Lloyds share sale: Should you register to buy? 62,000 investors tempted by future dividends October 7, 2015 Investors have been sent into a frenzy by government plans to sell off its remaining shares in Lloyds Banking Group next spring. Since the news broke, 62,000 people have already registered for the chance to buy up shares at a discount. But fear not, there is plenty of time. Read on for our guide to [...]
Private investment group Ardian makes offer for European food firm Solina October 6, 2015 Independent private investment company Ardian has submitted a binding offer and entered into exclusive talks concerning the purchase of European food company Solina. Ardian was previously Axa Private Equity, before becoming a private firm in 2013. Its portfolio includes investments in food chain Eat, Luton Airport and Wood Mackenzie. Solina, based in Brittany, France, provides [...]
Stars align for shoppers: Experts predict a consumer boom amid low inflation and cheap energy October 6, 2015 All the ingredients for a consumer boom are appearing, experts say, as turbulence in Asia keeps commodity prices and inflation down. Oil prices remain low amid global oversupply and market worries about slowing demand in China. Meanwhile, Beijing’s devaluation of the yuan means lower inflation – in the form of cheaper goods from China [...]
Know your stuff: Five things everyone needs to hear about pensions October 2, 2015 Charges and not taking enough risk can massively dent your long-term savings. Seismic shifts have taken place in the pensions world in recent years – and there may be more to come. Generous employer pension schemes have all but disappeared, and new freedoms brought in by the government this year aim to offer savers [...]
Should you invest in India? Inside the last major emerging market left standing October 1, 2015 Shifting fortunes in emerging markets mean India is now standing out as more investable than the rest. The last two years have seemed like a new dawn for investors in India. The country elected reformist candidate Narendra Modi as its new Prime Minister in May last year and experts around the world cheered his [...]
As Sainsbury’s makes a surprise upgrade to its profit forecast, could this be comeback season for supermarkets? September 30, 2015 Clive Black, director and head of research at Shore Capital, says Yes To say that the British supermarket scene has been through the “perfect storm” is to understate the size of the waves. Sales fell, margins collapsed, earnings imploded and dividends were cut. The surprise Sainsbury’s upgrade in market expectations is a welcome boost to [...]
City Moves for 29 September 2015 | Who’s switching jobs September 28, 2015 DEARMAN The technology company has hired Joanne Spick as its new chief financial officer (CFO). She was previously CFO and acting chief executive of the Dylan Group, the specialist steel products firm. She has worked for blue chip companies across the UK and Europe, including ICI, Menzies Aviation and GdF Suez. ARBUTHNOT LATHAM The private [...]
The future of the FTSE 100: What next? The quarterly reshuffle has changed the complexion of the leading index September 23, 2015 The Bloodbath continued yesterday as mining shares plummeted further and the FTSE dipped below 6,000 points. Glencore, whose shares fell by 10.63 per cent yesterday, only graduated to the elite index in 2011, but the commodities supercycle has come to a juddering halt, depressing the internationally exposed FTSE. This week also saw one [...]
RSA Insurance Group’s share price plunges as Zurich tells RSA: It’s not you, it’s us September 22, 2015 RSA Insurance Group’s share price plunged yesterday after rival firm Zurich revealed it was walking away from a £5.6bn takeover bid. RSA’s share price closed down 20.84 per cent as investors digested the shock news. Zurich’s share price was also down, albeit a less remarkable 2.79 per cent. Zurich said it was abandoning [...]
Small business owners feel benefits of growing economy September 21, 2015 Two thirds of small business owners are confident about the opportunities for business growth over the next five years. A survey by insurers Axa shows that 62 per cent of SME owners say they are thriving as a result of owning their own business. Glen Parkinson, SME business director at Axa PPP healthcare, said: “It’s [...]