SSE share price edges down as it announces plans to close Ferrybridge power station May 20, 2015 The figures Being an energy giant isn't always easy these days – but results posted today showed profits before tax at SSE rose 24 per cent in the year to the end of March to £735.2m, from £592.5m the year before, although operating profits stayed flat, at £1.88bn. But the government's push to persuade energy customers to shop around more [...]
Marks & Spencer’s share price rises after it posts first profit increase in four years May 20, 2015 Marks & Spencer has beaten expectations as its returns to profit growth – but its full year results show a mixed performance across the group. Nevertheless investors were impressed with shares rising 1.4 per cent to 593p in mid-morning trade. [stockChart code="MKS" date="2015-05-20"] The figures Marks & Spencer has beaten expectations on its underlying pre-tax [...]
Plus500 says UK accounts may unlock today after temporary ban sent share price plunging May 19, 2015 Odey Asset Management has lifted its stake in beleaguered spread-betting firm Plus500 to 14 per cent, as the forex trading website says it will begin to unlock frozen UK accounts as early as today. The Israel-based tech firm was rocked on Monday when it announced it was temporarily banning UK customers from trading or [...]
Moneysupermarket share price dips as Simon Nixon cuts stake in website and rakes in £56m May 19, 2015 Entrepreneur Simon Nixon yesterday sold off a 3.7 per cent stake in Moneysupermarket.com, the price comparison website he set up in 1999, making him £56m. The sale of 20m shares, announced yesterday by Credit Suisse, cuts Nixon’s stake in the company down to 12.8 per cent. At 280p per share, the sale netted him [...]
HSBC to charge banks for euro deposits in response to low interest rates May 19, 2015 HSBC will soon be charging other banks that keep deposits with them, in response to the low-interest rate environment. Deposits of euros, Swiss Francs, Danish crowns and Swedish krona will be charged by Europe’s largest bank from August. But it will only affect banks, not other businesses or individuals. “HSBC charges banks for deposits they [...]
Rightmove moves to add school Ofsted ratings and catchment areas to all property listings May 19, 2015 Nine in ten parents in London say they consider the quality of local state schools when deciding where to move, according to a new survey from property website Rightmove. Eighty-four per cent of parents surveyed told Rightmove they would consider moving to be near a good school. More than a third of Londoners without [...]
Sainsbury’s Bank to partner with Western Union on money transfer service May 19, 2015 Sainsbury’s Bank has joined forces with Western Union to offer money transfer services in 170 of the food retailer’s stores across the UK. The supermarket chain has been ramping up its presence in financial services since taking full control of its banking arm last year, in a bid to boost profits and expand its [...]
TK Maxx owner’s thrill at the tills as savvy shoppers seek bargains May 19, 2015 TJX Companies, the US-listed firm behind discount fashion retailer TK Maxx, said sales increased by six per cent to $6.9bn (£4.5bn) in the first quarter, as demand for its cut-price products continued to grow. TJX runs 3,441 discount fashion and homeware shops across the US, Canada and Europe, and trades under brands including TJ Maxx, [...]
Land Securities share price rises as property developer hikes dividend amid lettings boom May 19, 2015 Shares in Land Securities rose almost three per cent yesterday, after the property developer hiked its dividend by 3.7 per cent, saying a boom in demand for commercial property had boosted its net asset value. The FTSE 100 company, which jointly owns the Walkie Talkie skyscraper in the City with Canary Wharf Group, said [...]
Crest Nicholson sees trade rise in a competitive housing market May 19, 2015 Housebuilder Crest Nicholson said yesterday that revisions to stamp duty and increasingly competitive pricing in the mortgage market led to strong trading in the six months ending 30 April. Sales per outlet per week for the six-month period were at 0.93, a 12 per cent increase on 0.83 in the first six months of 2014. [...]