Another year of profit losses for French Connection March 14, 2017 High street fashion shop, French Connection, has reported yet another year of losses. The figures French Connection said revenues for 2016 were £153.2m, down six per cent, compared to last year’s £164.2m. The company declared an underlying operating loss of £3.7m this year, compared to £4.7m last year. It has less cash this year and [...]
Sterling falls to eight-week low as traders take in Prime Minister Theresa May’s newly granted Article 50 powers March 14, 2017 Sterling has wiped out all of yesterday’s gains against the dollar as traders take in the imminent triggering of Article 50. Prime Minister Theresa May last night gained the consent of Parliament to start the process of leaving the EU. The pound fell to its lowest point since mid-January to reach lows of $1.2110 against [...]
Computacenter promises jam tomorrow as UK was “disappointing” this year March 13, 2017 IT infrastructure company Computacenter today said its UK performance for 2016 was disappointing but says next year will be “a year of progress overall” for the group. The figures Adjusted profit before tax fell by £0.5m to £86.4m, as adjusted revenues rose to £3.2bn from £3bn in 2015. The company declared a dividend of 22.2p per share, [...]
Clarkson hits choppy waters but sees plain sailing ahead March 13, 2017 Shipping broker Clarkson told investors in its preliminary results today that the outlook for profits in the medium term is good. The company said there “are now a number of indicators of improvement in the industry via measurable, if as yet relatively modest, demand growth and a slowing in the new capacity reaching the market.” [...]
Sterling sustains strength as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon signals second Scottish referendum March 13, 2017 Markets have stayed steady despite First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announcing she will seek a second referendum on Scottish independence. Against the US dollar sterling was broadly unchanged at the time of publication, sustaining gains of around 0.48 per cent, after reaching highs of $1.2240. The FTSE 100 meanwhile did not give up any gains, remaining [...]
Bitcoin’s back over $1,200 despite the Winklevoss twins’ ETF disappointment March 13, 2017 Bitcoin surged upwards overnight after it took a dive at the end of last week when the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) denied approval for Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss to list a bitcoin only exchange-traded fund (ETF). The twins' hopes were dashed on Friday after the US regulator said it wasn't happy with the fact the [...]
What will happen to sterling against the US dollar when Prime Minister Theresa May triggers Article 50? We asked the experts March 13, 2017 Now the Budget is out of the way with barely a mention of Brexit, currency traders’ attentions can turn to the next big set-piece event in the political calendar: the moment Prime Minister Theresa May triggers Article 50. May could notify the EU as soon as tomorrow if MPs in the House of Commons vote [...]
UK oil services companies John Wood Group and Amec Foster Wheeler in £5bn merger deal March 13, 2017 Two UK oil services firms have agreed to a £5bn merger. John Wood Group announced this morning it had agreed a takeover deal for FTSE 250-listed Amec Foster Wheeler. Amec’s share price jumped 18 per cent to £5.76 at the time of writing, while John Wood’s was up eight per cent to £8.10. [stockChart code="AMFW" date="2017-03-13 [...]
London IPO market set for £30bn boost, with Logicor, O2, Misys, TI Fluid Systems, BGL Group and Kuwait Energy weighing up flotations March 12, 2017 London is set to benefit from up to £30bn of flotations in the coming months, with Logicor, O2, and Misys among a number of high-profile companies weighing up initial public offerings (IPOs) in the capital. After a rocky end to 2016, when several deals were pulled due to market uncertainty, 2017 saw a subdued start. [...]
The price of gold has fallen below $1,200 ahead of the Fed’s next decision March 10, 2017 Global commodities are taking a battering this week. After oil prices fell below the critical $50 a barrel point yesterday, gold has now dipped lower than $1,200 an ounce. The safe have asset has fallen 0.57 per cent, or $6.90, to $1,196.30 per ounce for the first time in more than a month. Miners of the yellow metal [...]