Anglophile Malta a top proposition November 5, 2009 WITH winter descending, one can hardly be blamed for thinking about sunnier, warmer climes. While the downturn has badly affected much of the holiday homes market, it can still be both a fabulous luxury and a sound investment to own a place for summer escapes if you can find the right spot. The island of [...]
Share index up as Bank of England keeps rates at a low November 5, 2009 BRITAIN’S top share index closed 0.4 per cent up yesterday, with energy stocks lifted by optimism on the economic outlook as central banks kept rates steady and US data surprised on the upside. The Bank of England kept rates steady at a record low of 0.5 per cent and said it would expand its quantitative [...]
Stocks jump based on economic data November 5, 2009 US stocks jumped yesterday, pushing the S&P 500 up for a fourth day, as economic data boosted confidence in the recovery and strong results from Cisco Systems suggested a rebound in technology spending. The market’s advance was broad-based, and the Dow ended above 10,000 for the first time in two weeks. Shares of Cisco, which [...]
Unilever sales surge but no Cadbury bid November 5, 2009 CONSUMER goods giant Unilever yesterday beat City forecasts with a 3.6 per cent rise in third-quarter underlying volume sales, and ruled out launching a bid for confectionary group Cadbury. News of a potential candidate ruling itself out of a bidding war will not help matters for Cadbury who may have been counting on a white [...]
Charles Stanley bullish as it returns to pre-crash levels November 5, 2009 STOCKBROKER Charles Stanley yesterday posted a 6.8 per cent increase in its first-half pre-tax profit and gave a bullish outlook for the rest of the year. The independent broker said it was back to “pre-Lehman Brothers” levels of performance, driven by an increase in income from its Private Client division and the benefit of recent [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS November 5, 2009 BBA AVIATIONPanmure Gordon raised its rating on BBA Aviation to “buy”, from “hold”, saying that it looks as if a long-awaited broad-based recovery in the US business jet market may have begun. The broker raised its target price from 155p to 190p to anticipate the US recovery and to take advantage of a recent retreat [...]
Segro reports market stability November 5, 2009 Segro Europe’s largest industrial landlord said yesterday its capital values have stabilised in the UK while lettings and lease renewals for the nine months ended in September settled at 6.7 per cent below valuers’ estimated rental values. Segro, which bought rival Brixton in August, reported that its vacancy rate excluding the Brixton portfolio improved from [...]
Rok results to meet forecasts November 5, 2009 Property repair and maintenance specialist Rok said yesterday that its full year results are in line with expectations. The firm saw success in having won 48 new appointments in 2009, totalling over £700m to underpin its future revenues. The group said it would focus on its strategy of favouring of higher margin, lower risk contracts.
Soco says it’s robust financially November 5, 2009 Soco International reported yesterday that its balance sheet remains strong with a cash and liquid investment balance of over $310m (£187m). Soco is exploring offshore in the Republic of Congo and onshore in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as planning a 12-month exploration programme in the Cuu Long basin off Vietnam starting in [...]
CITY MOVES WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS November 5, 2009 Association of British InsurersThe ABI has appointed Kerrie Kelly, currently chief executive of the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA), as its new director general, effective from next February. Kelly has led the ICA since 2006, having formerly been CEO of the country’s Financial Planning Association. She is currently a non-executive director at HSBC in Australia, [...]
