Walker’s way: evolution, not revolution July 16, 2009 WHENEVER anything goes wrong in British business, governments wheel out the corporate governance experts. Most of the time, this achieves absolutely nothing. Yesterday’s report by Sir David Walker, which is far from revolutionary, will achieve some – but not much – good. There are two main reasons why Walker won’t satisfy the ridiculously high ambitions [...]
A PRODUCT WHATEVER YOUR VIEW August 5, 2009 ALEXANDRE HOUPERTHEAD OF LISTED PRODUCTS UK, SG CORPORATE & INVESTMENT BANKING WHEN markets are choppy, clever traders look for new ways to diversify their tactics. One of the great things about covered warrants is their adaptability, which makes them a good addition to your trading armoury right now. For example, there are plenty of new [...]
BarCap hires fierce critic May 19, 2009 BARCLAYS Capital (BarCap) is to hire a trio of Citigroup analysts, including one with a record of issuing notoriously bearish notes on the investment bank’s parent company, as it marches on with its hiring spree. Tom Rayner, a banking analyst with Citigroup, will join BarCap’s European equity research team, in a move that will raise [...]
INVESTMENT BANK PROFITS BOUNCE BACK June 30, 2009 THE WORLD’S best investment banks have clocked up bumper second quarter profits, reaping the benefits of a renewed focus on trading and capital markets underwriting, as well as the implosion of many rivals. While many institutions – such as RBS and Citigroup – are still finding conditions tough, a group of six is emerging as [...]
INVESTMENT BANK PROFITS BOUNCE BACK June 30, 2009 THE WORLD’S best investment banks have clocked up bumper second quarter profits, reaping the benefits of a renewed focus on trading and capital markets underwriting, as well as the implosion of many rivals. While many institutions – such as RBS and Citigroup – are still finding conditions tough, a group of six is emerging as [...]
DTZ slashes payout after dismal year July 21, 2009 TROUBLED commercial property agent DTZ yesterday announced it was axing its dividend after the economic turmoil sent it plunging into the red. The London-based group reported a £36.1m pre-tax loss for the full year to 30 April compared with a £20.1m profit the year before. The slump in commercial property values and transactions meant the [...]
UK investors prove least likely to shy from taking risks June 14, 2009 INVESTORS in the UK are significantly more likely to increase the level of risk in their portfolios than their foreign counterparts, a new survey has shown. Among British investors, 37 per cent said they were likely to increase the level of risk in their portfolios in the next 12 months, according to the report by [...]
Rudd to take helm of MAC fund June 18, 2009 Sir Nigel Rudd, former deputy chairman of Barclays is to chair a new fund set up by Marwyn Alternative Capital. It will specialise in small to mid-cap companies that have short term liquidity problems. Supported by Royal Bank of Scotland, the new fund will look at investing in construction, science and engineering, among other sectors. [...]
Investment banks booming as RBS chief nets pay deal June 22, 2009 INVESTMENT banks are on course for a year of record profits, as they take advantage of dwindling competition to hoover up business from governments and companies raising money in the markets. Bankers at Goldman Sachs are expecting mammoth bonuses, after the investment banking division booked profits of more than £500m in the first quarter, nearly [...]
Investment banks booming as RBS chief nets pay deal June 22, 2009 INVESTMENT banks are on course for a year of record profits, as they take advantage of dwindling competition to hoover up business from governments and companies raising money in the markets. Bankers at Goldman Sachs are expecting mammoth bonuses, after the investment banking division booked profits of more than £500m in the first quarter, nearly [...]