US data and high street giants lead for coming week – London Report March 29, 2015 INVESTORS this coming week will be digesting a flurry of global economic data and corporate results from a number of prominent UK retailers. The focus is likely to continue to be on US economic indicators, given recent concerns about a slowdown in growth in the first quarter, such as consumer confidence, spending and personal income. [...]
Rio Tinto chair Du Plessis to join SABMiller August 6, 2014 RIO TINTO’S chairman Jan du Plessis is set to take up the same role at brewing giant SABMiller next year, sparking criticism that he will not have time to fulfil his duties at the helm of both FTSE 100 firms. The mining giant said yesterday that Du Plessis would join the board of SABMiller from [...]
Best of the Brokers for 26 June 2014 June 25, 2014 To appear in Best of the Brokers, email your research to notes@cityam.com KAZAKHMYS Westhouse Securities has cut Kazakhmys to “add” from “buy”, keeping the target price at 350p. The broker thinks the news of reduced mineral extraction tax rates for mature assets as part of a planned restructuring is positive, but cut the rating to [...]
Halfords chief finance officer to join easyJet April 13, 2015 THE FINANCE chief of Halfords is getting off his bike at the retailer and hopping on a plane instead, after agreeing to take up the same role at easyJet, the companies said yesterday. Andrew Findlay will join the budget airline at the end of October, replacing Chris Kennedy who announced that he was leaving for [...]
Tory MPs demand end to banker bashing: Bank levy debate hots up after historic Conservative election victory May 11, 2015 Conservative MPs and senior City figures want the new government to rein back punitive taxes aimed at banks and avoid weakening one of the UK’s most competitive industries. Shares in banks jumped on last week’s unexpected election result. Defeated Labour leader Ed Miliband had threatened major hikes to the bank levy, more bonus taxes and [...]
Cable Bay looks set to strike for in-form Hills at Haydock May 28, 2015 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE BEST OF THE WEEKEND’S RACING ACTION MY WEATHER forecasting days are numbered; my dreams of becoming the next John Kettley shattered. A week ago I guessed at what the ground was going to be like at Haydock two days later and my assumption that it would be soft proved to be [...]
From Quindell and Gotham City to Uber and the LDTA – five of the biggest business battles to watch out for in 2015 December 22, 2014 Rival camps have banded together, the lines are drawn, battle armour is on and adrenaline is running high. All that's left for spectators to do is grab some popcorn and watch from the ringside. From rival estate agents, to a business targeted by a Batman styled US fund and an influx of tiny new banks [...]
Karren Brady among 22 new peers as David Cameron fields accusations of cronyism August 8, 2014 West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady is among 22 new peers announced by the government today. The former Apprentice TV show judge is one of 12 new Tory peers, along with former chief executive of Marks and Spencer Sir Stuart Rose. Three new Labour peers, six from the Liberal Democrats and a Democratic Unionist [...]
The importance of income: Regular dividends will make a massive difference to your portfolio June 18, 2015 Most new investors build a portfolio in the hope of capital growth. You put money into shares, the price rises, and you sell out with a handsome profit. But investing in assets which make regular payments can make a real difference to the overall performance of your portfolio, and some of the world's most successful [...]
Andy Harrison’s Whitbread exit dents shares April 28, 2015 SHARES in Whitbread slipped 2.5 per cent last night after Andy Harrison announced plans to step down following five years as chief executive in which pre-tax profits have surged by more than 220 per cent. The Costa Coffee and Premier Inn owner has seen its market value grow fourfold to almost £10bn since Harrison joined [...]