ECONOMIC DIARY December 20, 2009 IN a quiet and short week, the big news on the agenda will be the revisions – if any – to third quarter GDP figures for the UK and the US on Tuesday. The UK third quarter data will be released on Tuesday at 9.30am. Despite an upward revision to -0.4 per cent from -0.6 [...]
Retailers celebrate positive sales ahead of festive season November 26, 2009 THE high street is looking forward to a buoyant Christmas, after reporting the fastest sales growth in two years yesterday. Confidence among retailers has turned positive for the first time since August 2007. The CBI’s latest Distributive Trades Survey showed 40 per cent of retailers reported higher sales volumes in November compared with a year [...]
Lending restrictions in China turn the screw on the miners January 20, 2010 TOP shares recorded a three-week closing low yesterday as more signs of fiscal tightening in China hurt commodity stocks. The FTSE 100 closed down 92.34 points, or 1.7 per cent, at 5,420.80 – the lowest closing level since December 31, 2009. It posted its biggest one-day fall in a month. The index is up 57 [...]
Miners lend muscle to FTSE as banks shake off US blues January 18, 2010 BRITAIN’S leading share index took on 0.7 per cent yesterday, as heavyweight mining issues rallied with firmer metal prices, while banks moved higher awaiting further earnings news from US peers. At the close, the FTSE 100 index was 39.02 points higher at 5,494.39, albeit in subdued trade with US markets closed for Martin Luther King [...]
SilverWind blows into West End as veteran brokers join forces November 11, 2009 New West End-based stockbroker SilverWind has opened for trading, with ex-Lite Financial trader Darren Sinden joining its ranks. SilverWind is being led by ex-ODL Securities head of capital markets Andrew Rowland, with the former vice chairman of ABN AMRO Menno de Jager leading the board. It will offer institutional and corporate clients a comprehensive range [...]
Disappointing results from Alcoa rock mining stocks January 12, 2010 BRITAIN’S top share index closed 0.7 per cent lower yesterday as commodities and banks led the retreat over concerns that China’s move to tighten banks’ reserve requirements may slow global economic recovery. The FTSE 100 index closed down 39.36 points at 5,498.71, dropping back after hitting a 16-month intraday peak at 5,600.48 on Monday. China’s [...]
How brand perceptions differ across the pond November 3, 2009 HOW different are British and American perceptions of the same brands? We took a quick look at the BrandIndex UK and US scores of three pairs of brands. Not surprisingly, American Airlines did better in America (average for the last year, plus 14) than in the UK (plus 6), and British Airways did better in [...]
How brand perceptions differ across the pond November 3, 2009 HOW different are British and American perceptions of the same brands? We took a quick look at the BrandIndex UK and US scores of three pairs of brands. Not surprisingly, American Airlines did better in America (average for the last year, plus 14) than in the UK (plus 6), and British Airways did better in [...]
End is nigh for free banking as OFT ruling looms November 22, 2009 THE UK faces an end to free banking this week, as the Supreme Court makes its final ruling over whether customers have been unfairly charged on their overdrafts. The government has piled the pressure on banks to settle the matter quickly rather than appeal, and millions of customers could be eligible for a payout after [...]
Miners push FTSE higher but M&S weighs on retail shares January 7, 2010 BRITAIN’S top shares added 0.1 percent yesterday as a rally by heavyweight miners, in tandem with stronger metal prices, offset weakness in energy issues, with retailers upset by a disappointing update from M&S. At the close, the FTSE 100 index was 7.54 points higher at 5,530.04, another 16-month closing high. “It looks like the big [...]