Bottom Line: Business is about more than just money August 4, 2013 FAT Charlie – the 1950s hat-wearing mascot – will live on under the terms of the deal struck yesterday between Little Chef owner Rcapital and its new owner Kout. Interestingly the private equity firm said that it chose Kout, not for the amount of money it was offering, but because it was the sole bidder [...]
Wall St The Week Ahead: Market likely to slow down after earnings August 4, 2013 WITH earnings season winding down and the employment report out of the way, the US stock market is likely to shift into a lower gear this week. The earnings season so far has been largely positive with more than half of the companies that have reported beating estimates. But cuts in outlooks from a number [...]
Global bond bubble will cripple all investors when it bursts July 28, 2013 THIS column has long highlighted the massive bubble in the global bond markets and the horrific, systemic risk it poses to the global recovery and financial system. A combination of ultra-low central bank short-term interest rates, massive amounts of quantitative easing (QE), regulatory-driven purchases of government bonds by financial institutions and Asian forex accumulation have [...]
New York Report: Apple is set to report in busy earnings week July 21, 2013 WALL Street is experiencing its best month since January and looks poised to extend the rally with a deluge of earnings this week, though significant gains may be harder to come by with major indexes at record highs. Eight Dow components and Apple are among the companies that will report in one of the busiest [...]
The recession is a distant memory in the White Isle September 15, 2013 Two million visit Ibiza every year. Many come for the clubs, but there’s more to it than beats IT IS a hot and sultry night on the east coast of Ibiza. Above my head a huge white crane has stretched out its long steel arm, carrying with it a circular frame resembling an oversized seventies [...]
Cheap money is fuelling the stock market’s dramatic bounce May 10, 2013 FOR the first time ever, the Dow Jones has closed above 15,000, in a major boost for investors everywhere. Remarkably, the index was at 14,000 just 66 days ago and is now up by 129 per cent since the 2009 trough, in a striking demonstration of the speed and scale of the bounce-back. With the [...]
Sales flattening at McDonald’s August 8, 2012 MCDONALD’S yesterday reported flat sales in July at established restaurants around the world, its worst performance in more than nine years and a sign that a weakening global economy is hitting discretionary spending among mainstream diners. The results marked the first time since April 2003 that same-restaurant sales failed to rise. Just two weeks ago, [...]
Fishmongers’ company buys Tower Vaults February 4, 2013 THE FISHMONGERS’ Company, one of the City of London’s ancient livery companies, has bought the long leasehold interest in Tower Vaults for just over £12.5m. The 46,500 square foot site next to the Tower of London, has 12 shops and restaurants including Costa Coffee and McDonalds. Cluttons acted on the sale to the 700-year-old guild.
Ikea pulls sausages from stores as horsegate continues February 27, 2013 Ikea is pulling its wiener sausages from sale in France, Spain, UK, Ireland & Portugal. The sausages are produced by Dafgaard, the same Swedish suppler as its meatballs. Dafgaard is contesting the results of tests conducted on the meatballs by Czech Republic officials. "Out of 320 tests performed in the last three weeks, none contain [...]
Pension changes cheered but high earners take a hit January 14, 2013 BUSINESS leaders hailed the government’s plans for a “simple, understandable, state pension” yesterday, but admitted that both employers and staff would have to take a financial hit as part of the proposed reforms. “The introduction of a flat-rate state pension, with an end to means-tested retirement income benefits, is essential if pension saving is to make [...]