AIMA calls new hedge fund rules impractical and unworkable May 20, 2010 GLOBAL hedge fund body AIMA yesterday raised concerns over new rules by the European Union to crack down on hedge funds and private equity firms. AIMA said that although it fully supports the EU’s Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFM) directive, it called some of the proposals “impractical and unworkable”. AIMA chief executive Andrew Baker said: [...]
Osborne: UK is back open for business May 20, 2010 GEORGE Osborne last night said Britain was “once again open for business” as he pledged to draw a line under strained relations between captains of industry and the previous Labour government. In his inaugural speech to employers’ group the CBI, the chancellor said his “guiding principle” would be to support a private sector recovery by [...]
Advisers tell clients to ditch investments that attract CGT May 20, 2010 FINANCIAL advisers are telling their clients to ditch investments that will be hit by an impending hike in capital gains tax (CGT). According to a survey of 204 independent financial advisers (IFAs) by financial technology firm 1st Exchange, 60 per cent are advising clients to steer clear of assets that attract CGT. The Liberal-Conservative coalition [...]
Spencer: Cash equities unit was a failure May 20, 2010 ICAP boss Michael Spencer told analysts the inter-dealer broker’s venture into cash equities was its “biggest failure in a decade” yesterday as it reported a 13 per cent drop in profts. Icap closed its fledgling European and Asian stockbroking businesses in March after the loss-making division caused the group to issue a shock profit warning. [...]
Icap’s investment in ebroking will boost profits down the line May 20, 2010 JUST as the iPod has transformed the music industry, inter-dealer broking is being revolutionised by new technologies. That’s good news for Icap, which has invested much more in electronic broking platforms than rivals like Tullett Prebon. The benefits are already apparent: Icap’s ebroking revenues were up six per cent last year, thanks to a 24 [...]
Chaucer sees income slide May 20, 2010 LLOYD’S insurer Chaucer said gross written premiums slipped in the first quarter, in a period marked by higher- than-expected catastrophe losses, with energy sector rates to harden. Chaucer said gross written premium income slipped to £250m from £257.8m, dented by lower premiums at its marine unit. “This has been a challenging period for the insurance [...]
Credit Agricole appoints new chairman to lead new order May 20, 2010 CREDIT Agricole’s board approved the nomination of Jean-Marie Sander as its chairman yesterday, a last key appointment in the French bank’s management overhaul as it seeks to turn the page on the financial crisis. Sander, a 60-year-old farmer who is also mayor of the small commune in the northeastern Alsace region where he was born [...]
ANALYST VIEWS: WHAT DO CHAUCER’S FIRST QUARTER RESULTS MEAN FOR THE STOCK? May 20, 2010 MARK WILLIAMSON | KBC PEEL HUNT “The stock now languishes on an 18 per cent discount to actual tangible assets. If the market is not prepared to value the group appropriately it may attract predatory interest, particularly as the uncertainties created by the investment portfolio are now well behind the group.” EAMONN FLANAGAN | SHORE [...]
Thai exchange set on fire May 20, 2010 PROTESTORS in Thailand have turned Bangkok’s financial district into an inferno after fire engulfed a number of buildings yesterday, including the stock exchange. Anti-government protestors, otherwise known as “red-shirts”, set up to 27 buildings, including the country’s stock exchange and 16 bank branches, alight after troops stormed a protestor camp forcing them to surrender. The [...]
Experian to launch share buybacks May 20, 2010 CREDIT information group Experian yesterday launched a $300m share buy-back programme and hiked its dividend in order to return cash to shareholders, after the group pointed to a modest recovery in its operating environment. Experian, best known for running consumer checks for banks, said pre-tax profit soared eight per cent over the past year to [...]
