The Tipster March 22, 2010 WHEN chancellor Alistair Darling delivers his budget tomorrow afternoon, he is expected to confirm the government’s support for an international levy on banks. And as if the outlook couldn’t look more overcast for banks, Virgin has funding in place to buy a swathe of high street branches from RBS, which should increase the competition in [...]
Demand for bank shares lifts FTSE 100 to a 22-month high April 15, 2010 THE FTSE 100 share index hit a 22-month high for the second day yesterday, as US data and earnings reports fanned hopes that a recovery in the world’s largest economy was gathering pace, with banks also buoyed by bullish broker comment. The FTSE 100 closed 28.76 points higher at 5,825.01 – its highest close since [...]
Miners and Vodafone help FTSE 100 book gains as Carphone goes it alone March 29, 2010 BRITAIN’S top share index ended 0.1 per cent higher yesterday as gains in miners on the back of firmer metals prices and a stronger Vodafone outpaced falls in banking stocks. The FTSE 100 closed 7.64 points higher at 5,710.66 after falling 0.4 per cent on Friday. The index has gained more than 12 per cent [...]
Syrian mulls £400m bid for Liverpool August 1, 2010 A FORMER Syrian international footballer has become the latest businessman to be linked with a bid for Liverpool Football Club. Yahya Kirdi, who claims to be fronting a consortium of wealthy Arab investors, is understood to be in talks with the club’s much-maligned American owners. There was speculation earlier this year that Kirdi, who is [...]
Vive la France: banks are looking good value April 26, 2010 RISKS to the financial sector are finally starting to abate, according to a report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) published earlier this month. It also reduced its estimates of bank writedowns caused by the financial crisis by $0.5 trillion. But banks still face a mountain of challenges, and the future of the sector is [...]
BAT criticises UK taxes as it posts jump in profits February 25, 2010 BRITISH American Tobacco (BAT) has warned that the UK’s tax regime is putting off some top foreign executives as it posted a sales and profit hike. The company behind Dunhill, Lucky Strike and Pall Mall cigarettes announced a 17 per cent leap in annual sales to £14.2bn. Profits for 2009 rose 15 per cent to [...]
Banks weigh on the FTSE as Credit Suisse warns of future funding crisis March 9, 2010 BRITAIN’S top share index closed a touch lower yesterday, as a weakening in banks after a cautious research note from Credit Suisse slightly outpaced buoyant oil issues and drugmakers. The FTSE 100 ended down 4.42 points, or 0.1 per cent, at 5,602.30, having closed up 0.1 per cent on Monday, its highest close since 2 [...]
FTSE 100 peaks at 21-month high led by banks and energy March 23, 2010 BRITAIN’S top share index rose 0.5 per cent yesterday, hitting a fresh 21-month closing high, led by commodity, enErgy and banking stocks as fears over monetary tightening effects ebbed. The FTSE 100 index ended 29.09 points higher at 5,673.63, after hitting an intra-day high of 5,695.94. It was the highest close since June 19 2008. [...]
Government sparks row with call for plain packet cigarettes January 31, 2010 TOBACCO manufacturers are gearing up for battle over government plans to cut smoking by only allowing cigarettes to be sold in plain packaging. British American Tobacco said yesterday that it would put up a “huge fight” over such a move, which it said would encourage criminals to mass produce fake products and leave purchasers with [...]
London’s top shares tumble as oil and mining companies slip February 25, 2010 BRITAIN’S leading shares fell 1.2 per cent yesterday, sliding back in the afternoon in tandem with New York stocks, with miners and oils the main drag as commodity prices fell back pressured by a firmer US dollar. By the close, the FTSE 100 index was 64.69 points lower at 5,278.23, reversing again after Wednesday’s 0.5 [...]