Don’t write off the big guns of corporate broking yet September 27, 2012 WHEN Bob Diamond quit Barclays in July, there were many, myself included, who predicted that the bank’s investment business would struggle here on in. Longer-term that may indeed be the case, but the message so far from the world of UK corporate broking is showing a different story. Two big broking mandates, that of Severn [...]
America’s vibrant networks leave it ideally placed to fend off rising China August 14, 2012 THE last three Olympics have seen a titanic battle between the US and China to head the medals table. If you combine the total of the last three Games, China stands just ahead, with 121 golds to the United States’s 116. But, the US topped the table in both 2004 and 2012, while China edges [...]
EDF to open up UK nuclear projects for partners July 31, 2012 French state-controlled utility EDF is considering looking for more partners for its nuclear projects in Britain to help it share costs and limit its debt burden, its chief financial officer said on Thursday. EDF, along with junior partner Centrica, plans to build four new 1,600-megawatt European pressurised water reactors as Britain looks to reform its [...]
Delayed Saudi jet deal weighs on BAE profit August 2, 2012 BAE Systems said delays in completing a substantial deal with Saudi Arabia and lower spending by European and American military customers dented profit, in a sector facing further government defence cuts. Europe’s largest defence contractor, which will build Britain’s next generation of nuclear-armed submarines, on Thursday said earnings before interest, taxes and amortisation (Ebita) fell [...]
Investors eye stimulus as GDP falls again in troubled Eurozone August 14, 2012 THE EUROZONE’S economy shrank in the second quarter, official data showed yesterday, although powerhouse Germany continued to grow at a slow pace. But markets actually rose on the poor figures as investors hoped the fall in output would pile more pressure on Eurozone leaders to stimulate the economy. The German DAX jumped 0.87 per cent [...]
FTSE 100 up on improved European economic data August 14, 2012 Britain’s blue chip index opened up this morning, driven by improved economic data from Germany and France. In early trading, the FTSE 100 was up, tracking rises in Asia, as hopes were raised ahead of upcoming positive economic data from Europe. Insurer Standard Life was one of the morning’s biggest risers, adding 5.18 per cent [...]
THE TIPSTER | Talvivaara wants to finish a bad Run August 13, 2012 SHAREHOLDERS of Finnish miner Talvivaara won’t like looking at a chart for the year – it shows a continuation of 2011’s sharp downtrend. The share price has recently plunged to new depths. Continual forecast downgrades and worries about commodity prices have hurt the stock, and it will take a significant turnaround in outlook for the [...]
Retail split may come early for an eager Lloyds July 22, 2012 LLOYDS could announce this week that it plans to accelerate the ring-fence separation of its retail banking arm from its investment banking operations, it was reported yesterday. The bank already has fewer investment operations than the UK’s other major banks, which could allow it to split into two parts well ahead of the expected 2019 [...]
Saudi deal and military spend hit BAE Systems August 2, 2012 BAE SYSTEMS said yesterday delays in completing a substantial deal with Saudi Arabia and lower spending by European and American military customers dented profit, in a sector facing further government defence cuts. Europe’s largest defence contractor, which will build Britain’s next generation of nuclear-armed submarines, yesterday said earnings before interest, taxes and amortisation (Ebita) fell [...]
The unravelling of China’s exceptionalism October 9, 2012 MARKETS across the world were given a boost yesterday when the Chinese central bank pumped tonnes of liquidity into the country’s banking system for the second time in a fortnight. The People’s Bank of China injected 265bn yuan (£26bn) into the money market via reverse purchase agreements, adding to the 2.418 trillion yuan offered since [...]