President Donald Trump has cast doubt on renewed negotiations with Iran and warned that US military attacks could intensify, deepening fears that the five-month conflict will extend further across the Middle East. Speaking during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, Trump said he was losing confidence in Iranian negotiators because they had misrepresented their intentions. He indicated that Washington was preparing to strike Iran harder unless Tehran […]
Oil prices headed for their strongest monthly advance in years on Friday as the war involving the United States and Iran disrupted Middle Eastern supplies, raised shipping costs and intensified concerns over the security of global energy routes. Brent crude was on course to gain about 21% in July, despite falling by more than $1 to around $88 a barrel during early trading. West Texas Intermediate slipped […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Arabia has established a multinational maritime defence coalition to protect commercial shipping and energy supply routes across the Red Sea, placing Riyadh at the centre of efforts to secure one of the world’s most vulnerable trade corridors. The kingdom will serve as the founding and leading state of the alliance and host its permanent headquarters. Representatives from 43 countries and the European […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The United States launched a heavy wave of strikes against Iran early on Thursday, hitting dozens of military targets after Iranian ballistic missiles were intercepted while heading towards American forces in the Middle East. US Central Command said the two-hour operation struck Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command centres, missile and drone installations, coastal surveillance systems, air-defence sites and maritime capabilities. The bombardment began […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Arabia and the United States have carried out coordinated air strikes against Iran-aligned militia targets in eastern Iraq, escalating military pressure on armed groups accused of attacking Saudi oil installations and American forces across the region. Saudi fighter aircraft and US warplanes hit several logistics centres and weapons facilities early on Wednesday after more than 30 drone attacks were launched over a […]
MERA Oil has shortlisted three Gulf locations for a planned $5 billion refinery and energy export complex, with the US-Saudi consortium aiming to select a host jurisdiction before the end of 2026. The proposed development would include a 200,000-barrel-a-day refinery, deepwater port facilities, large crude and refined-product storage capacity and marine export infrastructure. The shortlisted sites are outside the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting growing commercial interest in […]
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 fell sharply on Wednesday as investors cut exposure to semiconductor and artificial intelligence-linked shares, extending a technology sell-off that swept through major Asian markets.
The benchmark closed at 61,434.19, down 930.73 points, or 1.49%, after briefly dropping to 60,448.90. The index moved through a range of almost 2,700 points, having reached a session high of 63,138.04 during early trading.
The intraday slide from the high exceeded 1,700 points, reflecting unusually volatile trading rather than a fall of that size from Tuesday’s closing level. The index had ended the previous session at 62,364.92 after losing more than 2,500 points.
Semiconductor companies led the decline as investors questioned whether the vast sums being invested in AI infrastructure would generate returns quickly enough to justify elevated technology valuations. The selling was amplified by weakness in South Korea and Taiwan, whose markets contain some of the world’s largest memory-chip and contract-manufacturing companies.
Asian chipmakers had benefited from expectations that spending on data centres, advanced processors and high-bandwidth memory would continue expanding. Those assumptions are now facing closer scrutiny as capital expenditure rises, borrowing costs remain high and earnings expectations become more difficult to exceed.
The shift was visible in South Korea, where the Kospi suffered another severe fall and chip heavyweights came under sustained pressure. Taiwan’s benchmark also declined as investors sold shares exposed to the global semiconductor supply chain.
Tokyo-listed equipment makers and chip-related companies were caught in the same retreat. Their large influence on the price-weighted Nikkei magnified the index’s movements, leaving the broader market vulnerable to concentrated selling in a small group of expensive stocks.
Investors were also awaiting quarterly results from major US technology companies, including businesses whose spending plans have become central to demand forecasts for advanced chips. Any indication that data-centre expenditure is slowing could deepen concerns about the durability of the AI investment cycle.
The Nikkei’s decline followed a powerful rally that had carried the benchmark above 70,000 earlier in July. Despite the pullback, the index remained substantially higher than a year earlier, showing how quickly valuations had expanded during the AI-driven advance.
Currency movements added another layer of uncertainty. The yen remained near its weakest level against the dollar in about four decades, despite gaining slightly during Wednesday’s trading. A weaker currency generally supports exporters by increasing the yen value of overseas earnings, but an extreme decline raises import costs and complicates monetary policy.
Japan depends heavily on imported energy and raw materials. The yen’s depreciation, combined with higher oil prices, threatens to intensify inflation and squeeze household spending. It has also increased speculation that authorities may intervene in foreign-exchange markets.
