Economic news drives quiet week for trading March 25, 2012 TODAY Investors in highly volatile oil and exploration stocks could face surprises this week, as some small-cap firms report, but the UK market should start off quietly. Volume may pick up in the afternoon with pending home sales from the US. Given mildly disappointing existing home sales figures last week, pending home sales could also [...]
Economic news drives quiet week for trading March 25, 2012 TODAY Investors in highly volatile oil and exploration stocks could face surprises this week, as some small-cap firms report, but the UK market should start off quietly. Volume may pick up in the afternoon with pending home sales from the US. Given mildly disappointing existing home sales figures last week, pending home sales could also [...]
European woes put a spanner in Wolseley’s plan March 27, 2012 PLUMBING and heating merchant Wolseley has revealed higher profits on the back of continued strong growth in the US, but warned of challenging economic conditions in Europe. The owner of Plumb Centre and Bathstore as well as Ferguson in the US reported pre-tax profits of £250m for the six months to the end of January, [...]
European woes put a spanner in Wolseley’s plan March 27, 2012 PLUMBING and heating merchant Wolseley has revealed higher profits on the back of continued strong growth in the US, but warned of challenging economic conditions in Europe. The owner of Plumb Centre and Bathstore as well as Ferguson in the US reported pre-tax profits of £250m for the six months to the end of January, [...]
Debenhams sales up March 20, 2012 Debenhams, Britain’s second largest department store group, showed its resilience in tough markets with an improving sales performance in its first half. The firm, which trades from 167 stores in the UK, Ireland and Denmark and over 60 franchise stores in 24 international markets, said on Tuesday sales at stores open over a year rose [...]
End of tax break prompts house price jump April 4, 2012 HOUSE prices sprang upwards last month as first time buyers rushed to beat the expiry of a temporary break on stamp duty, yet the market as a whole remains sluggish. Prices jumped by 2.2 per cent in March, the Halifax reported yesterday, bouncing back from February’s 0.4 per cent monthly decline. Yet the average cost [...]
Mid-sized firms pick up profits in technology and outsourcing April 1, 2012 THE FASTEST-GROWING mid-sized companies in Britain have brushed off the downturn over the last four years to increase sales by an average 44 per cent, according to research by Investec. Energy, commodities and financial companies feature prominently among rising private businesses, with London-based solar firm Alternergy topping Investec’s Hot 100 table, released today. The research [...]
Mid-sized firms pick up profits in technology and outsourcing April 1, 2012 THE FASTEST-GROWING mid-sized companies in Britain have brushed off the downturn over the last four years to increase sales by an average 44 per cent, according to research by Investec. Energy, commodities and financial companies feature prominently among rising private businesses, with London-based solar firm Alternergy topping Investec’s Hot 100 table, released today. The research [...]
FTSE falls as fear stalks markets May 16, 2012 Commodity stocks took a hammering this morning as investors ran for cover with the prospect of fresh Greek elections adding to the uncertainty stalking markets. The prospect of Greece exiting the Eurozone were mounting as the country struggles to avoid economic meltdown. But in positive UK news official figures showed a drop in the unemployment [...]
Bellway profits jump on robust London growth March 27, 2012 HOUSEBUILDER Bellway has said profits before tax more than doubled in the first half of the year as higher selling prices and a strong demand for homes in the south continued to underpin growth. The company, which operates from over 200 sales outlets in the UK, reported a 69 per cent rise in pre-tax profit to [...]