Apple taps US bond market for $5bn to fund its share buyback February 2, 2015 APPLE was last night issuing new bonds thought to be worth $5bn (£3.3bn) to fund a host of “general corporate purchases,” including share repurchases. Despite its record quarterly profits of $18bn, the tech giant is making the most of historically-low costs of corporate borrowing. In its Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing Apple said the [...]
Afren share price jumps 88.7 per cent after debt deadline moves February 2, 2015 Shares in oil firm Afren shot up by 88.7 per cent yesterday, following news at the close of trading on Friday that the company has been given extra time to repay its debts. The Africa-focused firm has obtained a deferral of a $50m (£33m) amortisation payment, which was due on 31 January, until 27 February, [...]
Greece-Eurozone standoff presents “greatest risk to economy” George Osborne warns as Yanis Varoufakis visits London February 2, 2015 The standoff between Greece and the Eurozone presents the greatest risk to the global economy, chancellor George Osborne has said. Osborne, who met Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis in London today, said both sides needed to consider how they worked in future, or risk derailing growth, both globally and specifically within the UK. Varoufakis [...]
Quindell insists Slater & Gordon talks still on as share price tanks 20 per cent February 2, 2015 Quindell has moved to reassure investors that talks are still ongoing with legal giant Slater & Gordon after its share price tanked this morning. The troubled insurance claims processor, whose share price had been rallying since the start of the year, saw its share price fall by as much as 20 per cent today. [...]
UK economy starts 2015 in good health as rate setters meet – London Report February 1, 2015 CONSTRUCTION, manufacturing and services figures for January, due out this week, are expected to show a healthy economic start for the UK in 2015. Analysts expect all the numbers, based on purchasing managers’ surveys, to be up on December’s. The Bank of England is due to meet this week to set interest rates, with no [...]
Afren share price nightmare: Seplat gets another deadline extension over potential bid January 30, 2015 Embattled oil producer Afren will have to wait a little longer before it learns if rival Nigerian company Seplat is going to make it a formal takeover offer. Seplat now has until 5pm on 13 February to decide whether it'll firm up an informal offer originally made in December. City analysts had voiced doubts over [...]
Afren share price nightmare: Day of reckoning is here January 30, 2015 Embattled oil producer Afren will today find out if it's been thrown a lifeline by rival company Seplat, a move that could provide one possible solution to the company's funding crisis. Nigerian oil and gas explorer Seplat recently extended the deadline for its informal takeover offer – but at 5pm tonight its time will be [...]
Rouble plummets against the dollar as Russian central bank makes shock cut to interest rates January 30, 2015 Russia's central bank has made a shock two percentage point cut to its benchmark rates of, lowering it to 15 per cent, which caused the rouble to plummet against the dollar, The currency slumped 1.2 per cent, sending it past the 70 per dollar mark. It's the first time it has slipped past that since December's [...]
Why tomorrow will be crucial for embattled Afren January 29, 2015 Tomorrow could be the day of reckoning for beleaguered oil and gas company Afren, whose shares crashed 72 per cent just two days. Nigerian rival Seplat has until tomorrow to make an offer, although it could ask for another extension, as it did … . throw it a lifeline … "We see low likelihood of an [...]
Deflation has arrived in Germany: Inflation rate falls to -0.5 per cent in January January 29, 2015 Germany has slipped into deflation for the first time since the global financial crisis, supporting the European Central bank's recent decision to unleash its biggest "bazooka" on the ailing Eurozone. Consumer prices fell -0.5 per cent on an annual basis in January, according to flash estimates from Germany's statistics office. This meant they had fallen [...]