Markets are watching for any disruption to the yen carry trade, in which investors borrow cheaply in Japan and direct the funds towards assets offering higher returns elsewhere. A sudden strengthening of the yen can force traders to unwind those positions, producing rapid declines across equities, bonds and currencies.
The Bank of Japan begins a two-day policy meeting on Thursday. Traders are assessing whether persistent currency weakness and rising energy costs could push officials towards tighter policy, even as instability in equity markets increases the risks surrounding another rate move.
Oil prices climbed more than 3% as conflict in the Middle East threatened shipping and energy supplies. Higher crude prices added to inflation concerns ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s policy announcement and reduced investors’ willingness to hold high-valuation growth stocks.
The dollar remained supported near a one-month high as traders considered whether the Federal Reserve could maintain a restrictive policy stance. Higher US yields tend to pressure technology valuations by reducing the present value of expected future earnings.
The US goods trade deficit narrowed in June as imports fell more sharply than exports, with a notable drop in capital goods purchases reversing part of the surge linked to business investment and inventory building earlier in the quarter. The merchandise trade gap decreased 4.2% to $101.5 billion from a revised $105.9 billion in May. Imports dropped $8.2 billion to $306.2 billion, while exports declined $3.8 billion […]
The following announcement was issued today to a Regulatory Information Service approved by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom.
DFI RETAIL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
HALF-YEAR RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2026
Highlights
Underlying profit from continuing businesses1 grew 44% to US$117 million
Reported profit was US$118 million, compared to a US$38 million loss in the prior year period
Like-for-like (LFL) subsidiary sales growth from continuing businesses2 improved to 3%
Health & Beauty sustained strong LFL sales; Convenience and Home Furnishings returned to growth
E-commerce and DFIQ Media contributed to approximately 35% of sales growth
Return on capital employed improved to 12%, up from 9% as of December 2025
Interim dividend of US¢6.20 per share, up 77% year-on-year. Maintain full-year dividend payout of 70%
Raised full-year organic revenue3 growth guidance to be between 3.0% and 4.0%, and underlying profit to be between US$285 million and US$305 million
Announced 100% interest acquisition of Cody Hong Kong (Cody HK), one of the leading outdoor advertising solution providers in Hong Kong
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 July 2026 – “Our first-half performance, with underlying profit1 growth of 44% and a consistently improving LFL subsidiary sales trend, reflects the strength of our strategy in action – a sharper value for customers, a strong focus on returns and execution with discipline. This was supported by sustained momentum in Health & Beauty, as well as strong recovery in Convenience and Home Furnishings segments. Our acquisition of Cody HK’s extensive outdoor media portfolio, together with its experienced leadership team, strengthens our capability to deliver full-funnel, omnichannel advertising solutions while accelerating the growth of DFIQ Media. As we continue to deepen customer engagement and build new profit pools through the DFI Omni Platform, we are well-positioned to deliver sustainable long-term value with greater earnings resilience.”
Scott Price
Group Chief Executive
DFI RETAIL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
HALF-YEAR RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2026
OVERVIEW
The Group delivered strong performance in an evolving macroeconomic climate, underpinned by disciplined execution and a focus on driving higher returns. A portfolio built on everyday essentials, combined with a strong value proposition with convenience, continues to resonate with customers against the backdrop of oil price volatility. For the first half of 2026, subsidiary LFL sales growth from continuing businesses4 further improved to 3%. This was driven by sustained strong momentum in the Health & Beauty segment, as well as a return to growth in both the Convenience and Home Furnishings businesses. Price reinvestment, supported by a reset in sourcing strategy, drove Food volume growth with Wellcome’s basket price now trading at a discount relative to the Greater Bay Area5, compared to a premium in the prior year.
The Group’s commitment to retail excellence, a lean overhead structure and expanded omnichannel touchpoints enables us to serve our customers with better pricing and better experience. The DFI Omni Platform further strengthens this by seamlessly integrating our extensive store network with digital capabilities, delivering greater convenience and personalisation while unlocking new value pools through rich, cross-format data insights. Developing and scaling high-margin revenue streams, including retail media (DFIQ Media) and insights monetisation (DFIQ Insights), will diversify our profit base and support long-term value creation.
To enhance operational efficiency and improve productivity of team members, the Group introduced GenAI-powered tools in the first half of 2026, with plans to scale deployment across operating markets in the coming months. In parallel, AI capabilities are increasingly embedded across core retail functions, including assortment optimisation, promotion planning and demand forecasting, to drive better, more data-driven decisions.
