Institutions get a stronger hand in new issues April 14, 2014 THE PENDULUM of power in the new issues market could swing back to institutional investors this summer after a spate of companies floated so far this year sank underwater. Big name issues in London including Brit Group, Just Eat, AO World and Pets at Home have all fallen below the price they floated at in [...]
Lloyds probes its cashpoint and IT failings January 27, 2014 LLOYDS Banking Group yesterday launched an investigation into the IT failings that led to thousands of customers losing access to their cash on Sunday. The glitch affected debit cards and ATMs from the Lloyds, TSB, Halifax and Bank of Scotland brands. They all use the same IT systems. Paul Pester, boss of TSB, which is about [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 29 January 2014 January 28, 2014 FINANCIAL TIMES AO.com aims for £1bn valuation AO.com, the online electricals retailer, is aiming for a £1bn valuation when it floats on the London Stock Exchange later this year – more than treble the market capitalisation it was hoping to achieve just four months ago. Several investors have told the Financial Times that the retailer, [...]
Lloyds returns to profit and ups bonus pool 8pc February 13, 2014 Lloyds Banking Group has reported it returned to profit in 2013 – the first time since its bailout six years ago. Statutory profit before tax stood at £415m for the year – an 140 per cent increase from the £606m loss it made in 2012. The results, said boss Antonio Horta-Osorio, confirm the 33 per [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 20 February 2014 February 19, 2014 FINANCIAL TIMES ‘Boomer bulge’ hits US jobs data The drop in the percentage of Americans at work in recent years is often cast as a story about the long-term unemployed who give up trying to find jobs. But declining workforce participation rates, which have sharply reduced headline unemployment calculations in the world’s largest economy, could [...]
Salmond fuels salmon demand November 18, 2013 FLAT whites are so last year – those on the cutting edge of beverages will be quaffing green vegetable drinks in 2014, according to the consumer clairvoyants at Mintel. The research firm said yesterday that new EU rules on caffeine labelling will push drinkers away from coffee and energy drinks and into natural alternatives. Its [...]
City Moves for 17 February 2014 | Who’s switching jobs February 17, 2014 Baker Botts The law firm has announced the appointment of Robin Mizrahi as a senior partner in its global projects group in London. He specialises in project finance, energy and infrastructure in emerging markets, and joins from Chadbourne & Parke. Investec Asset Finance Andrew Woodward has joined Investec Asset Finance as head of materials handling. [...]
FCA whacks Lloyds with record £28m fine December 11, 2013 City watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has slapped Lloyds Bank with a £28m fine "for serious failings in their controls over sales incentive schemes". This is the largest fine ever imposed by the regulator or its predecessor, the Financial Services Authority. The failings affected branches of Lloyds TSB, Bank of Scotland and Halifax, it [...]
Where to put your money to see real returns on cash April 15, 2014 Current accounts offer eye-catching rates, but remember the tax advantages of Isas WITH inflation dipping to 1.6 per cent on the consumer price index in March, and competition starting to hot up among retail banks, many current accounts are now offering the chance to earn decent real returns on cash. As many as 10 new [...]
City Moves for 28 November 2013 | Who’s switching jobs November 27, 2013 Harrington Cooper The fund distribution firm has appointed Henry Foster as sales manager in its discretionary sales team. He joins from Neptune Investment Management. Foster has also held roles at Citigroup Asset Management and Western Asset Management. MassMutual Gary Smith has been appointed head of sovereign wealth funds and official institutions for MassMutual’s asset management [...]