Shares in Debenhams leapt this morning on solid annual results. But analysts are still waiting to see what the new chief exec will do October 27, 2016 Department store Debenhams' share price headed north by nearly four per cent this morning after revealing a decline in full year profits that still beat analyst expectations. The figures Gross transactional values, basically the company's sales before taking into account discounting, were up by 1.3 per cent to £2.9bn. However revenues – what it says on the [...]
Horse racing betting: O’Brien can bridge Great Voltigeur gap with Idaho August 16, 2016 Since Powerscourt’s victory in 2003, Aidan O’Brien has tried to land Wednesday afternoon’s Betway Great Voltigeur (3.05pm) with 19 horses. He’s responsible for three of the six runners in the £160,000 Group Two contest today and I think his persistence will be rewarded. Bahrain Trophy winner Housesofparliament and Gordon Stakes runner-up The Major General look [...]
The Punter: “I can still smell those Derby Day barbeques!” June 2, 2016 Bill Esdaile talks to former jockey Hayley Turner ahead of tomorrow’s Investec Derby and previews the famous race Widely considered Britain’s most successful female jockey ever, Hayley Turner will attend Epsom Downs this weekend as an ambassador having hung up her riding boots a little over six months ago with over 750 winners to her [...]
Investec Comment: Five rules for businesses on social media August 23, 2015 Whether it’s Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or Pinterest, social media has become an essential channel for businesses of all sizes to reach customers, potential customers, and wider society. The past few years have seen an intensification of the social trend. The ability of a company to access consumers directly (and vice versa), to be in the [...]
Moeen Ali promises Pakistan’s batsmen that a rough ride awaits after leading England’s revival with his third Test century August 11, 2016 Centurion Moeen Ali has predicted an uncomfortable day for Pakistan’s batsmen after England successfully initiated a counter-attack from a position of peril during the opening stages of the fourth and final Investec Test at the Kia Oval. England recovered from 110-5 to post 328 all out as Moeen, who was dropped on nine and 13, chalked [...]
England don’t deserve to top Test rankings yet, says skipper Alastair Cook after 10-wicket humbling by Pakistan August 14, 2016 Skipper Alastair Cook admits England have areas to improve on before they can contemplate assuming the status of the world’s No1 Test side after the hosts slumped to a 10-wicket hammering against Pakistan at the Kia Oval. Consecutive half-century stands failed to prevent England being dismissed for 253, leaving the tourists with the formality of knocking [...]
Royal Bank of Scotland chair hints Brexit turmoil will delay government sale July 6, 2016 The boss of Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has predicted it will be some time before the government can start to sell off its shares in the bank. Sir Howard Davies, chairman of the lender, which is 73 per cent taxpayer-owned, told the BBC it was “realistic” to think the government will have delayed its plans [...]
Racing betting: Take an Epsom punt on Port Douglas and Cloth Of Stars May 11, 2016 With the last of the major Investec Derby trials run at York on Thursday afternoon, I thought it an opportune moment to look at the ante-post market for next month’s Classic. Midterm currently heads the betting at 10/3 with Betway and that price is likely to contract further should he be successful in today’s Dante [...]
Hollywood Bowl strikes for £280m London IPO June 15, 2016 Hollywood Bowl Group, the UK's largest 10-pin bowling operator, will float on the London Stock Exchange next month in a deal valuing it at around £280m. The group, which runs 54 bowling centres around the country, has been striving to modernise the popular pastime with Americana-themed diners, licensed bars and interactive scoring systems that "customers didn't even know they wanted". Steve [...]
Bell Pottinger announces resignation of chairman Lord Tim Bell August 25, 2016 PR company Bell Pottinger has announced the resignation of its chairman and founder Lord Bell. Timothy Bell, who was Margaret Thatcher's PR guru, has decided to resign with effect from today, the company said. Bell, who was not quoted in the Bell Pottinger statement, is not retiring and is planning to set up a new strategic consultancy, Sans [...]