THE DAILY BRIEFING

CHAIR QUITS

Sainsbury’s director Mary Harris is stepping down from the board after nine years. Harris, 50, is being replaced as chairman of the grocer’s remuneration committee by Susan Rice.

SALES SOAR

Furniture store ScS has posted a 14.1pc rise in sales in the 26 weeks to January 28. It made £165.9m in revenues, while narrowing its losses from £3.4m to £2.6m. Shares fell 2.4pc, or 3.88p, to 165p.

FRUIT BOOST

Waitrose saw soaring sales of raspberries and soft fruit last week as it benefited from warm weather. But total sales were down 2.1pc, hurt by this year’s later Easter. In John Lewis, sales were up 0.4pc on last year, driven by strong sales in beauty products ahead of Mother’s Day. Total sales across the partnership were down 1.2pc to £202m.

BREXIT WORRY

European airports urged the Government to prioritise aviation during Brexit negotiations. The Airports Council International fears the aviation industry will be ‘left in the dark’ about what will happen and the uncertainty will end up constraining route development across airports.

NEW PLANE

Ryanair has bought its 450th Boeing aircraft. The 737800 seats 162 passengers and brings Ryanair’s total number of the aircraft to 380.

EXPERT PICK

The Financial Conduct Authority has appointed consumer rights expert and head of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Nick Stace as a non-executive director.

BANK ROLE

Former JP Morgan banker Alan Carruthers has been made chairman of stockbroker Numis, replacing Gerald Corbett. Shares rose 0.3pc, or 0.75p, to 261.25p.

EARNINGS UP

Profits at SafeCharge International climbed 23pc to £22.5m last year. The firm, which provides equipment and software for shops to take payments, hiked its dividend 46pc to 16.47 cents a share.

CAR TALKS

Discussions aimed at resolving a dispute over pensions at BMW will resume today as workers continued voting on whether to take industrial action.

SHOP STRIKE

Staff at a Topshop distribution centre will strike again in a dispute over pay and working conditions. Members of the GMB union at the Leeds site will walk out for 24 hours from 6am today following the breakdown of talks after a strike last month.