Heavyweight miners dragged the FTSE 100 Index lower today despite another bright session for many top-flight retailers.

London: Electrical retailer DSG International said its turnaround plan is on track, that it is delivering better profit and will accelerate the rollout of reformatted stores.

Currys owner DSG International outlined plans for more new-look stores today after hailing the early success of its transformation strategy.

DSG INTERNATIONAL – the electrical goods retailer which operates the Currys and PC World chains – has announced that current trading is ahead of its previous expectations, across all of its geographical markets, due mainly to strong Christmas sales.

British retailers have a “very tough” 12 months in store despite reporting robust Christmas sales figures, the head of the industry’s trade body has warned.

The New Year rally continued on the FTSE 100 Index today despite hefty falls for retailers amid concerns over the year ahead.

The FTSE 100 Index slid almost 2% into the red today as the spectre of US interest rate hikes overshadowed trading.

The FTSE 100 Index fell almost 1% today after a stronger US dollar caused commodity and oil stocks to retreat.

London’s blue chip share index pushed into positive territory today after the Bank of England held steady on its monetary policy and financial firms climbed.

THE head of the Irish operations of electrical retail group DSG – which operates the Currys and PC World chains – has said that sales promotions here have helped improve sales despite the group’s first half figures showing an 11% drop in sales in its British and Irish division.

Currys and PC World parent DSG International today said it was seeing improved trading across a number of its businesses as sales declines eased further.

The FTSE 100 Index struggled to make headway today after poor data in the United States fuelled worries over the pace of economic recovery.

A major oil discovery for BP sent the group's shares racing to their highest close for nine months today, but failed to lift the wider market.

The London market remained under pressure today as financial stocks and mining firms led the top flight lower.

Currys owner DSG International revealed more trading gloom today as its PC World chain was hit by a sharp fall in sales to business customers.

World markets struggled for direction today, despite an apparent boost from the US Federal Reserve last night.

Currys and PC World owner DSG International today racked up annual losses of £140.4m (€165m) as it warned markets were set to remain tough in the year ahead.

The FTSE 100 Index edged back into positive territory today despite weaker-than-expected official sales figures putting pressure on retailers.

The wider FTSE 100 Index was virtually flat, down 1.3 points at 4277.2 after an uneventful session in New York.

Banking stocks rallied higher today amid reports over UK government plans to offload its bank stakes.

PC World and Currys parent DSG International said it had received a 97.1% take up for its rights issue.

The FTSE 100 Index struggled to make headway today in spite of a raft of broker upgrades and signs of life in the DIY sector.

Positive broker comment lifted media and water companies today as the FTSE 100 Index clung on to recent gains.

The FTSE 100 Index slid into the red today as retail stocks came under pressure for the second day in a row.

Retail stocks saw a second day of turbulence today as sentiment remained weak in the aftermath of yesterday’s dividend cut from Marks & Spencer.

Hopes that the worst of the global slowdown could be over helped London's blue-chips climb to their highest point for nearly three months today.

The FTSE 100 Index reached its highest point for almost three months today amid global signs that the worst of the global recession could be over.

The London market soared more than 4% today as better than expected sales figures from retail giant Marks & Spencer helped lift spirits.

Blue chip stocks were dragged lower on the London Stock Exchange today amid a raft of disappointing updates and as the mammoth US rescue plan did little to budge economic fears.

Banking giant Barclays saw shares surge ahead on better-than-expected annual profits today, but it was a mixed session for the wider market.

The FTSE 100 Index was in negative territory today despite better than expected profits from banking giant Barclays.

Currys and PC World owner DSG International was under pressure today following reports that the firm could be forced to tap investors for hundreds of millions of pounds.

Banks and retail stocks extended gains today as their post-interest rate cut rebound continued unabated.

Fearful traders continued to drive banking shares lower today as Lloyds and Barclays joined Royal Bank of Scotland in suffering heavy losses.

Royal Bank of Scotland shares today recovered some ground lost after the previous session’s mammoth falls, but concerns continued to drag other banking stocks lower.

Currys and PC World parent company DSG International today named the former boss of logistics business Exel as its next chairman.

DSG IRELAND — the holding company for the Curry’s, PC World and Dixon’s electrical goods retail brands here — is still aiming to expand its store presence, despite seeing sales decline significantly over the last three months.

A further banking sell off today dragged the London market to its seventh consecutive day in the red.

The London market pulled out of its nosedive today after a reversal in fortunes for beleaguered mining stocks.

Currys and PC World owner DSG International today revealed a 10% drop in quarterly sales after shoppers put off purchases until after Christmas.

The FTSE 100 Index closed in the red for the fifth session in a row today as economic fears and banking losses weighed on the London market.

The FTSE 100 Index held on to its New Year rally today as retail cheer helped offset more bad news for the economy.

The FTSE 100 Index ended the last session before Christmas on a losing note today amid more bleak news for the retail sector.

The FTSE 100 Index was on the back foot today amid more bleak news for the retail sector in the run-up to Christmas.