London Report: UK’s corporate calendar packed in results season July 28, 2013 THE CORPORATE calendar is packed this week, as businesses including ITV, BP, Lloyds, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland update the market amid a swathe of other results. The week begins with figures from Fidessa Group, Hammerson, InterContinental Hotels Group, Intertek Group, JKX Oil & Gas, Keller Group, Senior, Vernalis, Reckitt Benckiser Group, National Grid, [...]
The veteran who is back doing deals | City A.M. October 7, 2013 Mike Slade speaks to Kasmira Jefford as he nears 30 years at the helm of property company Helical Bar MY INTERVIEWEE is twenty minutes late when he arrives for our meeting at Helical Bar’s headquarters, tucked away in a quiet street off Mayfair’s Berkeley square. Mike Slade, a tall 67-year-old sweeps in, all apologies (“Darling, [...]
The veteran who is back doing deals October 6, 2013 Mike Slade speaks to Kasmira Jefford as he nears 30 years at the helm of property company Helical Bar MY INTERVIEWEE is twenty minutes late when he arrives for our meeting at Helical Bar’s headquarters, tucked away in a quiet street off Mayfair’s Berkeley square. Mike Slade, a tall 67-year-old sweeps in, all apologies (“Darling, [...]
London Report: Syria fears and Vodafone deal dampen FTSE September 3, 2013 BRITAIN’S top share index fell yesterday, weighed down by telecoms giant Vodafone disappointing with the terms of a sale deal with partner Verizon and by fresh speculation about a US-led attack on Syria. Vodafone was among the most heavily traded stocks at three times its daily average. It fell five per cent, knocking 20 points [...]
Thomson Local bought out of administration August 15, 2013 DIRECTORY services brand Thomson Local was bought out of administration by two serial entrepreneurs yesterday. Thomson Local, which sends out 22m copies of its UK business directory and maintains several websites, appointed Grant Thornton as administrator on Wednesday, following several tough years. The Hampshire-based firm posted a net loss of £732,000 for 2011, [...]
Before the open – 15/08 August 15, 2013 The Nikkei dropped sharply last night after finance minister Taro Aso denied prime minister Shinzo Abe was not considering a corporate tax cut – as the Nikkei newspaper had previously reported on Tuesday. Many have said such a tax cut would be a huge shot in the arm for Japan, which is languishing under huge [...]
Soaring services sector drives business activity to record high August 5, 2013 HOPES that the recovery is picking up steam were lifted further yesterday, after the UK’s businesses reported the strongest month of growth since records began. Markit’s surveys of the services, manufacturing and construction sectors in July got the most positive responses ever, bolstering recent signs that the economy is returning to sustained expansion. The unparalleled [...]
Taylor Wimpey enjoys boost from government lending schemes but doesn’t see planning system improving July 31, 2013 Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey has reported a 42.1 per cent increase in first half pre-tax profit to £109m citing improved consumer sentiment and government mortgage schemes. Chief executive Pete Redfern said there was a “meaningful improvement in the housing market” in the first half of the year and that Taylor Wimpey is “ideally positioned to perform [...]
Flat Coca-Cola figures snap S&P’s bull run July 16, 2013 THE S&P 500 snapped its eight-day winning streak yesterday after disappointing sales from Coca-Cola, while investors turned cautious on the day before the Federal Reserve chairman’s congressional testimony. The market’s pullback came a day after both the Dow and the S&P 500 ended at record closing highs for the third consecutive session. Yesterday’s volume was [...]
The BBC cuts running costs in spite of a turbulent year July 16, 2013 THE BBC cut its running costs further in the last financial year, which saw three probes into Jimmy Savile, extensive Olympics coverage and the move to New Broadcasting House. The broadcaster’s annual report said it delivered £580m efficiency savings in the final year of its five-year cost-cutting drive, exceeding its goal to save three per [...]