Hoare Govett’s larger clients look poachable February 27, 2012 JEFFERIES Group, the global investment firm that has picked up the Hoare Govett name and around 50 of its remaining employees, has done a good job in hanging on to many of the firm’s stars. So, corporate advisers like Paul Nicholls and Chris Zeal have made the move across to the new firm, as has [...]
Oil stocks lead the FTSE 100 lower despite good gains in bank shares March 27, 2012 HEAVYWEIGHT oil stocks dragged Britain’s top shares lower yesterday, reversing earlier gains that had been driven by strength in banks and miners, as investors proved loath to push the blue-chip index back up to 2012 highs. The FTSE 100 index closed down 33.15 points, or 0.6 per cent, at 5,869.55, near session lows having swung [...]
Construction picks up in December January 4, 2012 Growth in the construction sector unexpectedly gained pace in December, a survey of purchasing managers showed on Wednesday, providing a rare glimmer of hope that the economy can still avoid recession. The Markit/CIPS construction PMI rose to 53.2 from 52.3 in November, confounding economists’ expectations for a fall to 51.7. “The survey suggests that the [...]
Real potential is in emerging markets February 13, 2012 WHEN I first met Alastair Lukies back in 2009, things were not looking good for his company, the mobile payments provider Monitise. The firm’s share price was languishing at 5p, way below its IPO price of 21.25p, and it was operating in not one but two troubled sectors: tech and financial services. To make matters [...]
The man with the Big Four in his sights April 9, 2012 THERE is much that separates BDO, Britain’s number six accountancy firm, from the so-called Big Four. One of the lesser known differences is that Simon Michaels, the managing partner of BDO, didn’t go to university, instead taking a training place at the accountant immediately after his A-Levels in 1987. It certainly hasn’t held him back. [...]
The man with the Big Four in his sights April 9, 2012 THERE is much that separates BDO, Britain’s number six accountancy firm, from the so-called Big Four. One of the lesser known differences is that Simon Michaels, the managing partner of BDO, didn’t go to university, instead taking a training place at the accountant immediately after his A-Levels in 1987. It certainly hasn’t held him back. [...]
PROPERTY NEWS January 26, 2012 IRISH ARTIST MAKES HOUSE BUILT OF SHREDDED EUROS An unemployed Irish artist has built a home from the shredded remains of €1.4bn (£1.2bn), a monument to the “madness” he says has been wrought on Ireland by the single currency. Frank Buckley built the apartment in the lobby of a Dublin office building that has lain [...]
Balfour Beatty in £800m government contract win January 3, 2012 INFRASTRUCTURE group Balfour Beatty has won preferred bidder status for an £800m Essex waste contract. The project is a 28-year public-private partnership (PPP) contract to design, build and operate a new sustainable waste treatment facility for Essex County Council and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. The group will invest around £7m, or around 30 per cent of [...]
Universities can be powerhouses of UK innovation February 27, 2012 THE government is aiming high with the publication of the Wilson Review today – a comprehensive report with the aim of making the UK the best place in the world for businesses and universities to work together. In the shadow of recommendations of how the sector can best do this, familiar voices will undoubtedly emerge [...]
Salway steps down as boss of Land Secs January 24, 2012 FRANCIS Salway, the long-standing chief executive of Land Securities, is stepping down after eight years at the helm of Britain’s largest commercial property company, The industry veteran will leave on 31 March at the end of the financial year and will hand the reins to Rob Noel, managing director of the firm’s London portfolio. Salway [...]