Character earnings down despite Peppa Pig December 4, 2012 CHARACTER Group, the toymaker that manufactures Peppa Pig and Fireman Sam-branded toys, announced a 22 per cent fall in pre-tax profit yesterday despite good international demand for its products. The firm blamed poor sales of Zhu Zhu Pets and a weak UK market for an overall drop in sales, which fell from £94.95m a year ago [...]
Have TUI travel’s full year results met expectations? December 4, 2012 JAMES HOLLINS INVESTEC Despite concerns over the ongoing competitive threat of low cost carriers, online agencies and a resurgent Thomas Cook, Tui Travel is trading well into the winter season and has a sound operational base from which we forecast the group can deliver 2013 earnings growth. NICK BATRAM PEEL HUNT This was a good [...]
London living standards the best in the UK December 4, 2012 LONDON’S standard of living is higher than in any other city in the UK, data out yesterday showed, and its infrastructure is among the best in the world. London has the 20th best standard of living in Europe, and the 38th best in the world, Mercer judged in a report out yesterday. The report considered the [...]
What is your favourite thing about London? December 4, 2012 DOMINIC BUTCHER LOGICALIS The best thing is the buzz. There’s always something going on. It’s a 24 hour city, with an eclectic mix of people who live and work here, and always something interesting to do. PHILIPPE LACHÉ SEARCYS The best thing about London is the wealth of interesting people from all over the world. [...]
Miss England glams up Mines and Money day December 4, 2012 A BIG week in the world of mining and monies, with the annual Mines and Money black tie awards dinner being held tonight at the HAC Artillery Garden, rounding off a week of industry conferences. The event is Europe’s largest mining conference, bringing together over 3,000 investors, financiers, brokers and executives for mingling and mineral chat. [...]
A welcome return to City inboxes as Louise Cooper goes it alone December 4, 2012 WELL-KNOWN City commentator Louise Cooper has left BGC Partners and gone solo by starting her own financial consultancy business CooperCity. Cooper tells The Capitalist that despite “being insane given the current environment” she is looking forward to the flexibility of being her own boss and will still be aiming to inject a little humour into [...]
UK construction falls back after weak recovery December 4, 2012 UK construction output sank back into decline in November, with analysts predicting even worse conditions ahead. The construction purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for November was 49.3, data from Markit and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) showed yesterday, down from 50.9 in October, and falling back below 50, which indicates decline. The figure is even [...]
US and Canada buoy Wolseley quarterly sales December 4, 2012 A GRADUAL recovery in the US housing market and continued growth in Canada has helped plumbing and builders merchant Wolseley offset revenue declines in Europe. The company, which generates more than half its sales in the US, said trading profit rose to £198m in the quarter to 31 October compared with £185m in the period [...]
Baxter buys rival for $4bn December 4, 2012 BAXTER International said yesterday that it would buy privately held Swedish dialysis product company Gambro for about $4bn (£2.5bn) to complement its kidney therapy portfolio. US-listed Baxter will finance the deal with debt and cash. The acquisition marks further consolidation in the kidney dialysis market, where Gambro and Baxter compete against rivals such as DaVita [...]
British Airways boss thinks MPs will fail to sort out air capacity December 4, 2012 THE HEAD of British Airways’ parent company does not think the government’s latest attempt to tackle airport expansion in Britain will come up with a concrete plan. “I think the decision of the government to establish the Davies Commission has been seen by some, maybe seen by many, as a step in the right direction. [...]