Commodities spur FTSE 100 gains as banks bounce bank January 10, 2012 COMMODITY stocks led the FTSE 100 top share index higher yesterday, after Alcoa kicked off the US earnings season with an upbeat outlook and data from China lifted sentiment, while retailers rallied after some encouraging updates. London’s blue chip index rose 84.44 points, or 1.5 per cent to 5,696.70, making up for the 1.5 pe [...]
City redundancies are sent via text message at 4am December 20, 2011 DOZENS of bankers might have wished for a seasonal lump of coal for Christmas yesterday: instead they received a handy text message telling them that their job no longer exists. Investec laid off 90 of its front-office staff before dawn, with those who had opted into the text alert system receiving an SMS at 4.30am [...]
THE RED CROSS AND THE CITY | A TRADITION OF SERVICE November 24, 2011 The City’s annual Red Cross Christmas Market is the capital’s largest fundraising event for the crisis charity and has been a joint venture with the livery companies since the Second World War. Originally a source of affordable Christmas presents for London’s East End, today it mixes luxury with a selection of gifts for all budgets. [...]
Flybe shares in a tailspin after warning January 10, 2012 FLYBE’S shares tumbled 20 per cent yesterday after it warned its revenues would fall short of targets. The regional airline, which makes 70 per cent of its revenues on UK domestic flights, said conditions in Britain had deteriorated, leading to an eight per cent sales drop in its third quarter. Flybe’s board spent the day [...]
A feast fit for a king to raise money for our real heroes February 7, 2012 The City’s hottest dinner ticket – the Square Mile Salute – is almost upon us again: and this year the organisers are hoping even to surpass last year’s fantastic evening. The charity event will see a bakers’ dozen of the country’s finest chefs prepare amazing canapés and caviar and an unbeatable six course feast accompanied [...]
THE TIPSTER OMAHA’S ORACLE FEASTS AT THE BARGAIN BUFFET January 30, 2012 THE shares of Tesco plunged in mid-January after the retail giant announced an unexpected fall in Christmas sales. The sell-off took the price down through support at 350p and also broke the long-term up-trend. News that Warren Buffett increased his holding to 5 per cent from 3.2 per cent helped to lift the shares, but [...]
Deep price cuts at Debenhams November 15, 2011 DEBENHAMS, Britain’s second-biggest department store chain, has ratcheted up the pressure on rivals, launching its annual five day pre-Christmas promotion with what it claims are its deepest ever discounts. The firm said yesterday it will cut the prices of tens of thousands of items in its 164 UK stores and online by up to 40 [...]
THE TIPSTER December 18, 2011 THOSE thinking of buying gold jewellery for a loved one this Christmas could consider buying gold contracts instead, given the dramatic collapse in recent days. Gold fell as much as $190 since the 1 December level of $1,750, and currently trades $320 lower than the heights hit in September. Use $1,570-$1,600 as a buying opportunity [...]
RAPID RESPONSES November 21, 2011 Xmas trimmings Your comment pieces by Detlev Schlichter and Andrea Leadsom yesterday reminded me of an entry in The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle – “In this year [1124] before Christmas King Henry gave instructions that all the moneyers who were in England should be deprived of their members, namely the right hand of each and their testicles [...]
RAPID RESPONSES November 21, 2011 Xmas trimmings Your comment pieces by Detlev Schlichter and Andrea Leadsom yesterday reminded me of an entry in The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle – “In this year [1124] before Christmas King Henry gave instructions that all the moneyers who were in England should be deprived of their members, namely the right hand of each and their testicles [...]