Doing God’s work in the City February 25, 2010 LLOYD Blankfein, the chief executive of Goldman Sachs, caused a stir when he said the bank was doing “God’s work”. Well, perhaps he should meet Mark Speeks, the managing partner and co-founder of Acuity Capital, a private equity firm based in the City, who is also an assistant priest at St Botolph’s church in Aldgate. [...]
FTSE rocked as mining shares fall on commodity price drop February 23, 2010 BRITAIN’S top shares shed 0.7 per cent yesterday, tracking early falls on Wall Street and pressured by weaker miners and energy issues as commodity prices fell with a firmer dollar after dull data. At the close, the FTSE 100 was 36.98 points lower at 5,315.09, having hit a one-month high earlier in the session. US [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS February 22, 2010 KPMG The accountancy giant has appointed Michelle Quest as its new head of people in the UK, having spent the past 13 years of her career at the firm. Quest joined KPMG from Robson Rhodes in 1997 and became an M&A tax partner in the tax and people services practice in 2003. She takes over [...]
CRISIS IN THE SKY FOR VETERAN BROKER February 22, 2010 SIGHS of relief all round yesterday as a veteran of the City broking community emerged unscathed from a terrifying near-death experience. Brewin Dolphin divisional director Stephen Williams – a former head of small company research at Williams de Broë – was one of 231 passengers aboard a Thomas Cook Boeing 757 jet which had to [...]
Royal London and Liver in merger talks February 22, 2010 ROYAL London and Royal Liver, Britain’s two biggest mutual companies, are understood to be in the early stages of merger talks. The proposed deal comes after Royal Liver failed in discussions with Liverpool Victoria, the UK’s largest friendly society, over a potential £10bn merger. Royal Liver turned down a previous bid from Royal London in [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS February 18, 2010 ETX Capital The financial spread betting firm has appointed John Wilson, the outgoing chief executive of the London Stock Exchange’s dark pool trading facility Baikal, as its new executive chairman. Wilson leaves following the LSE acquisition of Turquoise, having spent two years at Baikal. Meanwhile, Andrew Edwards, formerly managing director and trading director at ETX, [...]
London hits one-month high led by miners and oil stocks February 18, 2010 BRITAIN’S top share index hit a one-month closing high yesterday, extending its advance into a fourth consecutive session, led by commodity stocks on firmer metals and oil prices, and with banks also in demand. The FTSE 100 index closed up 48.45 points, or 0.9 per cent, at 5,325.09, its highest close since Jan. 21, after [...]
House prices continue to rise February 16, 2010 Britain’s housing market continues its recovery, with prices across the UK rising by 2.9 per cent over last year. This compares with an annual rate of 0.5 per cent in November, which was the first positive figure since June 2008, figures from the Department of Communities and Local Government showed yesterday. Last year prices rose [...]
Possible solution to Eurozone debt woes boosts FTSE 100 February 10, 2010 BRITAIN’S leading shares added 0.4 per cent yesterday as financial issues drew strength from a possible solution to Eurozone debt worries, offsetting a retreat by heavyweight commodity shares. The FTSE 100 ended 20.15 points higher at 5,131.99, recovering from a session low of 5,105.30 in the afternoon but still well below the morning peak of [...]
ANALYST VIEWS: IS BHP’S DECISION TO INCREASE CAPITAL SPENDING A SURPRISE? February 10, 2010 IVOR PETHER | ROYAL LONDON ASSET MANAGEMENT Xstrata emphasised its capital spending projects yesterday so BHP are just continuing the theme. However its joint venture with Rio has been delayed. Overall it is a good set of results although the debt level is higher than expected. The main base metals and petroleums divisions improved substantially. [...]