The ex-investment banker who is shaking up the retail trading world November 22, 2010 ROBIN OSMOND does not come across as somebody intent on disrupting the status quo. But this is exactly what the softly spoken and quietly animated LMAX chief executive has in his sights with the launch of the firm’s new retail trading venue. The exchange, which currently offers contracts for difference (CFD) and rolling spot FX, [...]
FTSE closes up but US uncertainty weighs on Wall Street December 9, 2010 LONDON’S FTSE 100 closed above 5,800 today for only the second time in almost a month, pushed up by financial services firms. Barclays, RBS and the Prudential were among the biggest gainers, while energy firm BG also rose more than three per cent and services firms Serco and BT also made the top ten. HSBC [...]
West End shops go traffic-free this weekend November 23, 2010 REGENT Street and Oxford Street will be vehicle-free between 10am and 6pm this Saturday, allowing millions of Londoners to indulge in Christmas shopping on foot. Stores are offering up to 50 per cent off and opening as early as 8am, as they compete for the attention of an anticipated two million shoppers. By VIP Day [...]
FTSE closes highest since June 2008 December 14, 2010 LONDON’S stock indices advanced again today after UK inflation figures and thin volumes failed to hold back its gains. The FTSE 100 index closed up 30.46 points or 0.5 per cent at 5,891.21, its best performance since June 2008, despite trading which analysts described as “lacklustre”. In contrast, the mid-market FTSE250 hit three year high, [...]
ANGER OVER COST OF SNOW FIASCO December 2, 2010 THE COST to the UK economy of the mounting chaos bought by the snow and unseasonally cold temperatures could be as much as £1.2bn a day, it was claimed yesterday. As the seventh day of the cold snap saw the disruption reach the south-east of England, with more than six inches of snow falling overnight, [...]
Dixons pares losses after restructuring November 25, 2010 ELECTRONICS retailer Dixons narrowed its first half-losses, it said yesterday, after closing smaller stores and replacing them with so-called “big box” units. The company reported a £7.9m loss in the six months to 30 September, less than the £17.6m loss it made in the same period last year. Sales growth was more muted in the [...]
British Land boosted by bounce back in office lets November 16, 2010 British Land said it had been boosted by an increase in occupancy rates in its buildings in the first half. The landlord’s Net Asset Value (NAV) rose 4.2 per cent to 525 pence a share in the six months to 30 September, against 504 pence at end-March 2010. In the previous half-year period, its NAV [...]
CITY MOVES| WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS December 1, 2010 HSBC HSBC?has announced the appointment of Hossam Alsaady as head of its Saudi Arabia team within the London-based Middle East and North Africa division of its private banking business. Alsaady is moving over from his role at NCB Capital in Jeddah, where he has held several senior positions, most recently head of strategy. At HSBC, [...]
Upbeat Great Portland sees strong gains November 10, 2010 Great Portland Estates booked a 7.3 per cent half-year gain in its London property portfolio to £1.46bn, buoyed by higher income as tenants seek its more affordable office space. The landlord, known for offering office and retail space at competitive rents in the popular West End business district, yesterday said its adjusted net asset value [...]
Upbeat Great Portland sees strong gains November 10, 2010 Great Portland Estates booked a 7.3 per cent half-year gain in its London property portfolio to £1.46bn, buoyed by higher income as tenants seek its more affordable office space. The landlord, known for offering office and retail space at competitive rents in the popular West End business district, yesterday said its adjusted net asset value [...]