Best of the brokers for 29 August 2013 August 28, 2013 BUNZL Numis keeps its “buy” rating and target price of 1,505p following interim figures at the support services group that were slightly ahead of expectations. The broker expects Bunzl to generate organic growth of between two and four per cent, or eight per cent including acquisitions. AFRICAN BARRICK GOLD Davy maintains its “outperform” rating on the [...]
London Report: Syria weighs on FTSE amid oil trade scramble August 28, 2013 THE UK’S top share index fell yesterday, pressured by the risks of possible Western military action against Syria, but with energy stocks supporting the market after an oil price spike. The FTSE 100 was down 10.91 points, or 0.2 per cent, at 6,430.06 points at the close as the United States and its allies appeared [...]
New York Report: Rise in energy shares drives Wall St higher August 28, 2013 WALL Street rose yesterday as energy shares rallied on higher oil prices as the United States and its allies edged closer to military action against Syria. Trading volume was thin and came after a drop in the S&P 500 index on Tuesday to its lowest in two months. Yesterday stocks recouped some of the losses [...]
Stay away from prying eyes online August 28, 2013 effortlessactuality.com ONCE upon a time, there was a quaint idea that a conversation between two people was private. In light of revelations that the US’s NSA and the UK’s GCHQ are able to intercept private emails and phone calls, as leaked by Edward Snowden, it’s hard to imagine that anything we do or say these [...]
Any Other Business – 29/08 August 28, 2013 Wealth management firm Vestra hosted the unofficial Square Mile sports day last night, holding its second annual dodgeball tournament at the Honourable Artillery Company’s sports ground in Moorgate. Of course fancy dress was mandatory, with teams from Investec, Aberdeen Asset Management, Barclays and BNY Mellon all looking the part. More competitive than the dodgeball was the battle [...]
US pending home sales suffer biggest monthly fall this year August 28, 2013 US pending home sales fell by more than expected in July, according to data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). The pending home sales index fell by 1.3 per cent from the month before to 109.5 – the biggest fall this year. This follows a 0.4 per cent drop in the month to June. [...]
UK National Security Council unanimous on Syria ahead of Cameron’s UN meeting August 28, 2013 The UK National Security Council has unanimously agreed that the use of chemical weapons by Syrian president Bashar al-Asasad was “unacceptable”, UK prime minister David Cameron has said. Members of the UK NSC include defence secretary Philip Hammond, home secretary Theresa May, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, and other military and intelligence heads. The meeting, [...]
HCA responds to competition watchdog’s calls to sell off hospitals August 28, 2013 Private healthcare provider HCA International has responded to this morning’s report from the Competition Commission concluding that the UK's private healthcare sector is suffering from too little competition, saying it is “disappointed that the quality of clinical care and investment in innovation seems to have been ignored”. The Commission identified 101 hospitals facing little local [...]
Carney’s liquidity rule loosening could boost bank earnings by up to 10 per cent August 28, 2013 The loosening of liquidity requirements announced by Mark Carney and the Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA) could be a significant boon to bank earnings, according to market watchers. Bank of England governor Carney said: For major banks and building societies meeting the minimum 7% capital threshold, the Bank of England will reduce the level of required [...]
Cyprus preparing for all eventualities on Syria August 28, 2013 Cyprus’ foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides has said the country is preparing for “all eventualities” with regards to the tensions brewing in Syria. On Tuesday, he denied speculation that British airbases on the island – in particular, RAF Akroti on the southern tip – could play a major role in any military strike against Syria. [...]