Cable is wrong on state aid rules and his plan for a business bank September 11, 2012 ONE of the best aspects of the EU is that under the so-called “state aid rules” member states are forbidden from subsidising businesses through grants, tax breaks and soft loans. State aid invariably distorts competition and trade: protecting businesses from foreign competition, or propping up failing businesses, whose failure would create space for value-generating alternatives. [...]
Ten golden rules of investing September 11, 2012 When considering a company, the first question you need answered is “who controls it?” The second is “do you trust them?” Minority shareholders are just one of many company stakeholder groups (others include employees, the government, suppliers, bankers and major shareholders such as a founding family). While you should not, as a minority shareholder, expect [...]
An optimistic tale of the world’s two last financial crises September 11, 2012 THE impact of the 2007-2009 financial crash is far from over. But, despite the doom and gloom, history may give us something to feel cheerful about. Even in living memory there have been plenty of recessions, when GDP growth was negative and employment fell. The UK has experienced them in the mid-1970s, the early 1980s [...]
Should investors be adding Burberry shares to their portfolio after its latest profit warning? September 11, 2012 YES Kate Calvert Burberry spooked the market by announcing a downturn in second quarter retail sales. However, yesterday’s fall in the value of its shares seems disproportionate to the downgrade. This is especially true given the recent de-rating of the overall luxury sector. Lack of visible demand and the question of whether this is a [...]
Rapid Responses September 11, 2012 Aim shares in Isas [Re: Isa cash for SMEs, Monday] David O’Hara has launched an e-petition to allow Aim shares to be included in Isas. We strongly support it. Inclusion would provide valuable fuel for the UK economy’s engines of growth – small and mid-sized companies. The government has cited various excuses for this exclusion, [...]
Goods trade deficit narrows in July September 11, 2012 The goods trade deficit narrowed in a July, driven by a sharp rise to exports to outside the EU. The UK’s deficit on trade in goods and services fell to £1.5bn over the month, compared with a deficit of £4.3bn in June, according to official figures from the Office for National Statistics. Exports to countries [...]
FTSE 100 down as blue chip Burberry leads fallers September 11, 2012 The leading share index opened down this morning, tracking falls in the US and Asia, as investors waited for key decisions over European Central Bank bond buying and US quantitative easing. Fashion retailer Burberry led the fallers, down almost 19 per cent as the firm warned of a sales slowdown. It said annual profit would [...]
Burberry shares plummet on profit warning September 11, 2012 Burberry shares plunged by almost 19 per cent in early trading as the fashion retailer cut its profit forecast for the full year. The group, which has been hit by falling sales in China, said like-for-like sales were unchanged year on year, with sales dropping off in recent weeks. The FTSE 100 company, whose trademark [...]
iPhone 5 could boost US GDP by 0.5 per cent September 11, 2012 The new iPhone, which is expected to be unveiled tomorrow, could boost the US’s GDP by up to 0.5 per cent, according to JP Morgan’s chief economist Michael Feroli. He wrote in a note to clients: “Calculated using the so-called retail control method, sales of iPhone 5 could boost annualised GDP growth by $3.2bn (£2bn), [...]
BAA airport traffic falls on ‘Olympics effect’ September 11, 2012 BAA reported a two per cent annual drop in passenger numbers during August, as the ‘Olympics effect’ meant UK passengers stayed at home and overseas visitors delayed their journeys. The airport operator said 9.5m passengers passed through its five airports last month. At Heathrow, there was a drop of 1.9 per cent to 6.5m passengers [...]
