ABNAmro in a 29m third quarter loss November 25, 2009 STATE-owned ABN Amro continued to be loss making in the third quarter as it prepared for a series of demerger steps that will allow the Dutch government to nurse it back to health and sell it back into private hands. Lower asset and liability management income weighed on third-quarter earnings, offsetting a slight improvement in [...]
Porsche struggles in the aftermath of its failed takeover of Volkswagen November 25, 2009 PORSCHE, the luxury carmaker, is headed for a second consecutive annual loss which is set to hit billions of euros, it said yesterday, as the hangover lingers from its failed takeover of Volkswagen. Its indebted automotive holding arm, which was created as a vehicle for the acquisition, will stay deeply in the red as it [...]
French Connection sees its sales up on currency gains November 25, 2009 FASHION group French Connection yesterday said that revenues in the three months to 30 October increased eight per cent year on year, with most of the rise due to favourable exchange rates rather than changes in underlying trade. Total retail sales in the UK and Europe grew by 0.6 per cent, with like-for-like sales edging [...]
Soldiers and school kids help Compass beat slump November 25, 2009 COMPASS Group,the world’s biggest caterer, showed its recession-proof credentials yesterday, posting a 33 per cent profit rise which topped market expectations and propelled its shares to a seven-year high. The company, which feeds office workers, soldiers and schoolchildren, said underlying pre-tax profit for the year to end September reached £784m, up from £589m the year [...]
A HEFTY DOSE OF CRUNCH-BUSTING CHRISTMAS CHEER HITS THE CITY November 24, 2009 AFTER the appearance of the traditional annual Coca Cola advert on our television screens heralded the official start to the festive season, it appears the corporate Christmas is truly in full swing. Demand for Christmas crackers is up a whopping 21 per cent from last year as cheap ‘n’ cheerful celebrations take precedent over luxurious [...]
Severn Trent profits rise as prices go up November 24, 2009 UTILITY Severn Trent saw its pre-tax profits surge yesterday, as a slump in consumption was offset by price rises. Profits went up by 51 per cent to £208.2m in the six months to September, beating analysts’ expectations. But Severn Trent still warned that demand was falling at a similar rate to last year. The group, [...]
Galleon founder denies insider trading charges and slams wire tap evidence November 24, 2009 RAJ RAJARATNAM, the billionaire founder of hedge fund firm Galleon, denied federal insider trading charges and accused the government of violating his constitutional rights with its use of wiretaps. Rajaratnam’s response to a US Securities and Exchange Commission civil complaint was filed in Manhattan federal court yesterday and may herald a broad attack on the [...]
Informa eyes German rival November 24, 2009 INFORMA, the trade magazine publisher and events organiser, yesterday confirmed it was eyeing a takeover bid for German rival Springer Science and Business Media. Shares in Informa, which publishes the world’s oldest newspaper Lloyd’s List, tumbled on the news that it was interested in acquiring debt-laden Springer, owned by private equity firms Candover and Cinven. [...]
Ex-FSA boss to grow deals at JC Flowers November 24, 2009 JC Flowers, the US private equity firm, has strengthened its ranks in the City and Europe by hiring former Financial Services Authority boss Callum McCarthy and veteran Australian banker David Morgan. London managing director Ravi Sinha will step down to make way for the high-profile recruits to the $11bn (£6.6bn) fund. JC Flowers was founded [...]
Hedge funds set to rebound by end of year November 24, 2009 INVESTMENT flows into hedge funds have turned net positive and the sector is heading towards having assets under management of around $1.75 trillion (£1.06 trillion) by year-end, according to Morgan Stanley. That would take them back up to levels last seen in the second quarter of 2007, it said. The investment bank said in a [...]