Profits surge at Starbucks January 26, 2011 COFFEE giant Starbucks posted a 35 per cent rise in operating income yesterday, which nevertheless fell short of analyst forecasts for the full-year as the rising cost of coffee continued to dent margins. The world’s largest coffee chain has seen wholesale coffee prices increase by nearly three-quarters since last summer – due to poor weather, [...]
THE TIPSTER December 13, 2010 WTI crude oil rallied some 150 points yesterday morning to highs around $89.40 on the back of relief over China not raising rates and positive demand forecasts. The technical picture is showing signs of crude topping out around this level and it may well be worth taking the short side of the market for this [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS January 6, 2011 TRAVIS PERKINS RBS rates the building materials firm “buy” with a raised target price of £12.95. The broker sees the firm’s purchase of BSS Group last month as an attractive earnings driver over the next two years until the underlying market recovery takes over in 2013. It adds that the acquisition gives the company significant [...]
BILL OF THE WEEK December 19, 2010 AN unruly handful of advertising sales executives made a merry time of their recent Christmas party in Chamberlain’s restaurant in Leadenhall Market. The drinks bill was stopped at a generous £2,000 for the group (though they kept on undeterred), but our revellers were well-lubricated before they even began on the downstairs bar, having glugged their way [...]
THE TIPSTER February 1, 2011 THE pound continues to push higher after positive manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) figures yesterday threw further doubt on the accuracy of last weeks poor fourth quarter GDP figures. Comments from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) that the Bank of England may have to raise rates three times by the end of [...]
THE TIPSTER February 1, 2011 THE pound continues to push higher after positive manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) figures yesterday threw further doubt on the accuracy of last weeks poor fourth quarter GDP figures. Comments from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) that the Bank of England may have to raise rates three times by the end of [...]
TRAVEL NOTES December 5, 2010 Run away for Christmas If you experience a sudden urge to run away to the mountains this Christmas, the fabulous five star Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains in glitzy St Moritz still has space. As well as the world-class skiing, the hotel also offers complimentary access to its high alpine spa and a gala dinner [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS January 3, 2011 ALTERIAN Panmure Gordon’s latest “buy” rating for the marketing campaign management firm could stick, given the pace of the sector. The broker notes several “nifty’” new products launched by the company as well as operational momentum, at a time when mergers and acquisitions in the marketing software segment “continues apace”. MELROSE RESOURCES Collins Stewart rates [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS January 3, 2011 ALTERIAN Panmure Gordon’s latest “buy” rating for the marketing campaign management firm could stick, given the pace of the sector. The broker notes several “nifty’” new products launched by the company as well as operational momentum, at a time when mergers and acquisitions in the marketing software segment “continues apace”. MELROSE RESOURCES Collins Stewart rates [...]
Dixons sees trade dented as the dire weather claims another retail victim January 13, 2011 DIXONS Retail yesterday forecast full-year profit around the bottom end of market expectations after Christmas sales were hit by December’s adverse weather. The company, which runs the Currys and PC World chains in Britain, UniEuro in Italy, Elkjop in Nordic countries and Kotsovolos in Greece, said it expected underlying profit before tax in the range [...]