FTSE 100 lower on weak corporate news October 8, 2012 The blue chip index was firmly lower in early trade, as worries over the health of the global economy pulled stocks down. Weaker resources prices and concerns ahead of a meeting of EU finance ministers to launch the latest bailout fund weighed on sentiment. Materials firm Cookson Group and recruiter Michael Page led the index [...]
Amlin sells $150m of catastrophe bonds December 23, 2011 Amlin, the biggest listed British insurer in the Lloyd’s of London market, said it sold $150m (£95m) of catastrophe bonds to protect itself against potential losses from US earthquakes and hurricanes and European storms. The bond issue, carried out through Bermuda-based vehicle Tramline Re, is double the $75 million of cover a source said Amlin [...]
FTSE 100 down on poor Chinese data October 3, 2012 The leading share index slipped back under the 5,800 mark this morning, as weak Chinese services sector data weighed on investor sentiment. Mining stocks were hit, as the poor outlook from Asia raised concerns about raw demand. Leading the fallers in early trade was Lamprell, down more than 32 per cent, as it issued its [...]
David Lloyd launches high street gym chain August 27, 2012 David Lloyd Leisure, the tennis-based health and fitness club group, said yesterday it plans to launch a chain of smaller studios on British high streets to target busy workers looking for more flexible workout regimes. The group, controlled by London & Regional and Caird Capital, said it will invest £500,000 in opening three trial sites, [...]
Rapid Responses October 1, 2012 GDP manipulation [Re: Time for MPs to summon statisticians over endless revisions, Friday] This article misses the point. The problem is not with statisticians, but with politicians and the media (and through them, the markets). They all give disproportionate attention to GDP figures which are, inevitably, far from a precise reflection of what is really [...]
FTSE 100 up on Spain’s austerity budget September 28, 2012 The leading share index opened up this morning. Headline mining shares rose as metal prices rallied. Spain’s austerity budget, unveiled yesterday, settled Eurozone nerves and dragged the FTSE 100 up, as the index went back above the 5,800 level in early trading. Aquarius Platinum topped the leaderboard this morning, up almost five per cent. Engineering [...]
What the other papers say this morning September 19, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES Push to relax terms of tech IPOs A push to make it easier for high-growth technology companies to list in London will be launched by the government today. Ministers will put forward proposals including relaxing listing rules on the London Stock Exchange, allowing companies to list as little as 10 per cent of [...]
What the other papers say this morning September 23, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES Banks to shed €20bn property loans Europe’s banks are on track to dispose of €20bn worth of loans backed by offices, shops and hotels this year as lenders across the continent race to reduce exposure to the volatile real estate sector ahead of tough regulatory changes. Banks including Lloyds Banking Group, Santander and [...]
Restaurants aim high by moving into the Shard August 28, 2012 RESTAURATEURS behind the trendy Japanese restaurant chains Zuma and Roka and Hong Kong’s Aqua Restaurant Group have agreed to lease the entire restaurant space at Europe’s tallest building. Sellar Property, the developer behind the Shard, revealed yesterday that Zuma duo Rainer Becker and Arjun Waney are to open a rotisserie and grill as well as [...]
Meet the investment banker who gave insurance a whirl October 14, 2012 AFTER the chaos of last year, 2012 has so far been something of a relief to the insurance industry. A perfect storm of floods in Australia and Thailand, the Japanese tsunami and nuclear disaster and the earthquake in New Zealand made 2011 the second most expensive on record for the Lloyd’s of London market, and [...]