Cracking the emerging company finance problem – Invest Comment December 14, 2015 An important sector of the UK economy – private companies making profits of between £1m and £5m each year – is not getting the attention it deserves. These firms (also known as emerging companies) don’t grab the headlines like large FTSE 100 businesses. Nor do they receive the media coverage enjoyed by fast-growth startups. And [...]
City confidence in Glencore evaporates as share price plunges amid China woes and commodity troubles September 29, 2015 The last week of trading in September has been particularly harsh for Glencore as the company has seen its price crash through the £1 level and officially turn into a “penny share”. As confidence in the Chinese economy’s ability to halt the slide in growth continues to wane, optimism for mining sector stocks has been [...]
FTSE slumps as miners plumb China depths – London Report September 29, 2015 BRITAIN’S leading share index fell yesterday as fears grew over mining group Glencore’s ability to withstand a metals price slump and as Vodafone’s European tie-up talks with Liberty Global ended. The FTSE 100 index was down 2.5 per cent, at 5,958.86 points at its close, a touch lower than European indexes. The UK market is [...]
Best of the Brokers for 21 October 2015 October 21, 2015 To appear in Best of the Brokers, email your research to notes@cityam.com POUNDLAND Investec has initiated coverage of Poundland with a “hold” rating and a target price of 300p. The broker said near-term profit benefits from the integration of 99p Stores are expected to return Poundland to 20 per cent growth or more in 2017 [...]
Good news for commuters (at last): Rail fares could rise by the second-lowest level in 20 years November 5, 2015 Next year could be the first time wage growth outpaces rail fares since 2002, if forecasts for retail price index (RPI) are on the mark. Economists spoken to by City A.M. tipped the inflation measure to be around one per cent for July – the month which regulated rail fares are set by. That [...]
UK interest rates to stay at record low but another hawk could appear October 5, 2015 The UK’s rate-setters are widely expected to hold fire on interest rates when they meet this Thursday, but the door is open for at least one more member of the nine-strong committee to dissent than last time around. Last month saw the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee vote eight to one to hold [...]
Budget 2016: Here are the reactions to Osborne’s announcements on sugar tax, corporation tax, Insurance Premium Tax, Isas, education and growth prospects March 16, 2016 George Osborne has just announced some Budget surprises – a sugar tax, longer school days – as well as an increase in sin taxes on tobacco, alterations to ISAs and savings, and corporation taxes. Here's what analysts are already saying about the chancellor's latest agenda on… Personal allowance David Kilshaw, private clients services partner, EY [...]
Bonmarche shares out of fashion with investors despite sales defying mild autumn weather November 23, 2015 Bonmarche's share price fell almost five per cent this morning despite the women's clothing retailer posting a jump in sales as efforts to revamp its stores and make its product ranges more fashionable paid off. The retailer, which has 300 stores but also sells online, through mail-order catalogues and a TV channel, said total revenue increased by [...]
Glencore share price crashes as analysts warns on metal prices September 28, 2015 Glencore shares tumbled today after a particularly bearish note from analysts. Broker Investec questioned how much the company would be worth if metal prices fail to improve, while pointing to its high debt levels and a need for restructuring. The note sent shares in embattled commodities trader and miner shed as much as 31 per cent [...]
City Moves for 17 September 2015 | Who’s switching jobs September 16, 2015 STANHOPE CAPITAL The investment office has appointed Bernard Kalfon as partner to develop its private and institutional client base outside the UK. He has over 20 years’ experience and has held roles at Société Générale Asset Management, Salomon Brothers-Citibank, and Bear Sterns. In 2009, he co-founded Nexar Capital Group. INVESTEC PRIVATE OFFICE Rafe Garvin has [...]