Banks in retreat after Portugal downgrade July 6, 2011 The FTSE 100 lost ground on opening today after Moody’s cut Portugal’s credit rating to “junk” sending banking shares down. As the Eurozone crisis deepened investors abandoned risky equities as banks’ exposure to the crisis in the eurozone came under the spotlight. The euro fell sharply after the Moody’s four-notch downgrade to Ba2, with the [...]
Banks in retreat after Portugal downgrade July 6, 2011 The FTSE 100 lost ground on opening today after Moody’s cut Portugal’s credit rating to “junk” sending banking shares down. As the Eurozone crisis deepened investors abandoned risky equities as banks’ exposure to the crisis in the eurozone came under the spotlight. The euro fell sharply after the Moody’s four-notch downgrade to Ba2, with the [...]
New rules on foreign profit could anger EU June 30, 2011 PLANS to overhaul the way the foreign profits of UK headquartered multinational companies are taxed could fall foul of European law, according to a top legal firm. The existing Controlled Foreign Companies (CFC) regime currently breaks EU law, following a landmark 2006 case involving Cadbury Schweppes. At that time, the European Commission said the British government [...]
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FIRM OF THE YEAR June 27, 2011 ON the back of the Office of Fair Trading launching its investigation into the market dominance of the “Big Four”, it’s never been more important for professional services firms to prove their worth. Never far from the centre of the City’s biggest deals, strategic reviews and financial reports, our shortlisted entrants are favourites of UK [...]
Sir Martin Sorrell joins wealth manager June 19, 2011 SIR Martin Sorrell, the boss of advertising titan WPP, is poised to join the advisory board of British wealth management firm Stanhope Capital. He will take up a role on the advisory board of the firm, which manages funds totalling $7.5bn (£4.6bn), alongside former BP chief Lord Browne. Lord Browne was appointed to chair the [...]
RUDD’S 50TH BRINGS BIG BUSINESS TO SOMERSET June 19, 2011 THE SOMERSET economy received a much-needed boost over the weekend, when local taxis, security firms and caterers were booked out solidly for the 50th birthday celebrations of Finsbury boss Roland Rudd at his Grade 1-listed country pile. Around 400 City leaders and friends prioritised the PR-chief’s party over George Osborne’s 40th at the chancellor’s grace-and-favour [...]
WPP sets aside £200m for new acquisition drive June 14, 2011 ADVERTISING giant WPP is to step up its acquisition drive this year, setting aside a £200m war chest to expand into new media in emerging markets. Chief executive Martin Sorrell has tended to focus his expansion on small and medium sized agencies in rapidly expanding markets including Brazil, India and China. The amount earmarked for [...]
FTSE falters as retailers slide June 9, 2011 Stocks defied downbeat expectations to post gains this morning but have since downhill after a number of UK retailers said sales were falling. Heavyweight banking stocks are also down following yesterday’s Treasury Select Committee debate over whether to ringfence their operations, and Vince Cable’s attack on their lending levels on Tuesday. State-backed Lloyds Bank is [...]
FTSE falters as retailers slide June 9, 2011 Stocks defied downbeat expectations to post gains this morning but have since downhill after a number of UK retailers said sales were falling. Heavyweight banking stocks are also down following yesterday’s Treasury Select Committee debate over whether to ringfence their operations, and Vince Cable’s attack on their lending levels on Tuesday. State-backed Lloyds Bank is [...]
Ipsos confirms Synovate interest June 6, 2011 Exclusive by Steve Dinneen IPSOS has confirmed to City A.M. it is officially in talks to buy the £500m rated Synovate division of Aegis. Top executives, including co-President Didier Truchot, decided at a crunch meting in Paris yesterday to proceed with negotiations over the market research unit. Aegis yesterday confirmed to the market it has [...]