What the other papers say this morning February 6, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES GOLDMAN CASH STAGNATES AS ASSET PRICES RISE Goldman Sachs’ attempt to spend some of its $170bn (£106bn) excess capital on loans, real estate and other distressed assets is being hampered by a prolonged rebound in risk appetite that has lifted prices on many would-be bargains. Goldman’s “excess liquidity”, or cash deposits and securities [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING November 30, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES KPMG HIRES NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS FOR NEW OVERSIGHT BODY KPMG Europe has hired three non-executive directors to sit on a new oversight body in a move that highlights the differing ways big audit firms are complying with regulatory changes in the UK. The directors are: Sir Steve Robson, a retired senior civil servant at [...]
It pays to be picky, even with defensive trades September 13, 2010 WITH markets forecast to slow in the next six months, traders are eyeing traditional defensive stocks as an alternative to other low-risk assets. Government bond yields are now at historic lows, prompting many investors to turn to higher-dividend-yielding utilities shares – but it pays to be fussy, even in a supposedly “safe” asset class. At [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING June 16, 2010 CHÁVEZ ATTACKS ECONOMIC CRITICS Hugo Chávez has strongly defended his economic record as president of Venezuela after a turbulent year in which the country has been rocked by recession and 30 per cent inflation. Chávez used an interview to assail his critics in the US and Europe, saying the performance of the Venezuelan economy contrasted favourably [...]
Northumbrian raises its dividend as profits surge June 2, 2010 NORTHUMBRIAN Water Group increased pre-tax profits by 11 per cent to £170.2m last year, after raising prices by three per cent to offset higher costs and bad debt, it announced yesterday. The utilities group, which supplies water to 4.4m customers in Northumbria, Essex and Suffolk, also moved into post-tax profit despite the temporary closure of [...]
Canadians’ £1.7bn play for water firm January 31, 2010 ONE of Northumbrian Water’s largest shareholders is thought to be preparing a £1.7bn bid to take the FTSE 250 company private. Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), which has also been linked to a buyout of private equity-owned Acorn Education and Care, holds 27 per cent of Northumbrian Water. It is understood to have begun negotiations [...]
Takeover talk pumps life into water company share prices February 1, 2010 INVESTOR interest in water companies was in full flow yesterday after it emerged that utility group Northumbrian Water could become the target of a £1.7bn takeover bid. Shares in Northumbrian and rivals United Utilities, Severn Trent and Pennon rose on speculation that Canadian pension fund Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, which owns about 27 per cent [...]
New wave of M&A has profit potential for spread betters August 1, 2010 IT HAS been a veritable whirlwind of good old-fashioned company matchmaking of late and especially so here in Britain, thanks to the sharp depreciation in sterling. In May, UK manufacturer Chloride was snapped up by its American rival Emerson. More recently, International Power revived merger talks with French energy firm GDF Suez, household goods group [...]
New wave of M&A has profit potential for spread betters August 1, 2010 IT HAS been a veritable whirlwind of good old-fashioned company matchmaking of late and especially so here in Britain, thanks to the sharp depreciation in sterling. In May, UK manufacturer Chloride was snapped up by its American rival Emerson. More recently, International Power revived merger talks with French energy firm GDF Suez, household goods group [...]
THE TIPSTER January 31, 2010 FRIDAY’S upbeat house price data from the Nationwide was well received by home owners, but it might only last for the short-term. Whether the upward trend in home values can be sustained for any length of time is clearly open to debate. The prospect of rising interest rates threatens to squash demand as mortgage repayments [...]