logo
UK's Volex surges after upbeat annual results on EV boost

UK's Volex surges after upbeat annual results on EV boost

Time of India2 days ago

Britain's
Volex
jumped over 20% on Thursday after the power and data transmission products maker reported double-digit growth in annual revenue and profit, buoyed by strong
EV demand
and higher North America sales.
The company, which supplies parts to original equipment manufacturers and electronics makers, said its EV division posted organic
revenue growth
of 40.2% for the year ended March, helped by new contracts and existing orders.
Meanwhile, North America, its biggest market, reported a 35.2% rise in revenue, driven by demand for EVs and data centres. Revenue for its
consumer electricals unit
, its largest business, grew 9.6% for the period.
Its shares rose as much as 384.5 pence apiece by 0922 GMT, their highest level since November 2021.
Data last month showed that global sales of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles rose 29% year-on-year in April, with stable growth in China and Europe despite trade tensions, while North America recorded the first fall since September 2024.
Consumer spending on discretionary items has also softened amid global economic uncertainties.
However, Volex said trading in its fiscal year to date was "very good" and that it expects limited direct impact from tariffs due to its diverse manufacturing footprint.
"We remain firmly on track to deliver our five-year strategic plan, underpinned by a healthy pipeline of organic initiatives and an active acquisition pipeline,"
CEO Nat Rothschild
said.
As part of the plan, Volex is targeting revenue of $1.2 billion by the end of fiscal 2027 and aims to maintain operating margins between 9% and 10%.
For fiscal 2025, Volex reported underlying operating profit growth of 18.4% to $106.2 million, while revenue rose 11.1% on an organic basis to $1.09 billion.
Both figures topped consensus estimates, analysts at Jefferies said.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Lorry carrying luxury cars catch fire near Poigai, Tamil Nadu; driver escape unharmed
Lorry carrying luxury cars catch fire near Poigai, Tamil Nadu; driver escape unharmed

India Gazette

time2 hours ago

  • India Gazette

Lorry carrying luxury cars catch fire near Poigai, Tamil Nadu; driver escape unharmed

ANI 29 Jun 2025, 01:24 GMT+10 Vellore (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 28 (ANI): A container lorry transporting luxury cars worth Rs 3.6 crore caught fire near Poigai village in Tamil Nadu's Vellore district on Friday, causing a temporary disruption along the busy Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway, police said. The lorry, carrying two high-end luxury cars valued at Rs 1.8 crore each, was en route from Chennai Port to Bengaluru when the incident occurred. The driver, identified as a 20-year-old Akash from Uttar Pradesh, reportedly swerved the vehicle to avoid an oncoming two-wheeler, causing the lorry to veer off and come to rest in an empty roadside area. The vehicle remained parked under overhead power lines for an extended period. According to preliminary investigations, strong winds may have caused the wires to scrape, triggering an electric surge. This surge is believed to have led to an explosion in the diesel tank, igniting a fire that engulfed the front section of the lorry. Upon receiving the alert, officers from Virinjipuram Police Station quickly notified the Vellore District Fire and Rescue Services. Firefighters arrived promptly and battled the flames for over an hour before successfully bringing the blaze under control. While the front of the lorry was completely destroyed in the fire, the container section housing the cars remained intact. No injuries were reported, and the luxury vehicles were not damaged. (ANI)

Iran reopens central and western airspace after ceasefire with Israel: What does this mean for international flights?
Iran reopens central and western airspace after ceasefire with Israel: What does this mean for international flights?

Hindustan Times

time5 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

Iran reopens central and western airspace after ceasefire with Israel: What does this mean for international flights?

