Debenhams’ and Spire’s share prices lead the fallers on the FTSE 250 after analysts’ warnings December 3, 2015 Debenhams and Spire Healthcare were the two biggest fallers on a buoyant FTSE 250 today following on from analysts' warnings. Retailer Debenhams was down 4.45 per cent to 79.2p per share in early-afternoon trading, after a note from Goldman Sachs cast doubt on its profit outlook. Read more: Debenhams set for shareholder leadership coup Analysts at Goldman Sachs said the outlook for profits for [...]
Starcom share price soars as it clinches largest contract to date December 3, 2015 Shares in Starcom closed up almost 40 per cent yesterday after soaring as much as 91.1 per cent earlier after the tech company revealed its largest contract to date. Aim-listed Israeli company Starcom announced the three-year $5.5m (£3.65m) deal to supply Helios units to Pinnacle Systems, a Nairobi, Kenya-based company which specialises in fleet management [...]
Markit PMI: Eurozone economy picks up momentum in November led by Ireland and Spain December 3, 2015 The Eurozone economy hobbled along at a moderate rate of growth in November, according to figures released this morning. Markit's purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the Eurozone edged up to a four-month high of 54.2 in November, from October's 53.9. It was also slightly less than an earlier estimate of 54.4 published last week. Scores above [...]
Shell wins final Australian approval for its takeover of BG December 3, 2015 Oil major Shell has received the final nod from an Australian regulator for its proposed $70bn (£47bn) acquisition of BG group, meaning China is now the last regulatory hurdle it has left to clear. Approval from Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board means Shell has satisfied four out of five pre-conditions necessary for the deal to go ahead. The company added it [...]
Markit’s service sector survey eases concerns over economic growth December 3, 2015 The UK's service sector grew at a faster rate in November, easing concerns that the economy was slowing after weak figures for construction and manufacturing. Markit's service sector purchasing managers' index – a survey of firms – scored 55.9 for November from 54.9 in October. It is a four-month high and is further above the [...]
Euro rises as European Central Bank boss Mario Draghi is expected to ramp up monetary stimulus programme at the December meeting December 3, 2015 This morning investors are gearing up for a widely anticipated early Christmas present from the European Central Bank (ECB), due later today. The ECB is expected to ramp up its monetary stimulus programme for the embattled Eurozone economy, against a backdrop of persistently low inflation and disappointing lending by banks. There are a number of ways the Bank could [...]
Christmas comes early for drivers: Diesel drops to its lowest price in six years in November, as petrol continues to fall December 3, 2015 If you're planning on driving long distances this Christmas, at least it'll be cheaper this year, after data suggested diesel fell to its lowest price since February 2009 in November. The RAC said this morning that the average pump price for diesel fell to 109.48p per litre at the end of November, down from 109.77p [...]
Former Barclays chief executive Antony Jenkins was “surprised” at being sacked December 3, 2015 Former Barclays chief executive Antony Jenkins has spoken of his surprise at being sacked from one of banking's top jobs this summer – but admitted "these things happen" The "nice guy of banking" has spoken publicly for the first time about the event in which the bank's new chairman, John "Mack the Knife" McFarlane, said a new style was [...]
AB Inbev confirms plans to sell part of SABMiller’s business, aka Peroni, Grolsch – and UK craft brewer Meantime December 3, 2015 Soon to be wed, AB Inbev and SABMiller have confirmed they're looking at ways of appeasing their parents, ie. competition regulators, by exploring the sale of three of SAB's biggest European brands. Yep: as has been rumoured in the past few days, Peroni and Grolsch may be put up for sale, the pair said in statements today – [...]
Barclays is selling its Italian retail banks to Mediobanca’s CheBanca! business December 3, 2015 Barclays is about to offload its Italian retail banking operations, the company announced today. It will sell its network of branches, amounting to 89 in total, to CheBanca! – a unit of Italian investment firm Mediobanca. The transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of next year, and is part of Barclays' [...]