Matalan boss John King was named chief executive of House of Fraser today after the department store chain changed hands in a £351m (€523.4m) deal.

Leading fashion chain Oasis' summer sale was on ice today while its owner held out for some of the business lost to poor weather earlier in the year.

Fashion chains Principles and Warehouse are on the brink of a sale that will land their owners a £130m (€187.8m) pay-day, it was reported today.