Happy Monday for financials as US data lift big cap shares February 1, 2010 Britain’s top share index closed 1.1 per cent higher yesterday, helped by upbeat US manufacturing data, with banks and commodity stocks topping the list of gainers. The FTSE 100 closed up 58.89 points at 5,247.41, having dipped to 5,163.57 earlier in the session. The index ended 0.8 per cent higher on Friday. Experts said the [...]
BP’s fall takes fuel out of oil stocks but FTSE rises higher February 2, 2010 Britain’s top shares closed higher for the third straight session yesterday as miners and banks extended the previous day’s gains but BP dragged energy stocks lower with fourth-quarter results that missed expectations. The FTSE 100 was up 35.90 points, or 0.7 per cent at 5,283.31, after closing 1.1 per cent higher on Monday. Miners added [...]
Bill cuts will drain Thames Water payout November 23, 2009 THAMES WATER would be forced to abandon paying a dividend altogether if the water regulator does not alter its push for lower bills. The UK’s biggest water supplier has informed its owners, Macquarie Bank of Australia and a range of pension funds, that they face missing out on a £200m return next year, a source [...]
Water firms hit by Ofwat July 23, 2009 SHARES in utility companies dropped yesterday after water regulator Ofwat ordered firms to reduce household bills by four per cent over the next five years, potentially denting profits massively. Analysts warned that Ofwat’s price limits combined with new requirements on infrastructure spending would see dividends slashed across the sector. Water firms had hoped to raise [...]
Water firms hit by Ofwat July 23, 2009 SHARES in utility companies dropped yesterday after water regulator Ofwat ordered firms to reduce household bills by four per cent over the next five years, potentially denting profits massively. Analysts warned that Ofwat’s price limits combined with new requirements on infrastructure spending would see dividends slashed across the sector. Water firms had hoped to raise [...]
United Utilities feels the pressure in the recession November 25, 2009 UNITED UTILITIES, the biggest water company in the UK, yesterday said its profit had risen by one per cent to £370m, but that it had been hit by tumbling demand from businesses and homes in the downturn. Turnover rose 0.5 per cent to £1.2bn in the six months to 30 September, and the group proposed [...]
CAUSING A SPLASH June 3, 2009 UTILITY Northumbrian Water (NWG) said its full-year pre-tax profits slumped by 10.3 per cent to £152.7m in the year to 31 March, as high energy costs and a fall in demand, particularly from industrial customers, hit the company. NWG, which supplies water and sewage services to North East England, said its sales were up four [...]