BP results beat forecasts as it hikes dividend October 29, 2013 OIL MAJOR BP rose to the top of the FTSE 100 yesterday, after third-quarter results beat expectations and a dividend hike pleased investors. The firm posted underlying net profit of $3.692bn (£2.3bn), up from $2.712bn the previous quarter and higher than analysts’ consensus forecasts of $3.17bn. BP is increasing its quarterly dividend by 5.6 per [...]
Regus expects investments to hit 2013 results October 29, 2013 OFFICE space supplier Regus reported a 26 per cent rise in third-quarter revenue yesterday, but said full-year results would be hurt by the additional investments it was making to open new centres. The company, which provides meeting rooms, business lounges and office spaces for rent, said it now planned to open between 420 and 440 [...]
Expansion in the United States helps revenues at Stagecoach October 29, 2013 RAIL and bus group Stagecoach got its investors revved up yesterday after it said trading had been good since April. Stagecoach said its UK buses outside of London had delivered five per cent like-for-like growth in the 24 weeks to 13 October. In London, extra revenues from transporting spectators during last year’s Olympics sent like-for-like [...]
London Report: FTSE rises on BP strong figures and a dividend October 29, 2013 BRITAIN’S top share index climbed to a five-month high yesterday, with investors flocking to buy energy stocks after strong results from BP raised expectations for earnings from the sector. BP was the top-performer on the blue-chip FTSE 100 index, surging 5.6 per cent after the company announced forecast-beating profits, a dividend hike and plans to [...]
Riverstone float raises £760m in muted debut October 24, 2013 RIVERSTONE Energy, the new investment vehicle where former BP boss Lord Browne is a partner, raised £760.3m from its London listing – at the lower end of its expected price range. The company had hoped to raise between £670m and £1.5bn from the public offering, but ended up adding just £210m to the £500m it [...]
Unilever hit by sales slowdown in key markets October 24, 2013 UNILEVER, the consumer goods giant behind Wall’s ice-cream and Persil laundry detergent, reported a 6.5 per cent slump in turnover in the third quarter after suffering a dramatic slowdown in emerging markets. The FTSE 100 group has been hit by a slowdown in countries such as Indonesia, Brazil and India after uncertainty over whether the [...]
Qinetiq lines up interest in sale of US tech unit October 20, 2013 QINETIQ, the FTSE 250 listed defence firm, is considering plans to carve out its US unit amid an ongoing review into how to cash in on the flagging division. The former government-owned company, which was floated on the stock market in 2006, is understood to have slapped a for sale sign on its US Services [...]
Grafton keen on further growth after switching Irish roots for UK listing October 20, 2013 Gavin Slark, boss of the builders’ merchant, tells Kasmira Jefford what’s next for his company WHEN Gavin Slark was handed the toolbox and made chief executive of the Irish-based builders merchant two years ago, Grafton was in dire need of repairs. The global financial crisis had all but flattened the UK and Ireland’s construction market [...]
Benefits of Booker’s Makro deal start to show as profits rise 17pc October 17, 2013 Cash and carry group Booker reported higher first half sales and profits yesterday thanks to its recent acquisition of Makro, which the group said was helping to broaden the business. Sales in the 24 weeks to 13 September rose 16.5 per cent to £2.2bn on profits up 17 per cent to £58.1m. The food wholesaler [...]
BBA Aviation aims to appoint Sir Nigel Rudd as its new chairman October 15, 2013 SIR NIGEL Rudd, the outgoing chairman of Invensys, is expected to join the board of corporate jet firm BBA Aviation. Sir Nigel, who is also the chairman of Heathrow Airport Holdings, could be announced in the chair’s role at FTSE 250-listed BBA as soon as today, after the appointment was first reported by Sky News. [...]