Warren Buffett criticised for disclosing too little information about Berkshire Hathaway February 8, 2015 Analysts have urged Warren Buffet to make the financial reports of Berkshire Hathaway more thorough, arguing that they currently offer too little information for a company of its size. The super-investor's $370bn multinational organisation is a holding company, made up of subsidiary businesses ranging from the insurance sector to retail and manufacturing. Among others, [...]
George Osborne: Pensioner bond scheme to be extended to after general election February 8, 2015 The government will continue to offer its pensioner bonds for a further three months after more than 600,000 people signed up to the scheme. George Osborne revealed that the deadline for over 65s to apply for the scheme has been extended until after the general election in May due to its popularity. [...]
Half of British voters back David Cameron’s battle for European Reform February 7, 2015 Half of UK voters back David Cameron's battle to reform the European Union, with voters in countries such as France and Germany sharing similar sentiments, a poll by Com Res/New Direction has shown. The poll, conducted for think-tank New Direction, found half of UK respondents (49 per cent) believed the European Union should be reformed. Cameron has [...]
Rangers board plays down Mike Ashley’s influence as it announces date to vote on Dave King takeover February 6, 2015 Rangers have called a general meeting for 4 March to vote on shareholder Dave King’s requisition to remove the board. The current Rangers board of four directors including chairman David Somers and chief executive Derek Llambias would be removed if shareholders agree to the resolution put forward by King’s requisition. Former director [...]
Star fund manager Neil Woodford eyes 10 per cent returns with new fund backing start-ups February 6, 2015 Star fund manager Neil Woodford is launching an investment fund focused on start-ups and early-stage businesses with high growth potential. The Woodford Patient Capital Trust, which will target annual returns of 10 per cent "over the longer term," is seeking to raise £200m from an initial public offering (IPO) in April. Interestingly, the fund will [...]
Yanis Varoufakis vs Wolfgang Schauble: Debt stand-off intensifies as Germany refuses to back down on Greek austerity programme February 5, 2015 A tense meeting of the Greek and German finance ministers laid bare a still-considerable schism between the two Eurozone states yesterday, with little or no progress made over how to resolve Greece’s debt crisis. Neither Yanis Varoufakis nor Wolfgang Schauble gave away any ground during an uncomfortable press conference, with Varoufakis strongly criticising the austerity [...]
Boris Bike sponsorship deal: Santander reportedly in line to beat Coca-Cola as Barclays replacement February 5, 2015 Santander UK is reportedly on the cusp of signing a £50m deal which would see it replace Barclays as the main sponsor of London's Boris Bike scheme. The deal would see Santander UK pay up to £7.5m annually for seven years, putting its red-and-white branding in the place of the blue hues currently offered by Barclays. [...]
Yanis Varoufakis urges Germany to support bridging loan and warns of Greek Nazism February 5, 2015 Greece's rock star economist Yanis Varoufakis has met with German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble to discuss the future of Greece and the Eurozone. Varoufakis was under intense pressure today after the European Central Bank scrapped its acceptance of Greece's debt as collateral for fresh cash. In a press conference following their meeting, it soon became [...]
Rangers boss admits he must pick Mike Ashley’s players on loan from Newcastle February 5, 2015 Mike Ashley may only have an 8.96 per cent stake in Rangers, yet it appears his influence on the club extends all the way down to what happens on the pitch. On Monday, five players arrived at Ibrox on loan from Newcastle United, the Premier League club owned by Ashley. Rangers boss [...]
Rude awakening for Greek hopes as ECB refuses to accept debt as funding collateral February 4, 2015 The new Greek government was left with a bloody nose last night after Eurozone central bankers abruptly scrapped their acceptance of the ailing Mediterranean country’s debt as collateral for funding. Syriza – Greece’s radical left-wing anti-austerity party – has spent this week sending its leaders on a charm offensive across Europe, confidently expecting to negotiate a [...]