Housemovers heat up Aga sales as chief exec cheers rising orders August 21, 2013 A PICK-UP in the level of housing transactions has helped to warm Aga Rangemaster’s sales in the second quarter, according to the cooker-maker’s chief executive. William McGrath said after a slow start to the year, it had seen recent trading improve, with cooker orders up eight per cent at the half year. Revenues edged up [...]
Kodak given approval to leave bankruptcy August 21, 2013 EASTMAN Kodak, once a mighty photography pioneer, has earned court approval for a plan to emerge from bankruptcy as a much smaller digital-imaging company. The green light from US bankruptcy judge Allan Gropper in New York puts Kodak on track to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in about two weeks. “It will be enormously valuable [...]
Hikma lifts forecasts on surge in generics sales August 21, 2013 HIKMA Pharmaceuticals raised its full-year revenue forecast for the third time in four months yesterday, riding on strong sales of generic antibiotic doxycycline, a drug used to prevent and treat malaria and other infections. The company, which makes and sells both patented and generic drugs, said it expected total revenue to rise 20 per cent [...]
Paper travelcards to be phased out next month August 21, 2013 TRAVELCARDS for seven days or longer will soon only be available on Oyster cards, as Transport for London announced yesterday it will no longer sell paper tickets at London Overground ticket offices. The change, which will be introduced on 15 September, is in line with the withdrawal of paper season ticket Travelcards from all London [...]
PPHE Hotels given boost by London market August 21, 2013 PPHE HOTEL Group, the owner of the Park Plaza and art’otel brands, yesterday said strong demand for rooms at its London hotels helped offset tough conditions in Europe and boosted half-year revenues. The London-listed firm, which runs 38 hotels across Europe, said total revenues increased by 0.7 per cent to €111.7m (£100m) in the [...]
Admiralty Arch hotel plans win Westminster Council consent August 21, 2013 PLANS to turn London’s Admiralty Arch near Trafalgar Square into a five-star hotel have been approved by Westminster Council. The iconic gateway, which takes its name from the nearby Royal Navy Headquarters, was commissioned by Edward VII to honour the memory of his mother, Queen Victoria. Developer Prime Investors Capital (PIC) signed a 99-year lease [...]
Former BAA chief Clasper suits Coats as new chair of thread firm August 21, 2013 COATS, the world’s biggest producer of threads, yesterday named Mike Clasper, former chief executive of airports group BAA, as its new chairman. Clasper, who also served as chairman of HM Revenue & Customs until he stood down last year, was previously a senior executive at Procter & Gamble. The announcement comes as Guinness Peat Group [...]
Strong London rents help boost UK Commercial Property Trust August 21, 2013 UK Commercial Property Trust, the largest UK-focused trust of its kind, said yesterday its net asset value (NAV) per share had dipped 1.2 per cent to 68.9p in the six months to 30 June, as the value of its property portfolio fell. The Guernsey-based trust, which owns retail and office properties across the UK, posted a [...]
Analyst Views | Have PPHE’s half year results changed your outlook for the group? August 21, 2013 JACK O’BRIEN LIBERUM CAPITALFirst half revenue and earnings are broadly flat, with the UK market performing strongly and continental European markets remaining challenging…Portfolio growth bodes well and is a long term attraction. PPHE remains too cheap relative to peers. We increase our target price from 336p to 500p. JAMES HOLLINS INVESTECLed by the continued strength [...]
Target warns on full year profits August 21, 2013 Target warned of weak annual sales and profits yesterday as US shoppers remain cautious and its new Canadian stores are not doing as well as anticipated. Target said this year’s profit should come in at the low end of already reduced expectations and that sales at stores open at least a year should grow just [...]