UBS celebrates with watches June 26, 2012 In these days of cutbacks and (relative) austerity among the world’s investment banks, it’s good to see that the Swiss-based UBS is trying to muster up a celebratory mood. UBS is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, and in so doing has given each of its 65,000 employees worldwide a Swatch watch. The gesture has [...]
ANALYST VIEWS: HOW STRONG IS CENTRICA IN LIGHT OF LOWER PROFITS ? November 17, 2011 ANGELOS ANASTASIOU | INVESTEC Centrica’s statement indicates a slight downgrade in full year 2011 earnings per share, although growth is still expected in the full year. We continue to believe that the underlying story here remains sound. JONATHAN JACKSON | KILLIK & CO In the near term, we expect the group to benefit from a new [...]
Weak commodity stocks undermine FTSE June 8, 2012 Britain’s benchmark share index fell back on Friday after a two-day rally earlier in the week, as heavyweight mining stocks were hit by fresh fears over the global economy and traders sold off positions ahead of a possible weekend bailout deal in Spain. The blue-chip FTSE 100 closed down 0.2 per cent at 5,435.08 points. [...]
FTSE creeps up as investors await BoE decision July 5, 2012 The FTSE 100 edged up in early trading as investors awaited the Bank of England’s next move on interest rates and quantitative easing to be announced at midday. Investors were also watching the unravelling Libor (the London Interbank Offered Rate) scandal with ratings agency Moody’s today threatening to downgrade Barclays over the damage to its [...]
LONDON REPORT May 7, 2012 THE bank holiday began a short trading week in London that is nevertheless crammed full of corporate results, as well as the much-anticipated Bank rate decision. Results are expected today from Hiscox, HSBC and Tui. Tomorrow’s announcements are set to come from EasyJet, Inmarsat, ITV, Sage, Glencore, ICH Group, Balfour Beatty, Prudential, Carphone Warehouse, Weir [...]
Banks rally fuelled by emergency credit plan June 15, 2012 The FTSE 100 saw rises fuelled by a rally in banking shares as the Government and the Bank of England announced plans to pump in £100bn of credit into the economy. Emergency measures to breathe new life into the economy were unveiled by Chancellor George Osborne last night with the money printing presses to be [...]
Ofgem launches investigation into E.ON sales tactics April 4, 2012 BRITAIN’S energy regulator Ofgem has started investigating whether electricity and gas supplier E.ON has used inappropriate sales tactics in its telephone and face-to-face marketing, the watchdog said yesterday. E.ON is the fifth of the “Big Six” energy suppliers to be investigated for breaching fair marketing rules, with only Centrica’s British Gas retailer left untouched. The [...]
Miners lead FTSE advance May 28, 2012 The FTSE tracked rises across Europe as a poll in Greece showed that that the pro-austerity conservative party in the debt laden state was ahead in the polls. According to the figures the New Democracy party could gain about a quarter of the votes, making it the biggest party with elections due on 17 June. [...]
Miners lead FTSE advance May 28, 2012 The FTSE tracked rises across Europe as a poll in Greece showed that that the pro-austerity conservative party in the debt laden state was ahead in the polls. According to the figures the New Democracy party could gain about a quarter of the votes, making it the biggest party with elections due on 17 June. [...]
Centrica cuts agency staff September 7, 2011 Energy giant Centrica has overhauled its use of temporary staff to avoid a £2m a year bill caused by stringent new rules on agency workers coming into force on 1 October. Centrica cut the number of temps it uses from 1,300 to 670 and re-hired more than 300 former temps as permanent employees to prepare [...]