Boris follows Cameron to the Two Cities lunch April 15, 2014 PUNDITS watching to see if Boris Johnson will try to return to parliament and run in the next election might be pricking their ears at the news from the Two Cities Conservative fundraiser. Following David Cameron’s guest appearance at last year’s do, Boris Johnson has been revealed as this year’s guest and by all accounts, [...]
Chinese money supply rising at slowest pace for over a decade April 15, 2014 THE MONEY supply in China is growing at the weakest pace since 2001, according to official figures released yesterday, as analysts prepare for an announcement of more modest GDP growth today. M2, a measure of the amount of money in the economy, grew by only 12.1 per cent during the year to March. Last year, [...]
Exports widen Eurozone trade surplus April 15, 2014 THE EUROZONE’S trade surplus expanded in February according to figures published yesterday in Brussels, with the size of Germany’s exports continuing to raise the prospect of a growing political row. If Germany’s current account surplus grows to an even greater level this year, as is expected to happen by many economists, the European Commission may decide [...]
Worries over Ukraine weigh on investor sentiment in Germany April 15, 2014 INVESTOR morale has been knocked by the recent political turmoil in Ukraine, according to a leading German survey released yesterday. The Zew index declined for a fourth straight month in April, dipping to 43.2 from 46.6 in March. Yet while investors are worried about potential effects from Ukraine, the environment remains positive for now. The [...]
UK most sceptical of paying for education April 15, 2014 BRITISH parents are among the least likely to say that paying for a child’s education is a good investment, according to a report released this morning. HSBC research into priorities for education in 15 countries reveals that only 35 per cent of parents in the UK say that paying for schooling is the best investment [...]
Davey writes to firms about Eco April 15, 2014 Energy secretary Ed Davey yesterday wrote to the gas and electricity suppliers, calling for more detailed information on the cost of the Energy Company Obligation (Eco), a scheme that obligates the larger firms to install energy-saving measures in customers’ homes. Energy UK and regulator Ofgem said they welcomed proposals that increased transparency.
ABG strikes gold in West Kenya April 15, 2014 FTSE 250-listed miner African Barrick Gold yesterday said its West Kenyan test site has shown signs of significant gold mineralisation. Edison analyst Charles Gibson said the results were “encouraging” and “should boost the perception of Kenya as a destination for exploration investment”. ABG shares fell 2.4 per cent, mirroring a fall in the price of gold.
Hochschild silver output on track April 15, 2014 Hochschild Mining, the FTSE 250-quoted precious metals explorer, yesterday said first-quarter silver production hit 5.9m ounces, beating analysts’ expectations, and that it is on track to reach a full-year target of 21m silver ounces. The firm added that it is continuing with its cost cutting programme, which is expected to deliver around $200m (£119.6m) of [...]
Brand Index: Ryanair takes to the airwaves to boost friendly image April 15, 2014 AS PART of Ryanair’s quest to revamp its image, the low-cost airline has launched its first TV campaign in 25 years. The improvement in consumers’ view of the brand since it announced its customer service overhaul, last autumn, has cooled, but there has been a modest increase in the number of people who say they [...]
NextEnergy Solar Fund raises £85.6m from London flotation April 15, 2014 NEXTENERGY Solar Fund, an investment company solely focused on solar energy assets in the UK, today said it has raised £85.6m from its initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange. The firm initially hoped to raise £150m, but chief executive Michael Bonte-Friedheim told City A.M. that this was reduced as “a consequence of a [...]