Shock as Lazard’s UK co-head of investment banking quits March 8, 2012 ALEXIS de Rosnay, the co-head of UK investment banking at Lazard, has quit the firm, City A.M. has learnt. The influential rainmaker, who joined Lazard from Lehman a little over three years ago, resigned in the past few days, say sources, without having tied up a new position. There is speculation that de Rosnay, who [...]
Reckitt looks for growth in new regions February 8, 2012 BRITISH consumer goods group Reckitt Benckiser is to launch a major sales push into fast-growing emerging markets, with a focus on health and hygiene brands like Nurofen and Dettol, to offset sluggish European and North American markets. New chief executive Rakesh Kapoor, who took over last September after Bart Becht’s shock decision to retire, said [...]
Emerging markets push comes too late February 8, 2012 WHEN times get tough, branded products are the first things to go. British consumers know there is little difference between Fairy and a supermarket’s own-label washing up liquid. The trend is more pronounced among younger consumers, who will protect luxuries such as their iPhone and designer clothes by buying staples from the supermarket economy ranges. [...]
FTSE buoyed by energy stocks February 24, 2012 Upbeat economic data across the Atlantic and strong energy stocks helped to keep the FTSE 100 on track today despite relative weakness in Europe. US blue chips added 0.4 per cent overnight after weekly jobless data showed the US labour market remained on the mend, with the Dow approaching levels not seen since before the [...]
FTSE buoyed by energy stocks February 24, 2012 Upbeat economic data across the Atlantic and strong energy stocks helped to keep the FTSE 100 on track today despite relative weakness in Europe. US blue chips added 0.4 per cent overnight after weekly jobless data showed the US labour market remained on the mend, with the Dow approaching levels not seen since before the [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS January 10, 2012 RECKITT BENCKISER Credit Suisse rates the consumer goods group “outperform” but has cut its target price from £40 to £38. The broker thinks Reckitt’s business model is still healthy, and that concerns over the sustainability of its margins have been overdone. The firm is suffering somewhat in Europe due to expanding rivals, though Credit Suisse [...]
Women now make up a quarter of new FTSE board members March 12, 2012 A QUARTER of new FTSE 100 board hires made in 2011 were female, research will reveal this morning, in a new record that highlights a dramatic change at the top of Britain’s largest companies. Of the 190 appointments made to FTSE 100 boards during 2011, 47 were women, boosting the total number of female-held directorships [...]
Miners buoy FTSE as Greece remains on knife edge February 8, 2012 The FTSE 100 opened on the front foot this morning as investors continued to cling onto hopes that Greece could be steered away from financial meltdown. Greek party leaders were set to meet again today to hammer out a reform deal in return for the new €130bn rescue from the IMF and EU. Leaders of [...]
FTSE hits six-month high fuelled by Greek deal February 13, 2012 The FTSE 100 climbed 0.9 per cent to a six-month high of 5,905.7 as investors’ confidence was buoyed by Greek politicians finally approving a new set of austerity measures. However, the move triggered civil unrest on the streets of Athens with the most violent clashes since the country’s disastrous financial situation was laid bare. The [...]
FTSE down as investors look again at weak Eurozone data February 22, 2012 BRITAIN’S leading share index edged lower yesterday as investors refocused on fundamentals, specifically weaker-than-expected Eurozone data, with the Greek debt restructuring theatricals out of the way for now. Recession concerns increased after data showed the Eurozone’s service sector unexpectedly shrank in February, with Europe being Britain’s main market for its goods. “The FTSE ends the [...]