Vehicle sales at GM fell 45pc in September October 1, 2009 GENERAL Motors (GM) yesterday said its US September auto sales fell 45 per cent, pressured by weak consumer confidence, low inventory levels and the end of the US government “cash for clunkers” incentives. GM said sales fell to 156,673 vehicles in September, from 284,300 a year earlier when company discounts supported sales. But the carmaker [...]
Confidence high among firms February 7, 2010 THE slow economic recovery has not dampened the spirits of UK business owners, a survey by business adviser RSM Tenon has found. Many of the survey respondents said the situation will not take long to improve, with 59 per cent of those polled indicating that they felt confident about potential opportunities for their businesses over [...]
Dunelm sales surge in downturn September 15, 2009 Homewares retailer Dunelm yesterday reported a surge in recent sales growth and said it planned to create up to 1,000 jobs this financial year, boosting its shares 16 per cent to a new high. Dunelm, which sells products like curtains, bedding, blinds, rugs and lighting, said sales at stores open at least a year jumped [...]
Memo to analysts: you’re too bullish April 25, 2010 TO all the analysts out there, it is time to take a cold shower – that, at least, is the logical conclusion to be drawn from the latest issue of the Quarterly journal published by McKinsey & Co, the Jermyn Street-based consultancy. Ten years ago, the firm discovered that analysts were on average much too [...]
Rexam slips into the red in downturn February 17, 2010 CAN maker Rexam slipped into the red last year as hard-pressed consumers cut spending on drinks, although it said cost-cutting should help it improve performance in 2010. Rexam, whose customers include Coca-Cola, Pepsi and SABMiller, said it made a pre-tax loss of £59m in the year to 31 December, compared with profits of £240m last year. [...]
Branson backs Tory plans to slash spending faster February 16, 2010 SIR RICHARD Branson yesterday said the next government should start cutting the deficit immediately after the election, in comments that appeared to back Tory policy. “The next government, whatever party that is, must set out a plan to reduce the bulk of the deficit over a parliament by cutting wasteful spending and must not put [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING March 30, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES M&A SURGE IN ASIA WHILE THE US AND EUROPE SUFFER Mergers and acquisitions boomed in Asia in the first quarter in sharp contrast to a slump in deal volume in Europea and the US, underlining a global shift in activity in the wake of the credit crisis. The value of global M&A overall [...]
FED IS STILL FUELLING THE RISK TRADE November 18, 2009 JANE FOLEYRESEARCH DIRECTOR, FOREX.COM CAUTIOUS expectations for growth in the world’s major economies haave seen market commentators predict that risk appetite will be pared back over the coming months. But despite all this talk, the risk trade suffered only a brief decline following the shock rise in the US unemployment rate to 10.2 per cent [...]
Copper looks red hot for next year November 15, 2009 COPPER’S status as a widely used industrial metal meant it was always going to do well in 2009. Restocking, East Asian growth and growing confidence in the global economic recovery saw the price of the red metal on the London Metal Exchange (LME) rise to as high as $6,700 a tonne earlier in the year. [...]
US markets flourish as positive news floods in April 5, 2010 Shares of natural resources companies led the gains on expectations that an improving economy would drive up demand. US front-month crude oil futures topped $86 a barrel and gave a big lift to energy shares, with Exxon Mobil Corp up almost 1 per cent and Chevron Corp up 1.3 per cent. The S&P energy index [...]