Are Centrica shares a buy at 20-year low? February 24, 2019 | City Talk At prices not seen since 1999, a 10 per cent dividend yield appears tempting, but it's not that straightforward. Two years ago, Centrica (LSE:CNA) shares were worth over 230p. Today they dived 12 per cent to just 120p. Last time they were that low you could have bought a loaf of bread for 51p* and Shanks & [...]
Most Brits struggle with ethical finances, research shows February 23, 2019 The majority of people try to live ethically but fall short when it comes to their finances, new research shows. A total of 71 per cent of Brits said they generally live their life ethically however, a fifth of people said they make socially responsible choices for their finances, according to a survey by digital [...]
Why Lloyds Banking Group pleased its City fan club February 22, 2019 | City Talk Our head of markets explains why the City reacted positively to these results despite a profits miss. Despite missing expectations at a pre-tax profit level, Lloyds Banking Group (LSE:LLOY) is not only in rude health but also has a clear vision on where next to take the business. The bank describes its own model as [...]
Artificial intelligence could lead to huge rewards, but we must break down the barriers to AI adoption February 22, 2019 Data, both the business and personal kind, is fast becoming an essential utility like transport, energy, and water. It is critical to the efficient functioning of modern life, and I honestly do not believe that we could do without it. How we live, administer, manufacture, invest, plan, research, sell, buy, deliver, and even connect with [...]
A lesson for investors from the true life of Carlos Ghosn February 22, 2019 | City Talk Investors’ fondness for a good story is a theme we have often touched upon, here on The Value Perspective – though never in so literal a way as fortnightly Japanese manga magazine Big Comic Superior once managed. Back in 2001, it ran a comic strip chronicling the life of Carlos Ghosn, who rescued Nissan from [...]
Pearson to unveil £500m pension insurance deal with Legal & General February 21, 2019 Publishing giant Pearson is set to announce a £500m deal with Legal & General (L&G) in a bid to shore up its pensions liabilities, Sky News reported. The FTSE 100 firm, which specialises in education, will announce the deal tomorrow alongside its annual results, according to the report. Read more: Pearson sells US school textbook [...]
Rathbone Brothers boosts profits but warns of Brexit impact on funds February 21, 2019 Wealth manager Rathbone Brothers said today it had boosted its-full year profit but warned Brexit could affect the value of its funds. Underlying operating income in investment management grew to £275.3m for the year to 31 December, up from £254.6m the previous year. That figure includes £8.7m in relation to Scottish wealth manager Speirs and [...]
Kevin Hart, the Oscars, and social media – don’t leave any skeletons in your online closet February 21, 2019 The Academy Awards and drama go hand in hand, but this year’s choice of host dominated the news for all the wrong reasons. In December, homophobic tweets made by the chosen host, American comedian Kevin Hart, resurfaced from the late 2000s. The Academy offered him an ultimatum: apologise or step down. He went for the [...]
Investors afraid German economic slowdown will hit recruiter Hays Group February 21, 2019 Recruitment firm Hays Group shares fell 6.9 per cent this morning amid fears of a German slowdown, despite announcing rising profits and revenues. The company also admitted it was battling “economic uncertainties” in the UK, but that other global markets were strong in its interim results The figures Operating profit for the six months to [...]
If you’re so successful, why are you still working 70 hours a week? February 21, 2019 | City Talk Professor Empson’s book argues that the people leading the world’s most influential professional firms, including major accounting and consulting firms, law firms and investment banks, are constantly working to maintain an unstable equilibrium which can be thrown off balance at any time, losing them authority and potentially cause chaos. In one key chapter in her [...]
