Here’s why Japanese stocks have seen their worst day in five months January 14, 2014 Asian shares were in the wars today. The Nikkei 225 average tumbled 3.1 per cent in Tuesday trading – taking it to a one-month low and marking the biggest one-day drop in five months. The broader Topix dropped 2.3 per cent, and Asian ex-Japan shares were down 0.8 per cent. The shift into the red [...]
Barratt reports bumper sales as Help to Buy kicks in January 14, 2014 Britain's largest housebuilder, Barratt Developments, has reported a whopping 71 per cent rise in forward sales. The company also reported a 37 per cent rise in reservations as the government's controversial Help to Buy scheme continues to stoke up consumer demand. Mark Clare group chief executive, commented: As a result of the continued recovery of [...]
Capita wins back congestion charge contract January 14, 2014 Outsourcing giant Capita is to take over running the London congestion charge scheme. The five-year deal with Transport for London is expected to make the company £145m in revenue. Capita ran the initial congestion charge scheme from 2003 but lost the contract to IBM in 2009. According to a statement this morning, the firm [...]
Michael Page posts rising profits in wake of hiring boom January 14, 2014 Recruiter Michael Page has posted a rise in gross profit of 0.3 per cent for the fourth quarter. The improved results reflect strengthening performances from over half of 34 countries the firm operates in. Gross profit was £125m in the fourth quarter, which was down 1.2 per cent year-on-year in reported rates. Steve Ingham, Chief [...]
What you need to know before the open – 14/01 January 14, 2014 Europe is expected lower this morning after a late sell-off in the US. A slide in Asia saw the Nikkei fell 3.1 per cent – a one-month low – with the yen rising abruptly in trading today. The focus is on UK inflation numbers this morning. The expectation is for CPI to stay at the [...]
Asos storms forward as Christmas sales leap 38pc January 14, 2014 Asos' stellar Christmas has demonstrated the draw of online shopping over the high street – the fashion giant saw sales jump 38 per cent to £36m in the four months ended December. Analysts had predicted a 35 per cent rise in sales over the festive period; the store said it's enjoyed "another strong Christmas", with [...]
Solid business for Balfour Beatty as firm readies for Olympic conversion January 14, 2014 Construction firm Balfour Beatty has seen trading in line with the board's expectations from the time of the group's third quarter interim management statement on 5 November 2013. In professional services, performance was as expected. Balfour anticipates the year end order book for continuing businesses to be broadly in line with the £13.5bn from 31 [...]
CNBC Comment: UK fraud squad flounders behind US January 13, 2014 HOLLYWOOD loves a swindler. Leonardo DiCaprio’s role as a dwarf-tossing trader in The Wolf of Wall Street proves as much, and reinforces a modern-day misrepresentation of bankers as the real gangsters of New York. “My name is Jordan Belfort,” says DiCaprio in his opening line. “The year I turned 26, I made $49m, which really [...]
DailyFX: Analyst picks January 13, 2014 CURRENCY STRATEGIST CHRIS VECCHIO My pick: Short sterling-Aussie and sterling-yen Expertise: Fundamental and technical analysis Average time frame of trades: A few hours to a few weeks Near-term technical momentum has quickly shifted for the pound, which has seen yields drop over the past week. Tomorrow’s December UK consumer price index (CPI) report could affect [...]
Want to find love? This map might be your best shot January 13, 2014 It can be tricky to find that special someone, but this map could help. Single hot spots? More than half population of Islington, Manchester and Nottingham are single #becauseitsfriday pic.twitter.com/jTFErGMjTk — Johnny Morris (@Hamptons_JM) January 10, 2014 Put together by Johnny Morris, head of research at Hamptons International, this visualisation could be the lonely [...]