Risk appetite spikes in 2011 April 10, 2011 RISK appetite at FTSE companies has hit its highest rate since a leading survey of chief financial officers began in 2007, it was revealed today. Four in ten (41 per cent) CFOs think this is a good time to take on greater risk on their firms’ balance sheets, according to a Deloitte survey – up [...]
Business can help offset UK consumer dip April 17, 2011 MISERY on the British high street will be further confirmed by this week’s official retail sales data, economists expect, with attention turning to business investment to offset the slump in consumer spending. Business investment will increase by 12 per cent this year and by a further 14 per cent in 2012, the Ernst and Young [...]
THE WEEK AHEAD in association with GFT April 17, 2011 COMPANY NEWS ● On Tuesday, RBS will hold its AGM. The Treasury, on behalf of British taxpayers, still owns the majority of its shares. ● Tesco will report on Tuesday. Every little helps. Fellow FTSE 100 companies Reed Elsevier and Hargreaves Lansdown will be posting first quarter and third quarter results respectively. It’s a busy [...]
Kingfisher in warning over tough times September 16, 2010 KINGFISHER yesterday said that it had beaten its first half profit forecast – but the home improvement giant warned that consumer confidence would not be fully restored until at least 2012. The B&Q owner made a pre-tax profit of £354m in the 26 weeks to 31 July, which it achieved through cost cutting rather than [...]
Kingfisher in warning over tough times September 16, 2010 KINGFISHER yesterday said that it had beaten its first half profit forecast – but the home improvement giant warned that consumer confidence would not be fully restored until at least 2012. The B&Q owner made a pre-tax profit of £354m in the 26 weeks to 31 July, which it achieved through cost cutting rather than [...]
Oils and financials weigh on FTSE offsetting miners’ rally November 30, 2010 BRITAIN’S leading share index retreated yesterday with a rally by miners more than offset by falls in oils and financials as investors fretted over Eurozone debt problems during a choppy session. The FTSE 100 closed down 22.68 points, or 0.4 per cent, at 5,528.27, a level not seen since the middle of September. The blue [...]
CITY VIEWS: ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF A COUNTRY SUCH AS IRELAND OR SPAIN DEFAULTING? September 30, 2010 MARK GROVES | EIB “Not directly in terms of my work however a major country defaulting would affect everyone through the direct country risk and the risk from the exposure our clients have. The knock-on effects on the financial services industry as a whole would most certainly be a cause for concern.” YASMINE MOEZINIA | [...]
UK trade deficit expected despite stronger exports March 8, 2011 THE UK is undergoing a “two speed” recovery, with exporting companies set to take advantage of greater demand abroad than at home, a survey revealed today. “Confidence in international trade is robust as exporters thrive on a global rebound but confidence in the current UK economic climate is at a record low as consumer demand [...]
Sainsbury’s October 6, 2010 SAINSBURY’S was a little more low key about its sales rise and consumer sentiment than Tesco which posted sales figures earlier in the week. With Sir Terry Leahy signing off with his last set of results it is hardly surprising that Tesco has stolen some of Sainsbury’s thunder. However, Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King echoed [...]
Sainsbury’s October 6, 2010 SAINSBURY’S was a little more low key about its sales rise and consumer sentiment than Tesco which posted sales figures earlier in the week. With Sir Terry Leahy signing off with his last set of results it is hardly surprising that Tesco has stolen some of Sainsbury’s thunder. However, Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King echoed [...]