Woodie's and Chadwicks owner sees pickup despite Brexit headwinds

Grafton, the owner of the Chadwicks building merchants and the Woodie's retailer in Ireland, said sales here continue to grow strongly and it expects demand to pick in Britain later this year.

Shares in Grafton--which is widely considered the ultimate Brexit bellwether stock--fell 2.5% in the latest session in the latest session as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson again talked tough over the final trade deal with the EU.