GDP and consumer confidence rises reflect UK growth – London Report February 22, 2015 GDP growth is this week likely to be confirmed at 0.5 per cent quarter-on-quarter for the final three months of 2014. That growth is likely to be reflected further on Friday with consumer confidence for February at a 12-year high. The corporate week starts today with reports from Associated British Foods, Bovis Homes, HSBC and [...]
Car review: The new Porsche Cayenne GTS is a two-tonne ballerina on ice February 16, 2015 Ice, snow and a 434bhp, 163mph SUV might seem like a combination best suited to a disaster movie, but this is no ordinary SUV. Porsche has brought its latest Cayenne in GTS form to its winter driving centre in Skellefteå, northern Sweden, even though in the UK it’s more likely to experience a nice heated [...]
Energy, oil and Sky’s football bill hurt FTSE – London Report February 11, 2015 THE UK and Gas index fell 0.6 per cent after crude dropped 2.3 per cent on expectations of persistent oversupply, a stronger dollar and a report showing US crude stockpiles at a record high yesterday. Meanwhile the main index was dragged lower by energy company movements as well as the fallout from Sky bidding for [...]
Car review: The BMW X6 M is a sledgehammer on stilts February 9, 2015 There’s no point wisecracking about BMW’s coupe-like X6 SUV – BMW has heard all the jokes. And while you might find this “lifestyle” proposition a 4×4 too far, its German maker is happy to have the last laugh; the X6 sells well, just not in traditional 4×4 markets. You’ll need to look further afield to [...]
FTSE creeps higher as miners dig deep after price recovery – London Report January 28, 2015 BRITAIN’S top share index edged slightly higher yesterday, with miners gaining ground following a recovery in prices of key industrial metals such as copper and aluminium. The blue chip FTSE 100 index, which climbed to its highest level since mid-September on Tuesday, closed 0.2 per cent higher at 6,825.94 points. The UK mining index rose [...]
Car review: Why the Mercedes-Maybach S600 is far more than a car January 26, 2015 Luxury is a word bandied around for just about every new car launch these days. Mercedes is the real deal. When is a car not a car? The primary purpose of the humble automobile is to mobilise people; to allow them to transport themselves to their destinations. But some cars leave that idea so far [...]
Best of the Brokers for 22 January 2015 January 21, 2015 To appear in Best of the Brokers, email your research to notes@cityam.com BHP BILLITON S&P Capital has downgraded Anglo-Australian mining and commodities giant BHP Billiton to “sell” from “hold”. “We view the increase in production volumes and planned operational cost reductions as positive news, but expect lower commodity prices to weigh significantly on group sales,” [...]
Market lifted by upbeat view of Christmas retail – London Report January 19, 2015 BRITAIN’S main share index rose yesterday, extending a strong run, with retailers such as Tesco among the biggest gainers from a more upbeat view of the sector after a better-than-expected Christmas period. Electronics retailer Dixons Carphone rose 4.4 per cent, the top riser on the FTSE 100 index, with traders citing optimism ahead of the [...]
Car review: The new Aston Martin Vanquish Volante – the same but better January 19, 2015 The new model Vanquish Volante shows that the only thing better than an Aston Martin is another Aston Martin. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know that the Volante version of the Aston Martin Vanquish is a relatively new car. It first appeared late in 2013, with UK sales kicking off early in 2014, so [...]
Ever wished you’d been a Formula One driver? You still can, today, by lunchtime January 18, 2015 The road to becoming a grand prix driver is lined with potholes big enough to swallow those lightweight, yet thunderous racing cars. There are 22 seats available on the Formula One grid and to earn one you need huge amounts of talent, money, luck, and quite often a blood relative who’s already been there before [...]