FTSE 100 ticks higher as boost for Vodafone helps counter commodity drag March 21, 2012 BRITAIN’S top share index posted a fractional gain yesterday after a volatile session as strength in market heavyweight Vodafone countered weaker commodity stocks hit by below par US data that revived concerns over demand for metals. The UK blue chip index closed up 0.54 points, or 0.01 per cent, at 5,891.95, surrendering a 0.3 per [...]
LONDON REPORT April 22, 2012 UK investors are set for a busy week with a slew of earnings both here and on Wall Street, the release of Britain’s quarterly GDP rate and a decision from the Fed on the US Bank rate. Both the Nationwide Housing Prices report and Nationwide Consumer Confidence report are due out this week and today’s [...]
CITY MOVES WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS April 29, 2012 SPC The Society of Pensions Consultants has announced that Roger Mattingly has been elected society president, with effect from 1 June. He succeeds Kevin LeGrand, head of technical services at Buck Consultants. Mattingly is a board director at JLT Benefit Solutions and has sat on the SPC council for the past thirteen years. R3 Lee [...]
CITY MOVES WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS April 29, 2012 SPC The Society of Pensions Consultants has announced that Roger Mattingly has been elected society president, with effect from 1 June. He succeeds Kevin LeGrand, head of technical services at Buck Consultants. Mattingly is a board director at JLT Benefit Solutions and has sat on the SPC council for the past thirteen years. R3 Lee [...]
Murdoch and Hannam’s departures symbolise power shift April 4, 2012 THERE can be no doubt that James Murdoch’s decision to step down as chairman of BSkyB is good news for the company. It will allow its highly capable chief executive, Jeremy Darroch, to continue building one of Britain’s most successful firms without being distracted by endless speculation about the future of its chairman. That said, [...]
Murdoch and Hannam’s departures symbolise power shift April 4, 2012 THERE can be no doubt that James Murdoch’s decision to step down as chairman of BSkyB is good news for the company. It will allow its highly capable chief executive, Jeremy Darroch, to continue building one of Britain’s most successful firms without being distracted by endless speculation about the future of its chairman. That said, [...]
Morrisons profit up – but predicts tough 2012 March 8, 2012 Britain’s fourth-biggest grocer Wm Morrison said the UK grocery market was likely to remain subdued in the coming year despite easing inflationary pressures as it posted a eight per cent rise in year profit. “We expect a challenging year in 2012,” the firm said on Thursday, adding that it still expected to deliver profitable growth. [...]
Savills: Mansion tax inefficient March 4, 2012 A MANSION tax would be “complex and inefficient” and could undermine London’s position as a leading business location, according to research director of Savills, Lucian Cook. Cook says that a mansion tax of one per cent of value over £2m would yield just £1bn, but would unfairly target the income poor, equity rich: “It would [...]
US politicians urge action over record petrol prices March 5, 2012 AMERICAN politicians have urged the US futures regulator to crack down on excessive speculation in oil markets as fuel prices hit record highs around the world. The price of petrol has hit a fresh record in the UK, edging up 0.1p to 137.55p, while diesel was flat at 144.66p. In the US, prices have jumped [...]
Budget week will see Italy, inflation and retail in focus March 18, 2012 TODAY I anticipate a quiet start to the week, with a lack of economic announcements from the UK and the US. All eyes are likely to focus on the Eurozone as we get further indication of the health of one of its largest economies. Italy reports industrial order and sales numbers at 9am for January. [...]