In Home Improvement Boost. (Alliance News) - Kingfisher PLC posted double-digit sales rises almost across the board in its third-quarter, helped by both its status as essential retailer and by an online order surge. And more recently, sales in the six weeks to November 14 have continued to grow, albeit at a slightly slower pace. "We achieved strong sales growth in Q3 across all retail banners and categories, with higher footfall and average transaction value. Our growth was supported by strong market demand, as consumers spent more time in their homes and focused on improving them," Chief Executive Officer Thierry Garnier said. LIVE MARKETS-"The rotation is much more than newsflow on a vaccine" * European shares fall led by oil, banks* Rising U.S. virus cases and lockdowns sour mood* STOXX down 0.9% after late Wall Street sell-off* U.S. stock index futures inch lower Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by ... 19 Nov 20 10:23.

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U.S. UPDATE 2-Kingfisher's stellar growth on pandemic DIY boom slows. Total sales rose 17.6% on a constant currency basis to 3.5 billion pounds ($4.6 billion). But it said growth had slowed to 12.6% in the fourth quarter as of Nov. 14, largely reflecting the impact of recent lockdown measures. Its shares were down 2.6% at 0830 GMT, paring gains for 2020 to 35%. England started a four-week national lockdown on Nov. 5 and France one on Oct. 30. As it is deemed an essential retailer, Kingfisher's stores can stay open.

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LONDON (Reuters) - Home improvement retailer Kingfisher <KGF.L> on Thursday reported a 17.4% jump in underlying sales over the third quarter to Oct. 31 as it continued to benefit from the popularity of do-it-yourself (DIY) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The group, which owns B&Q and Screwfix in Britain and Castorama and Brico Depot in France and other markets, said underlying, or like-for-like, sales growth slowed to 12.6% in its fourth quarter so far to Nov. 14, largely reflecting the impact of more recent lockdown measures. The pandemic has meant people are spending more time at home, have fewer leisure options and are traveling less. "Our growth was supported by strong market demand, as consumers spent more time in their homes and focused on improving them," said chief executive Thierry Garnier. However, the group cautioned that uncertainty over COVID-19 and the impact of temporary lockdown restrictions in most of its markets continued to limit its near-term visibility.

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B&Q owner Kingfisher is to hand back £23m in UK furlough cash after a do-it-yourself boom due to coronavirus. People in England have been told to work from home if possible after a period of more relaxed restrictions. Kingfisher's e-commerce sales rose 164% in the first half of the year and now represent 19% of total sales, up from 7% in the same period last year. UK firms have voluntarily returned millions of pounds to the government in furlough scheme payments they did not need or took in error.

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Major OEM to lab test Guident regenerative shock absorbers soonView Video. Will Rhind, CEO at US provider GraniteShares hails ETF's as a low cost alternative for investorsView Video. (Sharecast News) - London's FTSE 100 was up 0.7% at 5,846.40 in afternoon trade on Tuesday following heavy losses in the previous session.B&Q and Castorama owner Kingfisher was a high riser after it posted a 23.1% jump in first-half adjusted pre-tax profit thanks to a strong sales recovery in the second quarter.British American Tobacco and Imperial Brands gained after an upgrade to 'outperform' from 'sector perform' at RBC Capital Markets.On the downside, Hikma Pharmaceuticals slumped as it cut 2020 guidance for its generics business following another delay in approval for the asthma drug candidate it is developing with Vectura.Hotel and restaurant chain Whitbread lost ground as it said it was cutting 6,000 jobs after suffering a slump in trading due to the coronavirus pandemic. 244.25p 3.47%Smiths Group (SMIN) 1,416.00p 3.32%Royal Dutch Shell 'B' (RDSB) 997.30p 3.29%NATWEST GROUP PLC ORD 100P (NWG) 96.34p 3.24%Royal Dutch Shell 'A' (RDSA) 1,036.60p 3.16%Standard Chartered (STAN) 349.20p 3.16%Pearson (PSON) 495.30p 2.33%FTSE 100 - FallersHikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 2,435.00p -5.84%Whitbread (WTB) 2,045.00p -3.03%Flutter Entertainment (FLTR) 11,565.00p -2.53%Admiral Group (ADM) 2,714.00p -2.20%RSA Insurance Group (RSA) 461.50p -2.16%International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 95.34p -1.91%Fresnillo (FRES) 1,264.00p -1.71%Persimmon (PSN) 2,280.00p -1.60%Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.)

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Major OEM to lab test Guident regenerative shock absorbers soonView Video. London midday: Stocks steady after Monday's losses; Kingfisher rallies. "While pub shares fell on curfew news, several earnings reports today highlight the uneven nature of the recovery so far, and the uncertain path ahead. "Investors were also digesting the latest comments from Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey, who pretty much ruled out negative interest rates in the near future but left the possibility on the table.In equity markets, B&Q owner Kingfisher was a high riser after it posted a 23.1% jump in first-half adjusted pre-tax profit thanks to a strong sales recovery in the second quarter.British American Tobacco and Imperial Brands were both up after an upgrade to 'outperform' from 'sector perform' at RBC Capital Markets.Online supermarket Ocado and food delivery service Just Eat were also in the black as demand for both companies is expected to increase amid tighter Covid-19 restrictions.Hikma Pharmaceuticals slumped as it cut 2020 guidance for its generics business following another delay in approval for the asthma drug candidate it is developing with Vectura.British Airways and Iberia parent IAG and engine maker Rolls-Royce were both weaker for the second day in a row amid concerns about the impact of further restrictions on the airline industry.Hotel and restaurant chain Whitbread lost ground as it said it was cutting 6,000 jobs after suffering a slump in trading due to the coronavirus pandemic. 155.80p -3.05%Informa (INF) 359.80p -2.12%Admiral Group (ADM) 2,719.00p -2.02%Land Securities Group (LAND) 502.90p -1.89%Legal & General Group (LGEN) 177.65p -1.85%Compass Group (CPG) 1,186.00p -1.78%FTSE 250 - RisersNetwork International Holdings (NETW) 278.20p 17.88%Mitchells & Butlers (MAB) 129.40p 8.74%Calisen (CLSN) 155.65p 4.46%GCP Student Living (DIGS) 132.40p 3.44%Close Brothers Group (CBG) 993.00p 3.17%Virgin Money UK (VMUK) 74.34p 2.94%Baillie Gifford US Growth Trust (USA) 253.00p 2.85%Airtel Africa (AAF) 63.70p 2.74%Allianz Technology Trust (ATT) 2,360.00p 2.61%Just Eat Takeaway.Com N.V. (CDI) (JET) 8,764.00p 2.57%FTSE 250 - FallersBeazley (BEZ) 347.00p -11.03%Direct Line Insurance Group (DLG) 283.60p -5.91%Moneysupermarket.com Group (MONY) 255.40p -4.70%Sabre Insurance Group (SBRE) 246.50p -4.09%Shaftesbury (SHB) 481.80p -4.02%Hiscox Limited (DI) (HSX) 853.60p -3.96%Provident Financial (PFG) 196.50p -3.86%easyJet (EZJ) 476.60p -3.76%Rank Group (RNK) 91.10p -3.70%WH Smith (SMWH) 981.50p -3.49%.

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