Barclays shares: Optimists see an opportunity April 29, 2019 | City Talk By Graeme Evans from interactive investor. These results do not impress, but there’s lots going on at Barclays and plenty to interest investors. Without the attention generated by activist investor Edward Bramson, it’s likely that last week’s lacklustre investment banking performance at Barclays (LSE:BARC) may have been passed off as just another quarter blighted by [...]
Sainsbury’s: Buyers bet that shares have seen the low April 26, 2019 | City Talk By Graeme Evans from interactive investor. Trading within a whisker of a record low, a lot of bad news is already written into the share price. Yesterday’s humiliation of Sainsbury (J) (LSE:SBRY) and its boss Mike Coupe has not stopped investors from piling into the supermarket giant’s shares in the belief the chain can bounce [...]
UBS beats expectations but investment bank profits plunge 64 per cent April 25, 2019 Swiss banking giant UBS beat expectations but reported a 64 per cent profit fall in its investment bank in a “challenging" quarter. Chief executive Sergio Ermotti had set the bar low after warning of “one of the worst first-quarter environments in history,” earlier this month. Read more: UBS and Deutsche in 'serious' talks over asset [...]
Unilever: Why there’s lots to like about this FTSE 100 star April 25, 2019 | City Talk By Graeme Evans from interactive investor. These first quarter numbers have been well received, and this market favourite still has lots to go for. Unilever (LSE:ULVR) shares surged to within a few pence of a record high last week as first-quarter trading figures heightened focus on whether this defensive and reliable dividend payer can offer [...]
UBS and Deutsche in ‘serious’ talks over asset management merger April 24, 2019 The asset management divisions of Deutsche Bank and UBS are in “serious” talks over a potential merger, according to reports. The combined businesses would have more than €1.4 trillion (£1.2 trillion) of assets under management, overtaking Legal and General in the UK and France’s Axa to create a rival to Amundi, which is Europe’s largest [...]
WH Smith: High-flyer divides City April 24, 2019 | City Talk By Graeme Evans from interactive investor. Latest results are fuel for another assault on a record high. Here’s why Smith splits the Square Mile. With £1 billion worth of dividends or buybacks since 2007, WH Smith (LSE:SMWH) shareholders can have few complaints about the retailer’s tried and tested strategy when it comes to selling stationery, [...]
Former UBS officer had ‘no motive and no money’ in alleged insider trading deals, court hears April 23, 2019 A former UBS compliance officer accused of insider trading had “no motive and no money” pegged to the alleged crime, a court has heard. Fabiana Abdel-Malek has been accused of disclosing price-sensitive information regarding five company takeovers to her family friend and trader, Walid Choucair, between June 2013 and June 2014, allowing him to make [...]
Superdry appoints new broker after mass exodus prompted by Dunkerton’s return April 17, 2019 Superdry has appointed Jefferies as its new corporate broker and financial advisor following a mass exodus from the firm after the retailer’s founder was reappointed to the board. Investors narrowly voted in favour of allowing Julian Dunkerton to return to the board earlier this month, prompting the resignations of former brokers UBS and Investec. Read [...]
Asset management firms urged to increase stewardship efforts April 16, 2019 Asset management firms have been urged to increase the level of engagement and guidance with the firms they invest in. Institutional investors only have “one-hand” on the wheel in regards to stewardship, advisory firm Willis Towers Watson warned in a report published today. Read more: Tatton Asset Management shares plummet as consulting arm under pressure The [...]
Can European banks be saved by mergers and a fresh round of deal making? April 16, 2019 The comparisons with US peers just got a lot harder for European banks after a strong showing from JP Morgan to kick off earnings season. But could there be fresh revenue on the way for European investment banks, even if it is of their own making? There’s a mooted capital raising for Deutsche Bank before [...]