BG Group pre-tax profit plunges 62 per cent on plummeting oil prices May 8, 2015 The figures BG Group said pre-tax profit plunged 62 per cent to $715m (£463m) in the first quarter, down from $1.9bn during the first quarter a year earlier. Total earnings were $233m, including a post-tax loss of $332m on disposals, re-measurements and impairments in the first quarter of 2015. This was down from $1.1bn and included a post-tax loss [...]
Fitbit files for $100m IPO May 7, 2015 Fitbit, the company behind the cult fitness traffic device, has filed for a $100m IPO. The company was vague on the details – it didn't disclose how much it intended to float for, or what its plans are for the proceeds. But the company's filing did show it sold 10.9m devices last year, with another [...]
General Election 2015: Shares close down and and sterling falls as Britain heads to the polls May 7, 2015 Nervous investors sent shares in London lower today, while the pound also suffered, as Britons began to head to the polls in what's been repeatedly dubbed the most uncertain election in living memory. The bluechip FTSE 100 index closed 0.67 per cent down, at 6,886 points – although at one point in mid-morning trading it dipped [...]
Alibaba share price jumps as it appoints new chief executive May 7, 2015 Shares in Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba leapt more than 10 per cent in pre-market trading today after it announced it has hired a new chief exec, after months of declines in its share price. The company – often described as the "Chinese Ebay" – said Daniel Zhang, currently its chief operating officer, will take the [...]
Bank of England “clerical error” mis-states gilt purchases by £13bn May 7, 2015 Officials over at the Bank of England have admitted a clerical error meant data on the sale of UK government debt had mis-stated sales to the tune of £13.4bn. Figures out last week showed foreign investors were ignoring uncertainty surrounding the General Election, despite repeated warnings it could rile the markets, buying a record amount [...]
BT share price up after profits rise 14 per cent May 7, 2015 BT’s share price has risen half a per cent, after the company revealed a 14 per cent jump in pre-tax profits, which rose to £2.6bn for the 12 months ending 31 March. The figures Despite the headline rise in profit, BT’s revenue fell two per cent to £17.9bn for the year and £4.6bn for the [...]
Strong pound leaves insurer RSA struggling May 7, 2015 The figures Insurance company RSA said today that net written premiums rose one per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2015. RSA revealed it took about £1.5bn of premium income in the three months to March and expects to deliver about £380m of investment income in 2015. Why it's interesting Today's results show the recovery [...]
EasyJet suffers a hangover from French strikes as Ryanair surges ahead May 7, 2015 EasyJet managed to shake off the effects of French transport strikes to post a 3.8 per cent increase in passengers. The figures EasyJet said that, compared to April 2014, it had had 12 times (602) the number of flights cancelled, mostly due to air traffic control strikes in France. Nevertheless, the number of passengers flying [...]
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 [...]