RBS IN SHARE ISSUE PLAN TO RAISE 4BN September 20, 2009 ROYAL Bank of Scotland is considering a share issue of £3bn-£4bn to reduce the government’s stake in the bank. The move would be a last-ditch bid to avoid seeing the government’s stake rise above 70 per cent following participation in the Asset Protection Scheme (APS). It would also see RBS joining Lloyds in the scramble [...]
Maybe ITV would do better without a chief exec October 14, 2009 CRISIS? What crisis? That was the line that Michael Grade, the outgoing executive chairman of ITV, took when being questioned by a House of Lords committee yesterday. Hitting out at media coverage of the broadcaster’s bungled attempts to find a replacement chairman and chief executive, he said ITVwas a business in fine fettle. In a [...]
Maybe ITV would do better without a chief exec October 14, 2009 CRISIS? What crisis? That was the line that Michael Grade, the outgoing executive chairman of ITV, took when being questioned by a House of Lords committee yesterday. Hitting out at media coverage of the broadcaster’s bungled attempts to find a replacement chairman and chief executive, he said ITVwas a business in fine fettle. In a [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING November 16, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMES MOBILE MAKERS ACT TO CURB FAKE PHONESThe global mobile phone industry is trying to rein in the rapid worldwide spread of illegitimate handsets by introducing a stricter regime for the allocation of handset identification numbers. The move comes as unlicensed Chinese handset manufacturers have started flooding the world market with exports in a [...]
ITVboard is split over Ball pay demands September 17, 2009 TONY Ball is said to be seeking a package worth up to £20m as chief executive of ITV, should he manage to bring the company’s share price back to health. But the boardroom is understood to be split over the terms of the deal, which is expected to include the ex-BSkyB boss putting some of [...]
Analysts say Lloyds could still exit APS September 23, 2009 LLOYDS Banking Group could avoid the government’s Asset Protection Scheme (APS) altogether if it can raise £16bn via a rights issue, analysts from stockbroker Execution said yesterday. The APS is a “sub-optimal way to recapitalise the sector”, analysts led by Joseph Dickerson said, adding that rights issue would lower the bank’s wholesale funding costs. “Our [...]
Analysts say Lloyds could still exit APS September 23, 2009 LLOYDS Banking Group could avoid the government’s Asset Protection Scheme (APS) altogether if it can raise £16bn via a rights issue, analysts from stockbroker Execution said yesterday. The APS is a “sub-optimal way to recapitalise the sector”, analysts led by Joseph Dickerson said, adding that rights issue would lower the bank’s wholesale funding costs. “Our [...]
Strength of Abbey helps Santander to a half-year profit July 29, 2009 SPANISH bank Santander is reaping the benefits from its acquisitions, as the first half attributable profit at its UK operations rose nearly 63 per cent to £790m, from £485m last year. Santander-owned Abbey, including recent purchases Alliance & Leicester and the savings book of Bradford & Bingley, saw a 20 per cent rise in revenues [...]
Ofcom lifts rules on BT sales September 15, 2009 OFCOM said yesterday that it will remove the last piece of regulation that has prevented BT from selling discounted fixed-line voice, broadband and TV packages. Other network providers – such as Virgin Media, BSkyB and Carphone Warehouse’s TalkTalk – are already able to offer reduced rates to customers who take more than one of their [...]
OTHER TOP OYSTER RESTAURANTS September 21, 2009 WRIGHT BROSBorough Market can be a bit variable, but this venerable (well, seven-year-old) oyster bar is one that you can guarantee to deliver, especially when there’s an R in the month. It’s a good bet if you like a bit of difference with your oysters, too: try the plate of three with wasabi. 11 Stoney [...]