Waning demand in Britain for TVs and computers drove a second straight quarterly sales decline at Home Retail’s Argos, but the chain said it was still winning market share and forecast an improved performance in its second half.

The effect on its Irish operations of DIY chain B&Q’s imminent closure of 60 stores across the UK and Ireland remains unclear.

The Irish units of home furnishing firms Argos and Homebase enjoyed contrasting fortunes last year.

DIY chain Homebase is to close a quarter of its stores and has ditched its boss after a review by parent company Home Retail Group found failings in its sales performance.

The renegotiation by DIY chain Homebase of a number of property leases here in its recent examinership has resulted in the firm booking a €33m gain.

Nearly 2,700 jobs will have been saved this year by companies opting for examinership as a way of trading out of their difficulties, new estimates suggest.

The property investment firm Green REIT has invested €178m in three deals over the past two months, including the IN&M printworks in Citywest and the EBS headquarters in Dublin 4, as well as the commercial portfolio acquired from Danske Bank, according to its interim management statement.

Argos is to create a further 175 part-time jobs in Ireland to cover increased demand over the forthcoming festive season.

The FTSE 100 Index ended a nine-day winning streak that had propelled it to a five-month high as investors sought to lock in profits.

Britain’s Home Retail Group said yesterday that summer sunshine had delivered a big boost to sales at its home improvements chain Homebase in the second quarter and helped shift seasonal products at its biggest business, Argos.

The number of shoppers in Northern Ireland last month was 3% higher than a year ago, retailers have said.

Siptu is to meet the 180 Marks and Spencer workers who will lose their jobs after the retailer announced the closure of four stores.

The head of Retail Excellence Ireland says at least seven large employers are considering going into examinership, putting over 3,500 jobs at risk.

The High Court has appointed an interim examiner to the firm operating 15 Irish Homebase home and garden stores, which employs 558 people, including 444 working part-time.

DIY giant Homebase Ireland plans to shut three stores after the company was forced into examinership.

I’M trudging.

More than 100 jobs are to be created over the next three years at three Irish firms in Galway and Dublin.

Catalogue chain Argos returned to profits growth today after an “encouraging” year in which more than half its sales were generated online.

First quarter figures from Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland come amid intense scrutiny on the taxpayer-backed players after Lloyds revealed the collapse of its planned sale of 632 branches.

“Phenomenal” demand for tablet devices drove sales at the British and Irish operations of electronic goods seller, Dixons Retail, up by 8% during the company’s third quarter, which coincided with the busy Christmas trading period.

The digital makeover of catalogue chain Argos showed early signs of progress today after strong trading figures for the peak Christmas period.

The launch of Apple's iPad 3 tablet computer provided some welcome respite for embattled catalogue chain Argos as it reported better-than-expected sales today.

The world’s most famous flower show was flooded by members of rock and roll royalty yesterday.

Argos has warned of store closures, after suffering significant sales declines last year, but it is too early to know if its Irish operations will be affected.

Argos' owner has pulled the plug on its shareholder dividend after revealing a 60% plunge in annual profits.

The owner of Argos insisted there were no plans for major store closures today despite another slump in sales at the catalogue chain.

DECLINING sales of consumer electronic equipment over the festive period dragged seasonal sales at catalogue retailer Argos down by nearly 9%.

The owner of Argos blamed the weak consumer electronics market today for another sharp drop in sales at the catalogue retailer.

Investors started 2012 with a burst of optimism today as upbeat manufacturing data from all corners of the world triggered a rally on London’s top shares index.

A year to forget for investors ended today with London’s benchmark index 5.5% lower than its starting point in January.

Two successful Italian bond auctions eased fears about the eurozone debt crisis today and helped London’s leading shares index make cautious gains.

THE Irish arm of the DIY and garden centre retailer Homebase last year plunged further into the red, recording pre-tax losses of €46.1 million.

SHARES in Home Retail Group plunged yesterday after profits at its Argos chain were hammered as shoppers put off buying TVs and computer consoles.

Catalogue chain Argos scraped a half-year profit of just £3.4 million today after consumers put off buying “big ticket” electronics items.

The boss of struggling entertainment group HMV today vowed to press on with plans to overhaul its technology offering as he reported another plunge in sales over the summer.

The owner of Argos heaped more gloom on the retail sector today as it revealed the catalogue chain saw same-store sales drop nearly 9% in the last three months.

Royal Bank of Scotland shares slumped 12% today as litigation fears, weak economic data and the eurozone debt crisis drained market confidence.

Fears over the global economic climate troubled traders today as European markets fell further into the red.

The future of up to 30 stores and 720 jobs was put at risk today after the UK side of retail brand Habitat went into administration.

Habitat is set to disappear from everywhere but London in a move threatening around 900 jobs in the UK.

London’s main market made progress despite a tough time for the retail sector after the owner of catalogue chain Argos issued a gloomy warning over high street trading.

Argos owner Home Retail Group today said annual profits dropped 13% as it revealed the boss of its embattled catalogue chain was stepping down.

Early losses on Wall Street kept London’s FTSE 100 Index in the red today amid investor caution over a Chinese rate hike and fresh European economic woes.

London's FTSE 100 Index pulled back from its six week high today as banks and commodity stocks weighed on the market.