The Group undertook a thorough review of the cost structure with the aim of driving sustainable savings and improving long-term cost efficiency. This has led to a reallocation of resources and costs toward format-level operations, driving greater agility and responsiveness to evolving market conditions, while continuing to reduce central selling, general and administrative (SG&A) costs through overhead optimisation. Combined with improving digital economics, underlying operating profit from continuing businesses6 grew 14% year-on-year in the first half of 2026. Improved operating performance and lower financing costs contributed to an 11% increase in underlying profit attributable to shareholders, or 44% from continuing businesses7 only.
The Group maintained a healthy balance sheet with a net debt position of US$22 million as of 30 June 2026. Return on capital employed further improved to 12%, up from 9% as of December 2025.
The Group declared an interim dividend of US¢6.20 per share, representing a significant increase of 77% compared to the same period last year. This enhanced interim dividend distribution underscored the Board’s confidence in the Group’s underlying business momentum and strong cash flow generation, while ensuring sufficient capital for future growth in line with our 70% payout policy.
OPERATING PERFORMANCE
Overall For the first half of 2026, underlying subsidiary revenue from continuing businesses6 was US$4.1 billion, up 4% year-on-year and 3% on a LFL basis. The growth was driven by strong performance in the Health & Beauty division, as well as a return to growth in the Convenience and Home Furnishings segments. Total revenue, including Maxim’s, was US$5.6 billion. Excluding divestments7, total revenue increased by approximately 4%.
Overall underlying profit attributable to shareholders from continuing businesses7 grew 44% year-on-year to US$117 million, primarily driven by improved operating profit and lower financing costs.
Underlying subsidiary profit from continuing businesses6 was US$101 million, reflecting a 49% year-on-year increase, primarily driven by earnings recovery in the Home Furnishings and Food segment with lower SG&A expenses as a result of overhead reduction.
Underlying profit from associates was US$16 million, down from US$30 million in the prior comparable period, which included share of profits from Robinsons Retail ahead of its disposal. Excluding this, profit contribution from associates was up 22% year-on-year due to robust sales growth and effective cost optimisation at Maxim’s.
The Group reported operating cash flow after lease payments of US$178 million, 16% higher than the prior year period, driven by underlying operating profit growth. Free cash flow for the period was a net inflow of US$85 million, down 5% year-on-year, due to increased capex investment in priorities that will further strengthen the Group’s competitive position while driving long-term value for shareholders.
Digital Capturing a significant share of daily essential customer missions in Hong Kong, the DFI Omni Platform – powered by yuu – enables deeper customer engagement across offline and online touchpoints, maximises data capture and unlocks incremental margin opportunities beyond core retail through DFIQ Media and DFIQ Insights. Overall digital turned profitable, with e-commerce and DFIQ Media contributing to approximately 35% of total revenue growth in the first half of 2026. This was supported by improved underlying e-commerce economics, a rising online sales penetration8 to 6.9% and 3 times in DFIQ Media revenue compared to first half of 2025. As of June 2026, more than 10,000 digital media-ready screens were available across DFI outlets.
Subsidiaries Sales for the Health & Beauty division were US$1.4 billion, up 8% year-on-year from continuing businesses9, 7% in constant currency, or 6% on a LFL basis, with continued market share gains across key operating markets. Mannings and Guardian deepened their leadership as the trusted advisors for wellness through an enhanced, wellness-focused assortment and continued roll-out of skin and scalp assessment services across a wider store network. The recently announced exclusive distribution partnership with Holland & Barrett, a leading UK health and wellness retailer, will further expand customer access to trusted wellness solutions in Hong Kong and Singapore, followed by a broader rollout across selected Asia markets in the coming years. In Hong Kong and Macau, Mannings delivered 5% LFL sales growth, driven by increased basket size and robust tourist store sales amid higher visitor arrivals. In Southeast Asia, Guardian achieved strong LFL sales growth of 9%, supported by higher basket sizes and improved promotional efficiency, with Indonesia and Vietnam delivering close to 20% LFL growth. Excluding the impact of cost reallocation and closure of Mannings China offline stores, divisional profit increased moderately by 2% to US$109 million. Margin declined primarily due to increased strategic promotions to drive stronger sales and market share in Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia where health & beauty retailers did not benefit from the SARA Cash Aid Programme.
