Range of large cap firms set to give markets an overview October 18, 2009 THERE is a mixed bag of companies reporting this week, but the diverse selection will give investors plenty to digest. FTSE 100 software company Autonomy will post its third quarter results tomorrow, though its management have already signalled that it will be another strong performance. It said earlier this month that it expects to report [...]
Liberty launches a second fundraising September 23, 2009 SHOPPING centre operator Liberty International yesterday rattled analysts and investors after tapping shareholders for the second time this year in a £280.5m fundraising. The group announced a placing of 56.1m shares, representing 9.9 per cent of Liberty issued share capital, at 500p each. The price is an 11.3 per cent discount to Tuesday’s closing price. [...]
Debenhams lifts forecasts thanks to designer ranges September 15, 2009 DEPARTMENT store Debenhams yesterday said it expects to deliver higher annual profits, despite a slight drop in sales. Chief executive Rob Templeman said that he was happy with analysts’ forecasts of a ten per cent lift in profits to £122-124m, from £110m the year before. Like-for-like sales were down by 3.8 per cent in the [...]
THE TIPSTER NEW FINDS POWERING OIL AND GAS September 13, 2009 ACTIVITY in oil and gas companies has been going strong over the past few weeks, making a number of small and mid-caps ripe for a buy. Last week’s announcement that Desire Petroleum has managed to secure a rig for drilling in the Falklands Islands, where up to 3bn barrels of oil and gas may be [...]
Primark founder steps down September 13, 2009 Arthur Ryan, the founder of clothing retail giant Primark, has stepped down as chief executive officer after 40 years at the helm. The 74-year-old Irishman is succeeded by Paul Marchant, who was Primark’s chief operating officer. Marchant joined Primark in January from New Look, and has also worked for Debenhams, Topman and River Island. Ryan [...]
Primark founder steps down September 13, 2009 Arthur Ryan, the founder of clothing retail giant Primark, has stepped down as chief executive officer after 40 years at the helm. The 74-year-old Irishman is succeeded by Paul Marchant, who was Primark’s chief operating officer. Marchant joined Primark in January from New Look, and has also worked for Debenhams, Topman and River Island. Ryan [...]
London retail sales drop by 5.9 per cent September 13, 2009 LONDON retail sales fell in August, the British Retail Consortium revealed today. Last month’s sales were 5.9 per cent lower on a like-for-like basis than a year ago, when sales were up by 8.6 per cent on the previous year. The figures, which show the lowest sales growth for four years, come ahead of department [...]
A busy week on the high street as retailers report September 13, 2009 It’s time to hit the high street this week, with a whole host of retailers updating the market. In keeping with that theme, the Office of National Statistics will tomorrow release the Retail Prices Index data for August, which is expected to show that prices fell 1.5 per cent year-on-year, compared to a decline of [...]
A busy week on the high street as retailers report September 13, 2009 It’s time to hit the high street this week, with a whole host of retailers updating the market. In keeping with that theme, the Office of National Statistics will tomorrow release the Retail Prices Index data for August, which is expected to show that prices fell 1.5 per cent year-on-year, compared to a decline of [...]
Breaking the Speedo limit August 13, 2009 HATS off to Alton Towers for banning Speedos. If only the same spirit had been present in the pools and beaches I frequented as a child on holiday with my family. The now-famous French swimming pool Speedo-only rule was a memorable feature of our trips abroad – there were even times when my father rocked [...]