German unemployment sees unexpected rise in October October 30, 2013 German unemployment has risen by a seasonally adjust 2,000 in October, after rising by 24,000 (revised from 25,000) last month. Economists had expected no change. The adjusted unemployment rate remains at 6.9 per cent, in line with analyst expectations. Christian Schulz, senior economist at Berenberg, says that the number of unemployed "was almost unchanged". Schulz [...]
Legoland owner Merlin announces share price for London listing October 30, 2013 Merlin entertainments has announced it will be offering its shares between 280 and 330 pence in a float that will see between 20 and 30 per cent the company sold off. The company may be valued at as much as £3.3bn. Merlin Entertainments is the world's second largest theme park operator with more than 70 [...]
As Spanish economy exits two year recession warnings that it could see contraction again in 2014 October 30, 2013 Spain has seen the first positive GDP print in over two years, as GDP grew in the third quarter by 0.1 per cent, in line with economist predictions. That's the first rise in Spanish GDP since the first quarter of 2011, and Ben May, European economist at Capital Economics, says that the "pick-up is likely [...]
Next raises profit guidance as it beats sales expectations October 30, 2013 Clothes shop Next has reported sales up 4.3 per cent in its third quarter to 30 October, above its second half guidance range of between one and four per cent. Next Retail saw third quarter growth of 0.4 per cent, whilst Next Directory – its home catalogue and online business – saw 10.7 per cent [...]
Barclays profit up as bank says it’s cooperating over Euribor October 30, 2013 Barclays has reported pretax profit of £2.851bn in the nine months to 30 September, up from £962m for the same period last year. The figure, says the bank, reflects a reduced own credit charge of £125m, from £4.019bn last year. (Release) But the lender did see adjusted profit before tax fall 20 per cent to [...]
What you need to know before the open – 30/10 October 30, 2013 US equity markets saw another record close yesterday, and the German DAX continues to break records, too. European stocks were marginally behind. Asian markets closed up today. Yesterday, the ECB's Ewald Nowotny ruled out the prospect of further rate easing in Europe in the near future. ETX Capital #morningcall FTSE +19, DAX +20, CAC [...]
Energy bosses: We’ll cut bills if you cut taxes October 29, 2013 THE GOVERNMENT faced mounting pressure to reform its green policies yesterday after bosses from Britain’s largest energy companies promised that cutting the levies would be passed on to customers via lower bills. Executives from the big six energy firms were grilled by MPs on the Energy and Climate Change Committee as to why electricity and [...]
Blockbusted 2: Rental chain back in administration October 29, 2013 BLOCKBUSTER is to enter into administration for a second time, less than seven months after teetering on the brink of collapse. Gordon Brothers, the private-equity group that bought the DVD rental chain in March, said a turnaround plan had failed and that it had filed an intention to appoint administrators, believed to be Moorfields Corporate [...]
Goldman Sachs eases its long working hours for junior staff October 29, 2013 JUNIOR staff at Goldman Sachs are to get more regular hours and more colleagues to share the burden of their work, the investment bank said yesterday. The analysts are being told they should not regularly work weekends, in a drive both to combat the image of the sector as one based solely on long hours, [...]
HS2 benefits downgraded again October 29, 2013 Department for Transport lowers forecasts to reflect soaring budget for the new railway THE GOVERNMENT scaled back the forecasted benefits of the High Speed 2 railway yesterday, but insisted that the £50bn project will still be a huge positive for the economy. The full Y-shaped route from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds is now [...]