SAINSBURY -J.- ADR/4 NEW

Sainsbury's has halted discussions to sell Argos after JD.com sought materially revised terms, leaving the deal dead. Argos remains a substantial business with nearly £5bn turnover but slimmer and shrinking margins, and about 461 of 664 shops sit inside Sainsbury's stores, complicating a break-up. Chief executive Simon Roberts sees Argos as non-core and may pursue either operational fixes or a sale on respectable terms over the next years. » More on theguardian.com

Sainsbury’s is negotiating a sale of Argos to Chinese retailer JD.com, saying the deal would accelerate Argos’s shift online and within larger Sainsbury’s stores. No agreement is yet reached and Sainsbury’s said any transaction would include commitments for customers, colleagues and partners. Argos was bought in 2016 for over £1bn but is now valued much lower in Sainsbury’s accounts after store closures and restructuring aimed at cutting costs. » More on theguardian.com

Sainsbury’s has recalled 315g JS Classic Houmous (use-by 13 September) and 200g JS Lemon & Coriander Houmous (use-by 14 September) after the Food Standards Agency warned affected batches could contain shiga toxin-producing E coli (STEC). Customers are advised not to eat the products and can return them to stores for a full refund; point-of-sale notices will remain until 3 October. The retailer apologised for the inconvenience and the FSA warned STEC can cause severe diarrhoea and, in rare cases, life-threatening complications, especially in children. » More on theguardian.com