Fast internet is top priority for home buyers October 26, 2014 A RELIABLE, high speed broadband connection is an increasingly important factor for potential property buyers and renters. Research released today by the Halifax shows that 20 per cent of UK adults are prepared to pay more for a home with a good broadband connection. Of those surveyed, 18 per cent said it was a consideration [...]
City Moves for 27 October 2014 | Who’s switching jobs October 26, 2014 PwC The professional services firm has appointed Tim Reay as a director of its pensions team. Reay has 30 years of experience, and joins from Aeon Hewitt. He is also the treasurer and former chairman of the International Employee Benefits Association. Purplebricks.com Former Capita boss Paul Pindar, and Nick Discombe, former chief executive of several [...]
Armadale gold mine sees value jump to $55.3m October 26, 2014 INVESTMENT company Armadale Capital has revealed that its Mpokoto Gold Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo has increased in post-tax value by 68 per cent to $55.3m (£38.4m). The mine, which was purchased by Armadale in August 2013, was previously valued at $33m in a scoping study carried out in April. The new value, [...]
Ophir ready to snap Salamander up if sale to Sona falls through October 26, 2014 Oil firm Ophir Energy is preparing a takeover bid for London-listed Salamander Energy, in competition with Spanish energy company Cepsa. The offers could value Salamander at more than £275m. Salamander was up for sale earlier this year, but took itself off the market and instead agreed in June to sell a 40 per cent interest [...]
Smaller energy players forcing drop in prices October 26, 2014 ENERGY secretary Ed Davey advised households that they could save £200 on average by choosing a new energy tariff due to increased competition in the market. “I want people to get a better deal on their energy bills. Some of the new smaller suppliers are cutting prices and forcing bigger players to respond. Over two [...]
Best of the Brokers for 27 October 2014 October 26, 2014 To appear in Best of the Brokers, email your research to notes@cityam.com PEARSON Westhouse Securities reiterated its “sell” recommendation following Pearson’s update for the nine months to September which showed declining sales and revenues. The broker said Pearson is “a quality company that should benefit from long-term growth in global learning spend”. SHIRE S&P Capital [...]
Banks to report as BT is likely to reveal growth – London Report October 26, 2014 THIS WEEK sees a number of banks reporting, with four of the UK’s five biggest lenders due to reveal third-quarter results. Lloyds and Standard Chartered report tomorrow. With Lloyds the focus is expected to be on 9,000 job cuts and a string of branch closures. Standard Chartered’s execs have been under pressure this year. After [...]
US Fed set to call time on its stimulus plan – New York Report October 26, 2014 UNLESS it springs a major surprise, the US Federal Reserve will call time this week on its programme of government bond purchases, which at one point was pumping $85bn (£52.83bn) a month into financial markets and the economy. The Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) interest rate-setting is meeting on Wednesday. Other indicators include Tuesday’s data [...]
HS3 rail line: Cameron and Osborne back plans to cut journey times and create “northern power house” October 26, 2014 Both the Prime Minister and the chancellor will back plans for a high-speed rail line in the North of England dubbed HS3. The route will link Manchester and Leeds and is part of George Osborne's vision to create a "northern powerhouse" to extend economic prosperity beyond London and the South East. HS3 would slash the [...]
Poll: Ukip could win a third of voters in 2015 October 26, 2014 The good times keep on rolling for Nigel Farage's Eurosceptic party, with a new Opinium/Observer poll showing 31 per cent of voters would be willing to back Ukip if they thought they had a decent chance of winning in their constituency. Of those willing to consider ticking the purple box on polling day 25 per [...]