FTSE nears seven-year high as M&S boosts retail sector April 6, 2011 BANKS helped drive Britain’s top shares to a near seven-week high yesterday following a Portuguese debt auction, while Marks & Spencer rose on better-than-expected sales, lifting sentiment in retailers. The FTSE 100 ended up 34.07 points, or 0.6 per cent, at 6,041.13, its highest closing level since 18 February. Lex van Dam, hedge fund manager [...]
FTSE nears seven-year high as M&S boosts retail sector April 6, 2011 BANKS helped drive Britain’s top shares to a near seven-week high yesterday following a Portuguese debt auction, while Marks & Spencer rose on better-than-expected sales, lifting sentiment in retailers. The FTSE 100 ended up 34.07 points, or 0.6 per cent, at 6,041.13, its highest closing level since 18 February. Lex van Dam, hedge fund manager [...]
Cairn posts record sales March 22, 2011 CAIRN ENERGY posted record full-year sales and raised hopes that its long-running disposal of its Indian unit will get government approval yesterday. The Edinburgh-based oil and gas explorer agreed last August to sell up to 51 per cent of Cairn India for up to $9.6bn (£5.9bn) to rival Vedanata – but is still waiting for [...]
Green stealth tax bombshell stuns business October 21, 2010 BUSINESS leaders were left stunned by what they called a green “stealth tax” following news by the government on Wednesday that it would keep the revenue raised from the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) rather than recycle cash raised back into scheme. Richard Lambert, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), attacked the proposals saying: [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING April 5, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES KEY INVESTORS FLOCK TO GLENCORE FLOTATION Demand from key institutional investors for shares in Glencore on its flotation has been well above the group’s expectations, particularly in Asia and the Middle East, according to bankers involved in the initial public offering. The Swiss-based company plans to allocate between 20 and 30 per cent [...]
Maths skills secret to rise in FTSE ranks April 26, 2011 A BACKGROUND in finance is becoming the best route to landing a chief executive’s job at a blue chip firm, according to findings from this year’s Robert Half study of FTSE 100 chief executives. Nearly half (49 per cent) of serving chief executives in the current FTSE 100 Index have financial backgrounds – such as [...]
EDF hikes its energy prices February 3, 2011 Energy supplier EDF said it will hike its prices yesterday, with electricity bills rising by 7.5 per cent and gas by 6.5 per cent. The firm is the last of the UK’s big suppliers to introduce higher prices, which will come into effect on 2 March. EDF has blamed rising wholesale costs for the increase. [...]
EDF hikes its energy prices February 3, 2011 Energy supplier EDF said it will hike its prices yesterday, with electricity bills rising by 7.5 per cent and gas by 6.5 per cent. The firm is the last of the UK’s big suppliers to introduce higher prices, which will come into effect on 2 March. EDF has blamed rising wholesale costs for the increase. [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING March 29, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES NETWORK RAIL AIMS TO TAKE TRACTION OUT OF BONUS ISSUE Network Rail will seek to allay long-standing concerns about its executive bonuses by putting a new system to the vote of its 100 members tomorrow. But the scheme, intended to provide a longer term solution to the issue, has been criticised by the [...]
UK rate rise delay now expected by markets April 12, 2011 YESTERDAY’S drop in the consumer price index (CPI) inflation figure for March, from 4.4 to 4 per cent, surprised the markets. This sent sterling tumbling as expectations of a May rate rise evaporated. Weak retail figures compounded the gloomy outlook for the pound. Many traders seem to have been tipped off prior to the announcement, [...]