Life on the high street has continued to prove challenging for a number of retailers, with Toys R Us and Maplin closing down while Carpetright, Mothercare, New Look and Conviviality are in the process of restructuring.
Elsewhere, we have seen disappointing trading updates from areas such as home improvement to fashion, with disappointing updates from B&Q, Moss Bros and Ted Baker. There are several pressures facing the sector today, most notably a subdued consumer environment owing to uncertainty over Brexit and the continued shift to online purchasing away from the high street. While we take a more positive view of the former in the medium term, with the latter we acknowledge the trends will likely persist and become more painful for those without a competitive online offering. 'Physical retail...
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