Iran has reopened its airspace over central and western parts of the country to international overflights, the Roads and Urban Development Ministry announced on Saturday. The decision follows a ceasefire with Israel that brought a 12-day conflict to a halt earlier this week. According to an AFP report, the move was approved by Iran's Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) after comprehensive safety and security assessments were completed by relevant authorities. Following a ceasefire with Israel, Iran has reopened its central and western airspace to international overflights.(Representative Image: Unsplash ) Also Read: One Big Beautiful Bill Act: US Senate Republicans unveil Trump's sweeping tax-cut, spending bill International transit flights can now journey through the reopened central and western corridors. However, flights to and from Iranian airports in the northern, southern, and western regions, including major hubs like Tehran's Mehrabad and Imam Khomeini airports, remain suspended until further notice. The CAO, in a separate statement, added that the country's airspace in these areas will stay closed until 14:00 local time (10.30 GMT). The announcement came after Wednesday's reopening of Iran's eastern airspace for domestic and international flights, including overflights. Mashhad Airport, one of the sites allegedly targeted during the Israeli offensive, was now operational again, along with Chabahar Airport in the southeast. Spokesperson for the Roads and Urban Development ministry, Majid Akhavan, had noted that the eastern half of the country was fully open for flights, adding that it included transit flights and operations involving airports located in the region. Also read: Birthright citizenship case: What US Supreme Court ruling means for immigrants Iranian airspace was closed during the conflict According to Xinhua, Iran had entirely closed its skies on June 13. This was after a wave of Israeli airstrikes targeted Tehran and other locations, prompting retaliatory missile launches. With the closure, several air routes across the Middle East were severely affected. The ceasefire was announced on Tuesday, after which Iranian authorities began to start their air travel operations and chose to open overflight corridors first, which is essential for international transit routes connecting Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The government has warned potential travelers and residents not to go to airports in the restricted zones and to seek as much further information from official announcements regarding the status of regional air travel, the reports added. The airspace reopening would ease the pressure on world air routes that, by nature, act as corridors for long-haul flights linking European and Asian airlines. FAQs What airspace is currently open in Iran? Iran has reopened its eastern, central, and western airspace for international overflights. However, flights to and from northern, southern, and western airports remain suspended. Why did Iran close its airspace? Iran shut its skies on June 13 following a series of Israeli airstrikes, which led to a 12-day conflict between the two countries. Are Iranian airports open now? Some eastern airports, like Mashhad and Chabahar, are operational again. Airports in Tehran and other western and southern regions remain closed for now. When will Iran fully reopen its skies? Flights in restricted regions are expected to resume gradually. As of now, closures remain in place until at least Sunday 14:00 local time (10:30 GMT), pending further updates.

H&M profit beats expectations as brand reboot starts to bear fruit
H&M profit beats expectations as brand reboot starts to bear fruit

Time of India

time13 hours ago

  • Time of India

H&M profit beats expectations as brand reboot starts to bear fruit

Swedish fashion retailer H&M reported slightly stronger second-quarter profit on Thursday, an encouraging sign as CEO Daniel Erver tries to attract more shoppers with trendier clothes. H&M shares were up 4% by 1000 GMT as investors focused on the profit rather than second-quarter sales, which fell slightly more than predicted. Erver has said his focus is on profitability rather than solely sales growth. The world's second-largest listed fashion retailer also said it expected sales in June, measured in local currencies, to rise 3%, an improvement after a 6% fall in the same period a year ago. "Our collections are more current, they are more on trend, more fashionable, and the customer reception has been strong throughout this quarter," Erver said in a press conference. Erver said gingham and check patterned dresses, blouses and skirts have been especially popular this season, with the trend continuing into the autumn. Accessories sales have picked up, with social media also driving a craze for mini-accessories on bags, sneakers, and cellphones, he said. In the U.S., where H&M has around 500 stores, Erver said consumer sentiment has dropped significantly due to the "turbulent" tariffs situation since President Donald Trump hiked duties on imports, and competitors have started raising prices as a result. H&M, which sources its products primarily from China and Bangladesh, is focused on keeping prices competitive, Erver said, as consumers are particularly price-sensitive given uncertainty around the economy in the U.S. and globally. H&M's sales were 56.7 billion Swedish crowns ($5.99 billion) in the March to May quarter, down from 59.6 billion a year ago. Analysts polled by LSEG had forecast revenue of 57.0 billion crowns. Zara owner Inditex earlier this month also reported disappointing sales, in a sign consumers are pulling back from spending on clothes as U.S. tariffs create risks for global economic growth. H&M's second-quarter operating profit was 5.91 billion crowns, beating analysts' forecast of 5.88 billion, and the operating profit margin was 10.4%, down from 11.9% a year ago but still better than analysts had feared. "The slightly better than expected margin delivery sends a positive signal to the market," said Alphavalue analyst Jie Zhang. "The brand upgrading strategy has started to pay off." H&M said its higher-priced brand COS had done especially well and shoppers are opting for more medium- and high-priced items across the board, helping to boost profitability. But Erver flagged more discounting in the June to August quarter as he said summer markdowns across the market were highly competitive. Even as it reduces store numbers globally, H&M is also searching for growth in new markets with a growing middle class, with plans to open its first stores in Brazil in the second half, as well as in El Salvador and Venezuela, and to launch in Paraguay next year.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store