The prospect of an energy bailout for businesses has been seized upon by investors. For Halfords, the extent of any financial support could make the difference between it beating or missing profit guidance — already reduced — for this year.
The impact of the rapid inflation encircling businesses means there’s a low bar for what constitutes good news. In Halfords’ case, the absence of another cut to profit expectations was enough to prompt a bounce in shares of more than 15 per cent yesterday.
Underlying profit guidance of between £65 million and £75 million for this financial year, which was lower than consensus expectations when it was first set out in June, is dependent on no “material” changes in the wider economic environment or in
