Business

Macy’s earnings beat market buzz amid consumer spending pressures

Published

1 year ago

Farwa

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

With its second-largest surge ever, PSX approaches 114,000 points.

Published

3 days ago

Farwa

Driven by renewed activity from both private and government financial institutions, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) saw its second-largest rally in history on Monday.

The market regained many important levels in a single trading session as it rose with previously unheard-of momentum.

Intraday trading saw a top increase of 4,676 points, and the PSX’s benchmark KSE-100 Index gained 4,411 points to settle at 113,924 points. This impressive rebound demonstrated significant investor confidence by reestablishing the 100,000, 111,000, 112,000, and 113,000-point levels.

The market also saw the 114,000-point limit reestablished during the trading session.

The positive tendency was reflected when the market’s heavyweight shares touched its upper circuits. Among the most busiest trading sessions in recent memory, an astounding 85.78 billion shares worth a total of Rs55 billion were exchanged.

Experts credited the spike to heightened institutional investor activity and hope for macroeconomic recovery. Considered a major market recovery, the rally demonstrated the market’s tenacity and development potential.

Business

In interbank trade, the Pakistani rupee beats the US dollar.

Published

1 week ago

Farwa

In the international exchange market, the US dollar has continued to weaken in relation to the Pakistani rupee.

The dollar fell to Rs278.10 from Rs278.17 at the beginning of interbank trading, according to currency dealers, a seven paisa loss.

In the meantime, there was a lot of turbulence in the stock market, but it recovered and moved into the positive zone. The KSE-100 index recovered momentum and reached 116,000 points after soaring 1,300 points.

Both currency and stock market swings, according to analysts, are a reflection of ongoing market adjustments and economic uncertainty.

Business

Phase II of CPEC: China-Pakistan Partnership Enters a New Era

Published

2 weeks ago

Farwa

The cornerstone of economic cooperation between the two brothers and all-weather friends is still the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the initiative’s flagship project.

In contrast to reports of a slowdown, recent events indicate a renewed vigour and strategic emphasis on pushing the second phase of CPEC, known as CPEC Phase-2, according to the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives.

According to the statement, this crucial stage seeks to reshape the foundation of bilateral ties via increased cooperation, cutting-edge technology transfer, and revolutionary socioeconomic initiatives.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal is leading Pakistan’s participation in a number of high-profile gatherings in China, such as the 3rd Forum on China-Indian Ocean Region Development Cooperation in Kunming and the High-Level Seminar on CPEC-2 in Beijing.

His involvement demonstrates Pakistan’s commitment to reviving CPEC, resolving outstanding concerns, and developing a strong phase-2 roadmap that considers both countries’ long-term prosperity.

At the core of these interactions is China’s steadfast determination to turn CPEC into a strategic alliance that promotes development, progress, and connectivity.

Instead of being marginalised, CPEC is developing into a multifaceted framework with five main thematic corridors: the Opening-Up/Regional Connectivity Corridor, the Innovation Corridor, the Green Corridor, the Growth Corridor, and the Livelihood-Enhancing Corridor.

With the help of projects like these, the two countries will fortify their partnership, and CPEC phase-2 will become a model of global economic integration and collaboration that benefits not just China and Pakistan but the entire region.