Political uncertainty unnerves consumers April 14, 2010 THE impending general election and the recent Budget have caused British consumers to lose confidence in both the current economic situation and their expectations for the coming year, the Nationwide consumer confidence survey will show today. According to the monthly report, the overall index fell by nine points to 72 last month from 81 in [...]
Fresnillo produces record gold output in the first quarter April 14, 2010 MEXICAN precious metals miner Fresnillo posted record first quarter gold output after the launch of its new Soledad-Dipolos mine, the first leg of an expansion that will also boost its silver production by up to 70 per cent by 2018. London-listed Fresnillo, the world’s largest primary silver producer, is focusing on organic growth after finding [...]
CITY VIEWS: HAS YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THE ECONOMY IMPROVED? April 14, 2010 CHRIS DIAMOND | SKYPE “Yes, I’d say so. I feel the economy is rebounding and I’m spending more money than I would have a few months ago. My spending habits have increased on necessary purchases such as groceries, but for now, luxury items have been put on hold.” MARK DUFF | TRISYSTEMS “I don’t think [...]
Eurozone gets production boost April 14, 2010 Eurozone industrial output rose much more than expected in February, data showed yesterday, highlighting the manufacturing sector’s strong role in economic recovery. Industrial production in the 16-country bloc increased 0.9 per cent from January, the European Union statistics office Eurostat said. Output rose 4.1 per cent year-on-year, the biggest jump since April 2008. Analysts had [...]
France launches HSBC data probe April 14, 2010 French prosecutors have launched a money-laundering probe based on data stolen by an ex-employee of banking group HSBC, claiming it affected thousands of French clients with Swiss accounts. Prosecutor Eric de Montgolfier said the affair involved 8,231 French customers of HSBC who had accounts in Switzerland. Accounts held by around 7,000 Italians were also being [...]
JD Sports profits surge April 14, 2010 RETAILER JD Sports Fashion yesterday reported a 26 per cent rise in annual profits and hiked its dividend. Pre-tax profits before exceptional items surged to £67.4m in the year to 30 January – up from £53.6m last year. Like-for-like sales were up two per cent in the ten weeks to 10 April. The company said [...]
Homeserve’s US buy seen as positive April 14, 2010 SHARES in home insurance group Homeserve rose over five per cent yesterday after it announced the acquisition of US company National Grid Energy. The company, which provides cover for emergencies such as broken boilers and overflowing washing machines was one of the biggest climbers on the FTSE 250 after its expansion into the US market. [...]
Amadeus to raise €1.4bn in flotation April 14, 2010 TRAVEL and tourism technology firm Amadeus aims to raise up to €1.36bn (£1.20bn) when it returns to the Madrid stock exchange later this month in Europe’s largest IPO this year. Amadeus, with €2.46bn of revenues in 2009, was delisted four years ago when BC Partners and Cinven bought their stake from airlines Air France, Lufthansa [...]
Tullett defends Smith’s £4.65m pay deal April 14, 2010 INTER-DEALER broker Tullett Prebon yesterday strongly defended the payment of a £4m bonus to chief executive Terry Smith after a year in which its operating profits fell. Operating profits at Tullett fell from £175.3m to £170.8m but Smith was awarded a total pay package of £4.65m, the same pay as he received the previous year. [...]
Director jailed for bribery April 14, 2010 A FORMER senior executive of a unit of US healthcare group Johnson & Johnson was yesterday jailed for a year after helping to pay more than £4.5m in bribes to Greek doctors for their business. Robert John Dougall – when he was vice president of Leeds-based DePuy and marketing director of DePuy International, both Johnson [...]