Total Convenience sales were US$1.2 billion, up 4% year-on-year or 2% on a LFL basis, as continued growth in higher-margin categories, including ready-to-eat (RTE) and exclusive collectibles, more than offset the decline in lower-margin cigarette volumes. Hong Kong LFL sales returned to growth in the second quarter following ten consecutive quarters of decline, supported by RTE and an expanded non-food assortment, including limited-edition collectibles and K-pop merchandise. Excluding cigarettes, LFL sales were up 3% for the period. In Singapore, effective promotional campaigns and collectible product launches drove strong LFL sales growth of 8%. In South China, continued store network expansion through a capex-light franchise model – including a net addition of 112 stores since June 2025 to nearly 1,980 locations – contributed to 12% sales growth year-on-year or 6% on constant currency basis. LFL sales were 1% higher compared to the prior year period, driven by the successful launch of Own Brand in key categories of frozen products and packaged drinks. The team remains focused on driving footfall and sales through further expansion of the RTE offering across both offline and online channels. This includes a broader rollout of the Food Bar to 453 stores as of June 2026, up from 325 at year-end 2025, and strong overall online sales growth of more than 35%. Excluding cost reallocation impact, profit for the division increased by 2% to reach US$37 million.
Reported sales for the Food division from continuing businesses10 were US$1.1 billion, up 1% year-on-year. LFL sales returned to positive growth of 0.5% in the second quarter of 2026. In Hong Kong, investment in reduced pricing on core basket items, a stronger fresh proposition, and Own Brand offering drove 2% increase in total volume and 0.5% LFL sales growth in the first half of 2026. As of June 2026, Wellcome’s “Everyday Value” range has expanded to nearly 500 items, offering savings of up to 40%, bringing its basket price down from a premium to a discount relative to the Greater Bay Area. The team also accelerated omnichannel growth with more than 35% growth in online order volume. In Cambodia, Lucky reported strong double-digit sales growth, with profit more than doubling year-on-year. The plan to open 50 new stores over the next few years remains on track. Macau Food sales remained challenging as a result of cross-border grocery shopping. Excluding the impact of cost reallocation and the divestment of Singapore Food, overall divisional profit increased by 27% year-on-year to US$17 million.
The Home Furnishings division delivered strong recovery in performance during the first half of 2026, with LFL sales growth of 4%, compared to a decline of 6% in the prior year period. Price reinvestment in core value SKUs, a stronger focus on locally relevant ranges and IKEA Food innovation drove increased footfall and items per baskets, resulting in a 3% LFL sales growth in Hong Kong and 5% in Taiwan. IKEA Food remains a critical traffic and revenue driver, accounting for 15% of total sales. In Indonesia, while offline sales momentum remained soft, LFL sales trend improved on a strengthening IKEA’s omnichannel proposition with online sales penetration reaching 24%. Sales recovery and effective cost optimisation measures contributed to 85% growth in overall divisional profit, excluding cost reallocation impact.
Associates The Group’s share of Maxim’s underlying profits was US$16 million for the first half of 2026, up 15% year-on-year, underpinned by continued cost optimisation and operational efficiency measures. Sales for the period increased by 4%, driven by strong restaurant performance in Southeast Asia and a return to growth in the Chinese mainland, partially offset by weaker sales in Hong Kong.
RECENT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS
On 30 June 2026, the Group announced the acquisition of 100% interest in Cody Hong Kong (Cody HK), one of the leading outdoor advertising solution providers in Hong Kong, for a cash consideration of HK$30.2 million (approximately US$3.8 million) from ARN Media Network Limited (ASX: A1N), subject to customary adjustments.
The acquisition advances DFI’s strategy to build a full-funnel advertising solution in Hong Kong through DFIQ Media. By integrating Cody HK’s strategic assets – including multi-year exclusive advertising rights with Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) and Hong Kong Tramways (HKT) – with DFI’s extensive store network, growing online user base, and closed-loop measurement capabilities, DFIQ Media strengthens its ability to deliver high-impact advertising solutions to a broader advertiser base across online, in-store, and outdoor channels.
Subject to satisfaction of third-party consents, the transaction is expected to complete in the second half of 2026.
PEOPLE
On 6 July 2026, the Group announced four senior leadership appointments effective from 1 August 2026. These moves reflect the Group’s continued focus on strengthening its leadership pipeline and driving the next phase of growth with experienced, proven leaders.
Andrew Wong will be appointed Chief Executive Officer, DFI IKEA. Formerly CEO of Health & Beauty, Andrew brings extensive experience in driving customer-led growth, operational discipline and in-store digitalisation across multiple markets. His earlier leadership of franchise operations at Jardine Restaurant Group positions him well to lead the IKEA business into its next phase of development.
