FTSE 100 index opens higher as miners extend gains December 23, 2015 A dead cat bounce by miners yesterday has been extended, leading the FTSE to a strong opening on a shortened week of trading. The UK's blue-chip index opened 1.03 per cent higher at 6,145 points, led by Anglo American and Glencore. Anglo American opened 3.59 per cent higher at 307.83p per share, while Glencore rose 4.25 per [...]
UK pensions: Defined benefit pension schemes deficit edging downwards in private sector companies January 4, 2016 UK private companies have marginally narrowed the deficit they are running on their defined benefit (DB) pension schemes. Figures from JLT Employee Benefits show that, at 31 December 2015, funding for DB pensions in all UK private sector pension schemes stood at a £228bn deficit. By comparison, at 31 December 2014, the deficit was £248bn. [...]
Strong dividend payouts bolster the first quarter April 19, 2015 SHAREHOLDER payouts had their strongest underlying growth for three years last quarter, aided by a stronger dollar and robust oil sector dividends. Stripping out special dividends and delayed dividends, payouts rose 10.4 per cent for the first quarter of this year, putting 2015 on course to be the best year for dividend growth since 2012, [...]
Mining groups push market up as Lloyds falls – London Report May 18, 2015 Britain’s top share index nudged higher yesterday, thanks to gains in major mining companies, but it was held back by falls in Lloyds and pharmaceuticals company Hikma. The FTSE 100 index gave up early gains to trade up 8.38 points, or 0.1 per cent higher, at 6,968.87 by the close. The index hit a high [...]
General Election 2015: 103 business leaders sign anti-Labour letter March 31, 2015 Over 100 business leaders have warned that a Labour government would "threaten jobs and deter investment" in a letter to be published in The Telegraph tomorrow. The letter, signed by 103 business bosses, praises the Conservative government which it says has "been good for business and has pursued policies which have supported investment and job [...]
HSBC confirms PwC will take over as auditor from KPMG this month March 18, 2015 HSBC will replace auditor KPMG with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) after the latter announced its resignation from the position as the Company's auditor from 31 March 2015, the bank confirmed today. PwC's appointment will be put to shareholder's at the bank's annual general meeting held on 24 April this year. HSBC originally announced its intentions to switch [...]
Ladies who don’t lunch: Ingrid talks people power, performance, and rising to the top October 2, 2015 Maike Currie talks to Ingrid Waterfield about taking the road less travelled When I arrive at One Lombard Street, a favourite haunt of City-types just a stone’s throw from the Bank of England, Ingrid Waterfield is already seated and waiting. I am not late but I am slightly flustered. She, on the other hand, [...]
Britain should vote for Brexit before the inevitable Eurozone meltdown February 23, 2016 Despite David Cameron’s embarrassing imitation of Oliver Twist in Brussels last week, his negotiations ended up mired in the minutiae of trivial amendments to the UK’s relationship with Europe. Small restrictions to child benefit and vague wording about exemption from a common currency and “ever closer union” are the thin gruel that our hapless Prime [...]
At the close: FTSE 100 index closes down despite miners making gains December 9, 2015 The FTSE 100 index closed down today despite a number of miners shaking off a volatile start to the day to close higher. The index closed 0.14 per cent down at 6,126 points, even though gains were seen at companies including Glencore, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, as well as Ashtead Group. "It would appear that a weaker US [...]
Mining shares boosted by new China support – London Report April 20, 2015 MINING stocks helped Britain’s top share index rebound yesterday after China moved to support stuttering growth in the world’s biggest consumer of metals. The FTSE 350 mining index rose two per cent, the top sectoral gainer, after China cut the amount of cash that banks must hold as reserves. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed [...]