FEELING BLUE AT BROWN

PLUS-SIZE clothing firm N Brown have reported a big slump in profits. The Manchester-based business behind fashion brands JD Williams, Simply Be and Jacamo was hit by the cost of store closures and compensation to customers who were sold flawed insurance products several years ago. Profits dived 71 per cent to £16million last year as a result, although sales rose nearly four per cent. A US hedge fund which triggered the sale of Costa Coffee is to snap up bookshop chain Waterstones.

Elliott Advisors have reached a deal to buy the stores for an undisclosed amount.

The move was announced just 24 hours after Whitbread confirmed plans to sell Costa.

Elliott were one of two “activist” hedge funds piling pressure on Whitbread to offload the coffee giant in a potential £3billion stock Euro .................................................... 1.116 Australian Dollar ........................... 1.785 Bulgarian Lev ............................... 2.082 Canadian Dollar ............................. 1.732 Croatian Kuna ............................... 7.996 Czech Koruna .............................. 27.310 Egyptian Pound ........................... 21.413 New Zealand Dollar ..................... 1.902 Polish Zloty ................................... 4.490 South African Rand ................... 16.672 Swiss Franc ..................................... 1.327 Thai Baht ...................................... 41.487 Turkish Lira .................................... 5.361 UAE Dirham .................................... 4.922 US Dollar ......................................... 1.360