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Sales surge as DIY giant capitalises on Homebase store closures

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Sales surge as DIY giant capitalises on Homebase store closures


Home improvement giant Kingfisher has significantly boosted its financial outlook, driven by robust trading across its UK brands, B&Q and Screwfix.

The retail group highlighted particularly strong sales at B&Q over the past six months, attributing this success to the market impact of Homebase store closures following its rival’s administration, alongside favourable weather conditions.

This strong performance has propelled the company to anticipate profits reaching the “upper end” of its current targets.

Kingfisher informed shareholders on Tuesday that pre-tax profits for the half-year ending July 31 climbed by 4.1 per cent to £338 million compared to the previous year.

The London-listed firm now expects to achieve an adjusted profit at the higher end of its £480 million to £540 million guidance for the current financial year.

Furthermore, the company has revised its cash flow projections upwards, now forecasting between £480 million and £520 million, an increase from its earlier guidance of £420 million to £480 million.

Kingfisher also runs the Screwfix brand (Rui Vieira/PA)

The improved targets came on the back of stronger sales across the group’s brands, particularly in the UK.

Total group sales grew by 0.8 per cent to £6.81 billion for the six months, with like-for-like sales rising by 1.9 per cent.

Like-for-like sales were up 3.9 per cent in the UK, driven by growth of 4.4 per cent in B&Q and 3 per cent in Screwfix across the half-year.

There was increased demand for paint, with sales of coloured emulsion up 10 per cent at B&Q, alongside a further recovery in demand for big-ticket items.

This was driven by “demand for new kitchen ranges” and bathroom and storage products.

It represents a continued recovery in demand for larger products after it had cooled in the face of the surging cost of living.

Kingfisher also told investors that its UK stores were boosted by “transference from the closure of Homebase stores”.

The retail group said B&Q sales were ‘strong’ over the past six months after they benefited from the closure of Homebase stores – following its rival’s administration – and ‘favourable weather’ conditions

The retail group said B&Q sales were ‘strong’ over the past six months after they benefited from the closure of Homebase stores – following its rival’s administration – and ‘favourable weather’ conditions (PA Wire)

Major B&Q rival Homebase shut more than 50 stores by March of this year after tumbling into administration late in 2024.

Thierry Garnier, chief executive officer of Kingfisher, said the company saw a “good transfer” of former Homebase customers to its B&Q stores and cheered the opening of eight former Homebase shops as new B&Q sites.

He said the stores, which included five in the UK and three in Ireland, have performed strongly after a quick turnaround to reopen during the peak trading season.

The company said it has also worked to offset significant cost pressures this year, with around £145 million of headwinds linked to higher National Insurance contributions, wage inflation, new UK packaging taxes and increased social taxes in France.

In the UK, earlier this month B&Q confirmed plans to cut around 650 jobs in a management shake-up amid efforts to streamline its operations but bosses stressed this was not linked to increases in National Insurance.

Major B&Q rival Homebase shut more than 50 stores by March of this year after tumbling into administration late in 2024

Major B&Q rival Homebase shut more than 50 stores by March of this year after tumbling into administration late in 2024 (PA Archive)

Mr Garnier added: “We delivered a strong first half with high quality underlying like-for-like sales growth of 1.9 per cent, driven by increased volumes and transactions.

“We were encouraged by underlying quarter-on-quarter growth in our core categories, and a third consecutive quarter of growth in big ticket sales.

“Our expectations for our markets for the year remain consistent with what we outlined in March, whilst mindful of mixed consumer sentiment and political uncertainty.

“Combined with our first-half performance, this gives us the confidence to upgrade our full-year profit and free cash flow guidance and to accelerate our share buyback programme.”



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Airlines cancel more than 1,200 flights ahead of winter storm. Here’s what to know

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Airlines cancel more than 1,200 flights ahead of winter storm. Here’s what to know


A traveler near a departures board at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in Newark, New Jersey, US, on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025.

Victor J. Blue | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Airlines canceled more than 1,200 U.S. flights on Friday ahead of a major winter storm that will put carriers to the test during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

A winter storm warning is in effect starting Friday afternoon in New York City, New Jersey and Long Island, with snowfall totals potentially reaching 9 inches, most of it falling overnight, the National Weather Service said.

Over 350 flights, or more than a quarter of the day’s schedule, were canceled as of 1 p.m. Friday to and from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware. More than 200 were also scrubbed at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, and more than 100 were canceled at Philadelphia International Airport.

American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways and other carriers waived change fees for restrictive basic economy tickets and said they won’t charge a difference in fare for any other customers flying in and out of a host of airports in the Northeast U.S.

Customers must travel by the end of the year if they change their flights, the airlines said. Flying as early as possible is likely the best bet with few seats available during the busy Christmas week.

Airlines for America, the industry lobbying group, expects carriers to fly a record 52.6 million people between Dec. 19 and Jan. 5, with this Friday and Sunday among the busiest days.

Airlines generally cancel flights ahead of time for major weather events in the forecast, like blizzards or hurricanes, to avoid planes, connecting travelers and crews from getting stranded and worsening disruptions.

