GOVERNANCE TRAINSPOTTERS GET KNICKERS IN A TWIST OVER FLINT September 27, 2010 IT’S been a tiring week for HSBC, which is currently juggling the handling of a full-scale management game of musical chairs, the fallout from its leaky succession-planning AND a band of disgruntled sticklers for corporate governance among its shareholder base. So it’ll come as a welcome surprise for the bank to learn that a conservative [...]
AIG forced to defend suit over subprime exposure September 27, 2010 A JUDGE yesterday refused to dismiss a securities fraud lawsuit accusing American International Group (AIG)?of misleading investors about its exposure to subprime mortgages, which led to a liquidity crisis and $182.3bn of federal bailouts. The ruling by US district judge Laura Taylor Swain allows the case to go forward and could pave the way for [...]
EU ends Apple probe September 27, 2010 European Union competition regulators said yesterday they will drop an investigation into US computer giant Apple after the company eased restrictions on programming tools and cross-border warranties for the iPhone. The move comes after Apple changed its policies to make it easier for iPhone users to get repairs under warranty in an EU country other [...]
Flash crash sparked by order surge September 27, 2010 A surge in quote traffic immediately followed by heavy sales of key securities sparked the “flash crash” on US stockmarkets on 6 May, datafeed vendor Nanex said yesterday. The sale of $125m worth of Chicago Mercantile Exchange S&P500 stock index e-mini futures contracts followed 25 milliseconds later by the sale of more than $100m worth [...]
Aberdeen inflows up on equity sales September 27, 2010 FUND firm Aberdeen Asset Management said yesterday that inflows accelerated over the summer, with clients favouring equity funds despite volatile markets which have made investors cautious. The firm reported a net £621m of new inflows during July and August, above the £337m in the previous three months. The firm’s equity and money markets funds saw [...]
Japan set for fresh stimulus as growth slows September 27, 2010 JAPANESE Prime Minister Naoto Kan ordered his ministers yesterday to plan a second budget for the remainder of the financial year amid concern the country’s economy is faltering. A government official said spending could total 4.6 trillion yen (£34.5bn) but would not require additional government bonds to be issued. However, economics minister Banri Kaieda called [...]
CHINA AIRLINES TO PAY $40M FINE September 27, 2010 CHINA Airlines yesterday pleaded guilty and agreed to pay a $40m (£25.2m) fine in the US for price-fixing related to its cargo business. The US Department of Justice has said that the Taiwan-based airline conspired to fix cargo prices between January 2001 and February 2006. China Airlines will pay the fine in annual instalments over [...]
Carlyle launches student housing investment push September 27, 2010 CARLYLE Group, the private equity firm known for its large-scale investments in the defence industry, yesterday sealed a joint venture deal with Generation Estates, kickstarting its next big push in the student accommodation sector. Carlyle, led by co-founder David Rubenstein, and Generation said they had acquired one site in Highbury and Islington and are progressing [...]
China bid for UB gives Cable a headache September 27, 2010 United Biscuits could be the next iconic British firm to be snapped up by a foreign buyer, posing a fresh problem for embattled business secretary Vince Cable. China’s Bright Food Group has its eye on a $3.2bn (£2bn) bid for the maker of Jaffa Cakes and McVities biscuits. Cable has campaigned for tougher regulation to [...]
3i ramps up debt operations with £18m Mizuho purchase September 27, 2010 PRIVATE equity group 3i yesterday moved to expand its reach into the debt management space, snapping up debt specialist Mizuho Investment Management (MIM) for £18.3m. MIM will merge with 3i’s existing small-scale debt activities to create a third substantial string to the firm’s bow, alongside its private equity and infrastructure arms. The new business – [...]