Reckitt Benckiser’s share price soars on better-than-expected full-year results February 15, 2016 Reckitt Benckiser's share price soared more than six per cent in early trading, after the consumer goods company unveiled better-than-expected full-year results. The FTSE 100 firm today posted a five per cent increase in sales to £8.87bn over the year, thanks to a particularly strong performance in its consumer health division, which includes brands such as [...]
Hinkley Point C final investment decision not on agenda at EDF board meeting today February 15, 2016 The widely anticipated final investment decision for Hinkley Point C won't be on the agenda of EDF's board meeting today, as some commentators had expected. The French energy giant's board will focus on the firm's 2015 earnings which are due to be released tomorrow, a source told Reuters. The final investment decision was delayed last month amid [...]
European bank share prices bounce – but report warns negative rates could make the sector’s woes even worse February 15, 2016 European banks looked more positive today, as markets continued Friday's rally. In the UK, HSBC was up 0.76 per cent to 443.75p, while Barclays was up 2.5 per cent to 161p. Lloyds was up 1.5 per cent to 59.39p, while Royal Bank of Scotland group rose 1.7 per cent to 244.3p. That came after HSBC confirmed [...]
Shell share price rises as it completes takeover of BG: But merger could make sense with oil prices below $60 per barrel February 15, 2016 When Shell announced the takeover of BG last year, Brent was around $55 per barrel. By the time the deal was approved earlier this year, the price of a barrel of crude was hovering around $30, continuing its downward trajectory which began in August 2014. To give some wider context, Brent at one point fell [...]
Alliance Trust’s share price rises after Katherine Garrett-Cox departure confirmed February 15, 2016 Alliance Trust's share price rose this morning, after the iconic fund confirmed chief executive Katherine Garrett-Cox was leaving through mutual agreement. Garrett-Cox will leave ATI on 11 March after months of discussion around her future at the company. It follows a major strategic review, which has already seen her step down from the board, after a showdown [...]
BAE Systems hires Expro boss Charles Woodburn in new role of chief operating officer – and possible Ian King replacement? February 15, 2016 BAE Systems has appointed Expro boss Charles Woodburn in its newly created role of chief operating officer. Woodburn has been chief executive of the oil business – which is owned by a consortium including Goldman Sachs and Arle Capital Partners – for the last five years. He is also a non-executive director of Seadrill and has more than 20 [...]
Shell share price rises as boss Ben van Beurden hails “significant moment” after £35bn takeover of BG Group goes through February 15, 2016 The energy sector's mega-merger has shrugged off the global market turmoil and collapsing oil price to go through: Royal Dutch Shell now owns the entire share capital of BG. The £35bn takeover, which was first announced in April last year, has come under greater scrutiny as a result of plummeting oil prices, with a number of shareholders [...]
Average UK rents rise at slowest pace in three years February 15, 2016 UK rents rose at their slowest pace in three years in January, new research out today shows, despite still being well above their pre-crisis peak. Countrywide’s monthly lettings index shows average rents rose by 1.2 per cent year-on-year in January to £906 per month – the slowest rate of growth since 2012 – in a sign [...]
We’re staying: HSBC decides to keep its headquarters in London, UK, after an “exhaustive” review process that narrowed it down to the capital and Hong Kong February 15, 2016 Global banking giant HSBC revealed late last night that it has decided to keep its headquarters in London, ending months of uncertainty over whether it would quit the UK and move to a rival financial centre. A statement from the bank called the UK an “important and globally connected economy”, with “an internationally respected regulatory framework [...]
Retail footfall bounces back in January to reach two-year high February 15, 2016 Retailers enjoyed their biggest jump in footfall last month in almost two years after disappointing Christmas when shoppers shunned the high street in favour of buying online. Traffic to stores on the high street, shopping centres and retail parks rose by 1.2 per cent in January compared with a year ago, figures from retail analysts Springboard [...]