Curtis Liu, having most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Food, will be appointed Chief Executive Officer, Health & Beauty. His proven leadership in driving customer value repositioning in Hong Kong, combined with deep operational retail knowledge and digital experience at JD.com, positions him well to drive continued momentum and omnichannel growth in Health & Beauty.
Tom van der Lee will be appointed Chief Executive Officer, Food. Tom has played an instrumental role as Group Chief Financial Officer, driving financial discipline and supporting key strategic decisions across the Group. His prior experience at FrieslandCampina, a global food company, and his broad financial leadership across DFI banners in Southeast Asia supported his strong commercial grounding to lead the Food business.
Kaizhi Wu will succeed Tom as Group Chief Financial Officer. Kaizhi currently serves as Group Finance Director, Planning & Reporting, based in Hong Kong. Prior to joining DFI, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Yonghui Superstores Co., and earlier held senior roles at Jardine Matheson, Fosun Group and PwC in London. Kaizhi will join the Group’s Management Committee upon assuming his new role.
OUTLOOK
The Group remains confident in our ability to navigate the evolving trading environment, supported by sharpened business priorities, a strong balance sheet and low-cost operating model. Financial outlook outlined at the Investor Day in December 2025 remains intact as DFI continues to execute our multi-year strategic initiatives that are critical to driving sustainable revenue and earnings growth. These initiatives include strengthening our value proposition, strategically expanding store network, enhancing omnichannel capabilities and accelerating digital asset monetisation through data-driven insights. In particular, the growing DFI Omni Platform will deepen our customer engagement, further reinforce our core retail strength and enhance overall earnings resilience in the long term.
Despite an elevated oil price outlook for the remainder of the year, the Group expects to deliver stronger profitability supported by enhanced operational efficiency. As a result, the Group revises up its full-year organic revenue growth11 outlook to be between 3.0% and 4.0% (up from previously 2.0% to 3.0%), and underlying profit attributable to shareholders to be between US$285 million and US$305 million (up from previously US$270 million and US$300 million).
Scott Price Group Chief Executive
—————– 1 Excluding impacts of divestment of Singapore Food business, closure of Mannings China and disposal of minority stake of Robinsons Retail 2 Excluding impacts of divestment of Singapore Food business and closure of Mannings China 3 Excluding Singapore Food and Mannings China 4 Excluding impacts of divestment of Singapore Food business and closure of Mannings China 5 Based on a third-party assured price comparison of a 200-item comparable basket between DFI and Shenzhen 6 Excluding impacts of divestment of Singapore Food business and closure of Mannings China 7 Excluding impacts of divestment of Singapore Food business, closure of Mannings China and disposal of minority stake of Robinsons Retail 8 Excluding cigarettes under Convenience and IKEA Food 9 Excluding Mannings China 10 Excluding Singapore Food business 11 Excluding Singapore Food and Mannings China Hashtag: #DFIRetailGroup #Mannings #Guardian #7-Eleven #Wellcome #MarketPlace #IKEA #yuu #Maxim’s
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
DFI Retail Group
DFI Retail Group (the Group) is a leading Asian retailer, driven by its purpose to ‘Sustainably Serve Asia for Generations with Everyday Moments’.
At 30 June 2026, the Group and its associates operated 7,659 outlets across 12 markets, of which 5,593 stores were operated by subsidiaries. The Group, together with its associates, employed over 81,000 people, with more than 43,000 people employed by subsidiaries. The Group had reported revenue of US$8.9 billion in 2025.
The Group is committed to delivering quality, value and service to consumers across the region through trusted brands, strong local market positions, and a broad retail ecosystem supported by extensive store networks, digital capabilities and efficient supply chains.
The Group and its associates operate a portfolio of well-known brands across five key divisions. The principal brands are:
Health and Beauty
Mannings in Hong Kong and Macau S.A.R.; Guardian in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.
Convenience
7-Eleven in Hong Kong and Macau S.A.R., Singapore and Southern China.
Food
Wellcome and Market Place in Hong Kong S.A.R.; San Miu in Macau S.A.R.; Lucky in Cambodia.
Home Furnishings
IKEA in Hong Kong and Macau S.A.R., Indonesia and Taiwan.
Restaurants
Hong Kong Maxim’s group on the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macau S.A.R., Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The Group’s parent company, DFI Retail Group Holdings Limited, is incorporated in Bermuda and has a primary listing in the equity shares (transition) category of the London Stock Exchange, with secondary listings in Bermuda and Singapore. The Group’s businesses are managed from Hong Kong. DFI Retail Group is a member of the Jardine Matheson group.
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