Taylor Swift’s withdrawal signals trouble for Spotify – Brand Index November 11, 2014 To the dismay of fans the world over, in the last week Taylor Swift decided to remove all her songs and albums from the music streaming service Spotify. But what does this say about the future of the service, the way we engage with music, and the industry itself? The numbers leave us in no [...]
Land Securities buoyed by rush for office space November 11, 2014 LAND Securities posted a better-than-expected leap in the value of its portfolio in the first half of the year, thanks to strong demand from companies keen to take up space in its buildings. The FTSE 100 landlord behind the Walkie Talkie skyscraper in the City said like-for-like rents jumped 2.2 per cent in the six [...]
Taylor Wimpey bumps up profit forecast despite cooling market November 11, 2014 TAYLOR Wimpey yesterday upgraded its full-year profit margin forecast, thanks to a rise in sales, even as the effects of the government’s Help-to-Buy scheme launched last year began to fade. Chief executive Pete Redfern said housing market conditions “moderated, but remained positive” over the summer, echoing comments made by other builders of the cooling conditions. [...]
Hyundai’s land purchase woes spark buyback November 11, 2014 HYUNDAI and its affiliate Kia Motors yesterday announced they would buy back a combined 670bn won (£383m) of shares, marking the South Korean auto makers’ latest efforts to appease investors angered by the company buying property at three times it value. Hyundai said it would buy back 449bn won of common and preferred shares, while [...]
Drinks giant Diageo drops KPMG for PwC as new rules come in November 11, 2014 Diageo announced yesterday that it had replaced its auditor KPMG with rival PwC, to bring it in line with new regulations compelling companies to consider changing their accountants every decade. The alcoholic drinks giant – which produces Guinness – said PwC’s appointment would take effect for Diageo’s financial year ending 30 June 2016, subject to [...]
OptiBiotix Health inks deal with Reading University to start pharma trials November 11, 2014 OptiBiotix Health yesterday announced it had signed a deal with the University of Reading to start clinical studies on the company’s products. The deal will cover the start of clinical trials testing OptiBiotix’s first product, a capsular food supplement designed to reduce cholesterol. The data from the studies, which will involve one of its Lactobacillus [...]
Mortgage Advice Bureau IPO: Housing boom helps broker’s stock flotation November 11, 2014 The Mortgage Advice Bureau (Mab) defied choppy markets to price its initial public offering (IPO) yesterday. It has achieved healthy growth this year on the back of a strong housing market, and buyers looking for more help on loans as the prospects of an interest rate rise grow. The loan brokerage is set [...]
Centaur upbeat on 2015 outlook November 11, 2014 SHARES of business publisher Centaur Media rose yesterday after the group said the next six months would see “much stronger performance” for the firm. Centaur reported a significant improvement in trading during the four months to 31 October, with a six per cent jump in underlying revenues during the period. “We are confident of delivering [...]
Tarsus swoops for US medical conference in $12.8m takeover November 11, 2014 EXHIBITIONS group Tarsus has bought US dermatology conference South Beach Symposium from SBS Medical Education in a deal worth $12.8m (£8m). Tarsus said the transaction, which consisted of $6.4m in cash and $6.4m payable on completion and through to 2018, would expand the group’s medical business. “The acquisition of SBS is another key step in [...]
CRH says sales growth slows November 11, 2014 Building materials company CRH yesterday said its operating earnings and like-for-like sales grew in the third quarter, although at a slower pace than in the first half, as growing demand in the US offset moderating markets in Europe. It also reiterated its forecast for earnings growth of about 10 per cent in the whole of [...]