Read more CNBC airline news



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Silver rate today: White metal surges to record Rs 2.36 lakh/kg in Delhi; global prices top $75 an ounce – The Times of India

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Silver rate today: White metal surges to record Rs 2.36 lakh/kg in Delhi; global prices top  an ounce – The Times of India


Silver prices climbed to fresh lifetime highs in both domestic and international markets on Friday, driven by strong global cues and thin year-end trading, according to the All India Sarafa Association.In the national capital, silver soared by Rs 9,350 to close at a record Rs 2,36,350 per kilogram on Friday, up from Rs 2,27,000 per kg in the previous session, PTI reported. Over the past four trading sessions, the metal has gained Rs 32,250, or 15.8%, from Rs 2,04,100 per kg on December 19.For the calendar year, silver has recorded an even sharper rise, adding Rs 1,46,650, or 163.5%, from Rs 89,700 per kg on December 31, 2024.Meanwhile, gold maintained its upward momentum in the local bullion market. The precious metal of 99.9% purity jumped Rs 1,500 to touch a new lifetime high of Rs 1,42,300 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes), compared with Rs 1,40,800 per 10 grams in the previous session. On a year-to-date basis, gold has gained Rs 63,350, or 80.24%, from Rs 78,950 per 10 grams at the end of 2024.“The precious metals rally continued on the last trading day of the week, with gold and silver reaching new record highs once again,” Saumil Gandhi, Senior Analyst – Commodities at HDFC Securities, said, PTI quoted..In overseas markets, benchmark spot gold rose $50.87, or 1.13%, to hit a fresh lifetime high of $4,530.42 per ounce.“Gold continues to trade at a record high of $4,530 per ounce, buoyed by Fed rate cut expectations and a positive undertone in the commodities market. Thin trading conditions due to the year-end holidays are exaggerating the moves,” Praveen Singh, Head of Commodities and Currencies at Mirae Asset ShareKhan, said.Silver also extended its rally abroad. Spot silver climbed $3.72, or 5.18%, to touch a new high of $75.63 per ounce, breaking past the $75 per ounce mark for the first time.“Spot silver hit a high of $75 during Asian trading hours on Friday. The strong bullish momentum has attracted more momentum-driven traders, who have been active in the precious metals market since early December,” Gandhi added, noting that low liquidity around the Christmas and year-end holiday season has intensified price moves.Structural factors are also supporting silver’s advance, analysts said. Jigar Trivedi, Senior Research Analyst at Reliance Securities, pointed to a multi-year supply deficit, with global mine output lagging demand and above-ground inventories declining.“Structural tightness in the physical market could support much higher prices if deficits deepen,” Trivedi said, highlighting silver’s crucial role in sectors such as solar panels, electric vehicles, 5G and AI electronics, and other clean-tech infrastructure.He also noted that a weak US dollar and rising safe-haven demand could push silver prices toward $100 per ounce in 2026.



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Insolvency ruling: CoC cannot alter approved resolution plan or reallocate dissenting creditors’ funds, says NCLAT – The Times of India

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Insolvency ruling: CoC cannot alter approved resolution plan or reallocate dissenting creditors’ funds, says NCLAT – The Times of India


The insolvency appellate tribunal NCLAT has ruled that the Committee of Creditors (CoC) cannot modify an approved resolution plan to reallocate funds meant for dissenting financial creditors, reaffirming limits on the exercise of commercial wisdom after a plan has been cleared, PTI reported.Dismissing an appeal filed by Bank of Baroda in the insolvency proceedings of Reliance Communications Infrastructure Ltd (RCIL), a two-member bench of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal said that once a resolution plan is approved, the assenting members of the CoC cannot alter its financial distribution framework.“It is true that the CoC with commercial wisdom can take a decision regarding different aspects of the plan, including manner of distribution, but once the commercial wisdom has been exercised by approving the resolution plan in meeting, the modification of the said distribution mechanism, which is impermissible, cannot be saved in the name of commercial wisdom of the CoC,” NCLAT said in its order.The appeal arose from the insolvency resolution of RCIL, where the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) had approved the resolution plan submitted by Reliance Projects & Property Management Services Ltd (RPPMSL), a subsidiary of Jio. The plan was approved by 67.97 per cent of the CoC by vote share on August 5, 2021.While Bank of Baroda voted in favour of the plan, lenders including IDBI Bank and State Bank of India dissented. The plan was subsequently placed before the Mumbai bench of the NCLT for approval.Bank of Baroda later approached the NCLT seeking directions to convene a CoC meeting to consider reallocation of proceeds under the approved resolution plan, particularly in relation to a loan to Reliance Bhutan. Acting on this, the NCLT on October 17, 2023 directed the resolution professional to convene a CoC meeting.At the meeting held on October 27, 2023, a resolution proposing reallocation and reassignment of the Reliance Bhutan loan was passed with a 67.55 per cent majority, though IDBI Bank and SBI objected to the move.On December 19, the NCLT approved the resolution plan as originally proposed by RPPMSL. IDBI Bank subsequently challenged the October 27, 2023 CoC decision, arguing that the reallocation of proceeds violated the approved resolution plan.The NCLT held that the CoC could not alter the financial layout relating to the entitlement of financial creditors once the resolution plan had been approved. It also noted that the Reliance Bhutan loan, which was to be assigned to assenting financial creditors under the plan, could not be reassigned to dissenting lenders through a subsequent CoC decision.In its October 10, 2025 order, the NCLT ruled that the approved resolution plan could not be modified in this manner. Bank of Baroda challenged this decision before the NCLAT.Upholding the NCLT’s view, the appellate tribunal said, “The Adjudicating Authority in the impugned order after considering all relevant clauses has rightly come to the conclusion that the decision of the CoC dated 27.10.2023 is contrary to the approved resolution plan and cannot bind the dissenting financial creditors.”“We are in full agreement with the view taken by the adjudicating authority as noted above. The adjudicating authority did not commit any error in allowing the plea filed by the IDBI Bank. We do not find any good ground to interfere with the decision of the adjudicating authority,” NCLAT added, dismissing the appeal.



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