What’s in a name? Barclays has a knack for nomenclature November 5, 2015 There’s been a reshuffle on the boards of private wealth management consultancies this week. Head of strategy at RBC George King IV (not to be confused with British monarch King George IV) has moved to MASECO as a director. This particular King comes with some major financial credentials – he’s done stints at Barclays, Credit [...]
Marks & Spencer dividend can’t hide fashion disaster as Next and Primark steal market share November 5, 2015 It's that time of year again. The nights are drawing in, the heating’s turned up, minor celebrities are switching on high street Christmas lights… and Marks & Spencer has revealed another disappointing half-year performance. Admittedly, shares rose yesterday – up 2.8 per cent – but this was more due to a modest improvement to margins and a [...]
The revolution will be monetised: Activist investors are closing in on a record year November 5, 2015 Activist shareholders are shaking up corporate boardrooms in record numbers as they look to exert their influence at a time of swelling company cash piles. Incidents of shareholders pushing for change in Europe have risen 126 per cent since 2010, according to data published yesterday. So far this year, the UK has been a hotbed of investor [...]
Whole Foods share price takes an unhealthy turn as group unveils new capital strategy November 4, 2015 Shares in healthy supermarket chain Whole Foods Market dropped by 7.31 per cent in after hours trading, as the company unveiled plans for a $1bn (£650m) share repurchase programme and revealed that same-store sales had declined by 0.2 per cent in the final quarter of its financial year. Total sales increased by six per cent to [...]
Europe remains the main trade partner for UK small businesses despite recent Chinese trade visit November 4, 2015 The UK’s small businesses remain dependent on Europe as their main trading partner, despite the much-vaunted Chinese visit to boost trade relations. UK SMEs do 22-times as much trade with their European neighbours than with China, according to data from money transfer firm World First. In October, UK companies bought £198m-worth of euros, up 59 [...]
This chart shows panic over housing in the UK is rising to levels last seen in the 1970s November 4, 2015 People are freaking out about housing in the UK – and the panic hasn't been this bad since the 1970s. According to the latest Ipsos Mori Issues Index for October, 20 per cent of people see housing as the most important issue facing Britain today. The only time Brits have seen housing as even more of an [...]
New iPhone rumoured to be on the way in first half of next year ahead of iPhone 7 launch November 4, 2015 Apple is reported to be working on a new four-inch, metallic iPhone, resembling an upgraded iPhone 5s, due for release in the first half of next year. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has revealed in a research note that “as there is still demand for a four-inch iPhone, we believe Apple will upgrade this product [...]
Time Warner shares drop eight per cent despite shows such as Game of Thrones pushing revenues up November 4, 2015 Shares in media business Time Warner have fallen by over eight per cent, after the company slashed its outlook for 2016. Investors signalled their unhappiness with the forecast, despite the company reporting revenue of $6.6bn (£4.3bn) for the three months to 30 September, a five per cent jump from the same period of last year. [...]
Emerging market slowdown wipes £79bn off the value of Britain’s biggest firms November 4, 2015 One day after Standard Chartered’s “disappointing” third-quarter results sent the Asia-focused bank’s share price down nearly 10 per cent during trading, City A.M. analysis reveals that the slowdown in China and other emerging markets has wiped off around £79bn from some of Britain’s biggest businesses. Eight blue-chip companies have seen their combined market cap plummet by £78.7bn [...]
Let the Davies report run a course to equality in boardrooms November 4, 2015 The aim of achieving gender parity in senior executive posts and in boardrooms has been rising up the agenda in recent years. This laudable objective was given a boost when, in 2010, the government commissioned Lord Mervyn Davies to conduct a review into boardroom equality. In this endeavour, nobody can argue against the motives of [...]
