World stocks hit two-year high December 23, 2010 World stocks hit their highest level since September 2008 while oil held near a two-year peak as favourable US data reinforced expectations economic growth will retain momentum into next year. Wednesday’s upwardly revised data showing the US economy expanded at 2.6 per cent in the third quarter, coupled with recent retail sales figures, pointed to [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS January 5, 2011 Prudential The insurance giant has announced the appointment of Peter Goerke as group human resources director, with effect from the start of March. He will be a member of the executive committee and succeeds Priscilla Vacassin in the job. Goerke comes to the company from Zurich Financial Services Group, where he has worked since 2005 [...]
Car registrations up in key Eurozone areas December 2, 2010 NEW car registrations are up across core Eurozone countries, according to figures released yesterday by Barclays Capital Research. The group estimates that car sales across the single currency area could rise to 10.26m in November, a 4.3 per cent rise on October. French sales have maintained their momentum, in spite of a government scrappage scheme [...]
Revealed: The UK’s Irish risk November 22, 2010 THREE major UK banks – RBS, Barclays and Lloyds – together havemore than €100bn (£860m) of exposure in Ireland, according to data seen by City A.M. Morgan Stanley conducted research on the levels of exposure in the three “peripheral” Eurozone countries, Ireland, Portugal and Greece. Unsurprisingly “the largest exposures are clustered in UK banks”, the [...]
Revealed: The UK’s Irish risk November 22, 2010 THREE major UK banks – RBS, Barclays and Lloyds – together havemore than €100bn (£860m) of exposure in Ireland, according to data seen by City A.M. Morgan Stanley conducted research on the levels of exposure in the three “peripheral” Eurozone countries, Ireland, Portugal and Greece. Unsurprisingly “the largest exposures are clustered in UK banks”, the [...]
PERSONAL FINANCE NEWS November 11, 2010 FLEXIBLE DRAWDOWN SUITABLE FOR MOST Over 90 per cent of financial advisers think that flexible drawdown would be a suitable retirement solution for their clients, according to research conducted by pension product provider Suffolk Life. Suffolk Life’s John Moret said: “Industry statistics suggest that the number of new drawdown cases in 2010 is likely to [...]
Hunger for mining shares sees FTSE stay above 6,000 level February 7, 2011 MINERS lifted Britain’s top share index higher yesterday, driven by record metal prices and results from Randgold. The FTSE 100 closed 53.65 points, or 0.9 per cent, firmer at 6,051.03, its highest finish since 18 January and marking the fourth gain in the past five trading days. “A fresh year high is being eyed with [...]
FTSE sticks above 6,000 after volatile day February 2, 2011 The FTSE’s mainstay miners and banks pushed the benchmark index to close just above 6,000 points – but profit taking and uncertainty over violent clashes in Egypt caused a turbulent day’s trading. The FTSE 100 closed up 42.25 points, or 0.7 per cent, at 6000.07, extending Tuesday’s 1.6 per cent rise. The index has recovered [...]
FTSE sticks above 6,000 after volatile day February 2, 2011 The FTSE’s mainstay miners and banks pushed the benchmark index to close just above 6,000 points – but profit taking and uncertainty over violent clashes in Egypt caused a turbulent day’s trading. The FTSE 100 closed up 42.25 points, or 0.7 per cent, at 6000.07, extending Tuesday’s 1.6 per cent rise. The index has recovered [...]
The new trade minister on exports, China and telecoms… but not banks February 16, 2011 IT IS fitting that new trade minister Lord Stephen Green, who is ordained in the Church of England, should make his first foreign trip to an event that inspires an almost religious fervour amongst its followers. Sitting at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, surrounded by the giants of the telecoms world, the former HSBC chairman [...]