WHAT WILL THIS WEEK’S INFLATION REPORT SIGNIFY? November 7, 2010 PETER DIXON | COMMERZBANK If the Bank’s growth forecasts are to be believed, the MPC ought logically to be more disposed towards the views of Andrew Sentance than Adam Posen, ie, raise interest rates. MICHAEL SAUNDERS | CITIGROUP Now that the policy rate is anchored close to zero, the release of the Inflation Report has [...]
ECONOMIST VIEWS:?WILL THE MPC EXPAND QUANTITATIVE EASING? November 4, 2010 PHILIP SHAW | INVESTEC The MPC is nervous about high inflation and recent brighter news on the economy would likely have to swing sharply into reverse to prompt the committee to restart QE. ANDREW GOODWIN | ERNST & YOUNG ITEM CLUB Further QE is only likely if there are more tangible signs that the recovery [...]
Pace of UK’s growth starts to slow down December 22, 2010 GROWTH in the middle of the year was slightly less than previously estimated, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed yesterday. The economy expanded by 0.7 per cent in the third quarter of 2010, and by 1.1 per cent in the second. Yet the ONS revised both levels down by 0.1 per cent on their [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS December 2, 2010 Renaissance Renaissance Group has announced that Robert Hanson has been appointed as the first member of its International Advisory Board. Hanson, currently chairman of Strand Hanson, the boutique investment bank in which both Renaissance Group and Hanson hold significant minority stakes, will advise Renaissance Group on investments, transactions and strategic issues. He remains a non-executive [...]
JJB issues warning as promotions fail November 11, 2010 STRUGGLING sportswear retailer JJB yesterday warned that full-year results would not meet its hopes after poor recent trading, increasing the chances of the company having to raise additional cash. Shares in JJB, which came close to administration last year, lost up to 29 per cent of their value after the retailer said sales over the [...]
Home Retail Group October 20, 2010 Home Retail Group attempted to put a shine on some fairly grim – if expected – figures yesterday by claiming its Argos iPhone app had been a storming success. However, the truth is that sales at its cut price chain dropped by six per cent. This is made all the more worrying by the fact [...]
Woodward: England look good for 2011 November 28, 2010 ENGLAND (11) v/s SOUTH AFRICA (21) WORLD CUP winning coach Sir Clive Woodward has declared England’s autumn campaign a success despite the team ending their year by being outmuscled by South Africa. Martin Johnson’s emerging side failed to maintain the momentum of an encouraging November on Saturday as the grizzled Springboks taught them a lesson [...]
Investec buys up remainder of Rensburg March 30, 2010 SOUTH African bank Investec yesterday said it will stump up a hefty premium to acquire the remainder of Rensburg Sheppards, the fund manager in which it already holds a 47 per cent stake. Investec, which merged its private-client stockbroking business Carr Sheppards Crosthwaite with Rensburg in 2005, will pay 1.63 new shares of its own [...]
Unilever sees sales rise despite tough market conditions November 4, 2010 UNILEVER saw its underlying sales rise by 3.6 per cent in the third quarter – but warned it could raise prices because of rising commodity costs. The Anglo-Dutch consumer giant, whose products include Knorr Soups and Dove soap, was upbeat about the company’s prospects despite consumers tightening their belts. After the announcement yesterday shares in [...]
ANALYST VIEWS: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF BURBERRY’S UPDATE? October 13, 2010 MANOJ LADWA | ETX CAPITAL Burberry reported a sparkling set of second quarter figures as demand for its goods continues to buck the general trend. Its decision to take control of its franchised stores in China could stand it in good stead going forward, as it seeks to capitalise in this area. KATHARINE WYNNE | [...]