Connect with us

Business

Macy’s earnings beat market buzz amid consumer spending pressures

Published

on

Macy’s maintained its annual forecasts unchanged despite its second-quarter sales and profit topped market expectations as the luxury department store company anticipates continued pressure on consumer spending.

The retailer, like Target and Coach parent Tapestry, has seen a drop in demand from middle-income customers as they cut back spending on apparel and handbags amid elevated inflation, reported Reuters.

“In light of ongoing macroeconomic pressures and uncertainty on when those will abate, the company continues to take a cautious approach on the consumer,” Macy’s said in a statement.

It reaffirmed its 2023 sales expectations of $22.8 billion to $23.2 billion and adjusted full-year profit per share between $2.70 and $3.20.

Throughout the second quarter, Macy’s worked to clear excess inventory after a move to convert its merchandise for the spring and early summer hurt demand, forcing the Bloomingdale’s parent to cut its annual sales and profit forecasts in June.

Gross margin slipped to 38.1% from 38.9% a year ago.

For its higher-end beauty brand Bluemercury, Macy’s saw quarterly comparable sales rise 5.8%.

“Despite beating profit and sales expectations, Macy’s earnings show that discretionary demand remains constrained as shoppers allocate more of their budgets to everyday necessities,” Insider Intelligence analyst Rachel Wolff said.

Macy’s posted an adjusted net income of $71 million, or 26 cents per share, in the quarter ended July 29, beating expectations of 13 cents.

Comparable sales for Macy’s-owned and licensed stores fell 7.3%, compared with expectations of a 6.48% drop, according to Refinitiv data.

The Bloomingdale’s parent said credit card revenues fell to $120 million from last year’s $204 million, owing to a faster-than-expected rise in delinquencies rate.

The company’s shares, which have lost nearly 30% this year, were down about 1% in premarket trading.

Business

Pakistan’s gold prices are still declining; see the most recent

Published

on

By

The price of 10-gram gold reduced by Rs943 to settle at Rs207,733, while the price of gold dropped by Rs1200 to close at Rs242,300 a tola, according to the Sindh Sarafa Jewellers Association.

In the global market, the price of the precious metal fell by $10 to $2,349 per ounce, resulting in losses.

At 04:48 GMT, the spot price of gold had dropped by 0.2% to $2,354.77 per ounce. In the previous session, prices reached a two-week high.

American gold futures dropped 0.6% to $2,361.

Spot silver decreased by 0.4% to $28.03 per ounce, while palladium remained steady at $978.03 and platinum decreased by 0.1% to $992.89.

Continue Reading

Business

Pakistan and the IMF begin talks for a new loan.

Published

on

By

Pakistan is requesting a $6 to $8 billion bailout package from the international lender over the next three to four years to address its financial troubles.

A mission team led by Nathan Porter, the IMF’s Mission Chief in Pakistan, is meeting with a Pakistani delegation led by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Islamabad may face more difficult options, such as raising power and gas bills.

Mr. Aurganzeb informed the IMF team that the country’s economy has improved as a result of the IMF loan package, and Islamabad is ready to sign a new loan programme to further develop.

The IMF mission expressed satisfaction with Islamabad’s efforts to revive the country’s struggling economy.

The IMF praised Pakistan’s economic growth in its staff report earlier this week, but warned that the outlook remains challenging, with very high downside risks.

The country nearly avoided collapse last summer, and its $350 billion economy has stabilized since the end of the last IMF program, with inflation falling to roughly 17% in April from a record high of 38% last May.

Continue Reading

Business

Petrol prices are likely to drop significantly beginning May 16.

Published

on

By

According to sources, the government is set to decrease petrol prices by Rs 14 per litre and diesel prices by Rs 10 on May 16 for the next fortnight’s revision.

Last month, the government reduced the price of fuel and high-speed diesel by Rs5.45 and Rs8.42 per fortnight, respectively.

The current fuel price is Rs288.49 per litre, while the HSD price is Rs281.96.

Meanwhile, oil prices fell further on Monday, as signs of sluggish fuel consumption and comments from U.S. Federal Reserve officials dimmed optimism for interest rate reduction, which may slow growth and reduce fuel demand in the world’s largest economy.

Brent crude prices down 25 cents, or 0.3%, to $82.54 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 19 cents, or 0.2%, to $78.07 per barrel.

Oil prices also declined on signals of poor demand, according to ANZ analysts, as gasoline and distillate inventories in the United States increased in the week before the start of the driving season.

Refiners throughout the world are dealing with falling diesel profitability as new refineries increase supply and warm weather in the northern hemisphere and weak economic activity reduce demand.

Continue Reading

Trending