Regulators list problems with Poundland’s £55m 99p Stores merger June 25, 2015 Britain’s competition watchdog unveiled a list of issues it is exploring around Poundland’s £55m merger with 99p Stores after the discount chain agreed to push ahead with an in-depth probe last month. Poundland, which floated on the stock market last year, announced in February that it was going to buy 99p Stores. However, the Competition [...]
Wood Group is ahead of target on savings plan as it warns on finances June 25, 2015 Oil and gas services company Wood Group said yesterday that its financial performance in the first half of 2015 will be down on the same period in 2014, as a result of the “challenging” conditions in the market. The firm said in a trading update that it is making savings “significantly in excess of [...]
Equities down over Greece – New York Report June 25, 2015 AUS Supreme Court ruling upholding tax subsidies boosted US hospital stocks to record highs yesterday, while global equity markets edged lower on lingering worries over Greece. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 75.71 points, or 0.42 per cent, to 17,890.36, the S&P 500 lost 6.27 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 2,102.31 and the Nasdaq [...]
Uber protests France: Taxi drivers block roads and burn tyres in Paris June 25, 2015 French taxi drivers have blocked roads to airports and stations in Paris with cars and burning tyres as part of huge protests against Uber. Read more: Boris Johnson says Uber drivers must pass black cab style Knowledge test The protest force is made up of thousands of drivers, as conflict between taxi drivers and the taxi [...]
London Stock Exchange Group buoyed by rise in volumes – but Aim still suffering June 25, 2015 Things were looking up for London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) in the five months to the end of May – although volumes were less encouraging on its junior market. The figures New issues on LSEG's main markets were up 29 per cent in the period, while average daily UK equity value traded was up eight per [...]
Debenhams share price edges up after reporting better than expected results June 25, 2015 Struggling department store Debenhams has had a better-than-expected quarter, but with the share price up just a notch it seems investors are still unsure. The figures Debenhams' like-for-likes were flat for the 15 weeks to 13th June, and up 0.9 per cent for the 41 weeks – ahead of analyst expectations of a decline [...]
Standard Chartered chief executive Bill Winters is shifting power abroad June 25, 2015 Standard Chartered's new chief executive Bill Winters is planning a structural shake-up of the bank, which includes handing over power to the bank's regional zones. Read more: Standard Chartered share price rises following appointment of Bill Winters as chief executive The London-listed bank operates in over 70 countries, but has some key regional hubs, [...]
McLaren profits accelerate as supercar deliveries worldwide increase June 25, 2015 Sales at McLaren Automotive are clearly speeding forward: figures published this morning showed pre-tax profits accelerated 233 per cent to £15m in the year to the end of December – up from £4m during the same period in 2013. Profit after tax on a constant currency basis was also up to £8.5m – a 331 [...]
Standard Life to shut down Singapore arm June 25, 2015 Standard Life is closing its insurance business in Singapore, swallowing a £45m loss, it revealed today. The FTSE 100 company said the closure would go ahead subject to regulatory approvals, but that it was now no longer accepting new applications or contributions to existing plans. Customers in Singapore will be contacted with an [...]
Afren’s share price soars as it reveals entire board is stepping down at today’s AGM June 25, 2015 Afren's share price jumped nearly 20 per cent this morning after it emerged the entire board, including chairman Egbert Imomoh, will step down after today's AGM. As well as Imomah, Toby Hayward, Patrick Obath, Sheree Bryant and Iain McLaren will not stand for re-election as directors. Imomah said: "The past year has been [...]