Morrisons share price down after sales fall, despite slower rate under new boss David Potts May 7, 2015 The figures The Bradford-based retailer said that like-for-likes excluding fuel were down 2.9 per cent in the 13 weeks to 13 May. However, this was slightly less than analysts' forecasts of a decline of three per cent. Shares in Morrisons were trading down two per cent at 176.2 pence per share this morning. Why it's interesting [...]
Greece’s creditors deny a split as Monday deal hopes fade May 6, 2015 Greece’s creditors yesterday hit back at claims they were obstructing negotiations with the cash-strapped country, while officials cast doubt on an agreement being reached at a meeting of finance ministers on Monday. The Greek finance ministry also denied reports it was about to tax bank transactions or wealthy families to alleviate its fiscal position. “The [...]
Integrated Diagnostics Holdings IPO: Bravest bankers in the City float on election day May 6, 2015 Deutsche Bank successfully priced a main-market flotation on the London Stock Exchange yesterday, on the eve of the most uncertain General Elections in decades. Despite claims that investors would not stump up funds at the time of a close vote, Integrated Diagnostics Holdings’ initial public offering (IPO) came through successfully. The stock even rose sharply [...]
21st Century Fox earnings down despite box office film successes May 6, 2015 Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox yesterday reported a hit to its earnings for the third quarter, after asset sales and the fact it did not show the Super Bowl. Net income fell seven per cent to $975m (£640m), from $1.06bn a year earlier. The media giant posted quarterly revenues of $US6.8bn, which were down from [...]
Tidjane Thiam’s last Prudential results put spotlight on Asia while UK business lags May 6, 2015 Outgoing Prudential boss Tidjane Thiam yesterday said the company was no longer seeking to grow in the US and UK, and would instead focus on expanding in the Asian market. Thiam delivered his last set of results as the head of the insurance group, which detailed the firm’s 22nd consecutive quarter of growth. Sales across [...]
Legal & General faces down pension changes in record first quarter May 6, 2015 Insurance and investment group Legal & General (L&G) delivered a record performance in the first quarter of 2015, with cash generation up to £330m, an 11 per cent increase on the same period last year. General insurance gross written premium fell by four per cent to £81m, which the company attributed to “disciplined pricing”, noting [...]
City pay revolts make a return: Investors are once again feeling uneasy about executive rewards May 6, 2015 Three years on from the so-called “shareholder spring” and listed hedge fund Man Group is again facing murmurs of discontent from investors over pay. The FTSE 250 group, led by chief executive Manny Roman, has put forward a plan to boost executive pay rewards and make it “competitive in the marketplace”. However influential advisory firm [...]
Standard Chartered warns compliance costs are mounting as it stays in the UK May 6, 2015 An increasing number of compliance staff are paid seven-figure salaries at Standard Chartered, the bank’s bosses told shareholders yesterday, as it battles to make sure it does not pay more mega-fines. The UK-based emerging markets specialist has been hit with fines for breaking US sanctions, and is increasingly beefing up its anti-money laundering teams. Chairman [...]
Sainsbury’s dividend hit as profits plunge: Supermarket joins “horror show of income slashers” May 6, 2015 Sainsbury’s became the latest supermarket to take the knife to its final dividend yesterday, joining banks and oil companies in what analysts called a “horror show of income slashers”. Sainsbury’s said it will pay a full-year dividend of 13.2p per share, down 23.7 per cent on last year, after changing its policy in November [...]
Record grocery deflation hurts sales at Tesco, Asda and Morrisons and Sainsbury’s May 6, 2015 All four of Britain’s major supermarkets saw sales fall over the last 12 weeks, while the discounters continued to slow, as grocery price deflation reached another record low, figures released yesterday show. Sainsbury’s was the strongest performer among the big four despite a 0.2 per cent fall in sales thanks to its increased focus on [...]