Ministers pledge more money to tackle flooding as rain continues February 6, 2014 GOVERNMENT ministers have pledged a further £30m to tackle the damage caused by flooding across the UK. Communities secretary Eric Pickles announced the extra money, which will be available this year to spend on repairs and maintenence. It comes as David Cameron pledged £100m to help the worst-hit areas during Prime Minister’s questions earlier this [...]
Time Out mag owner boosts asset values February 6, 2014 TIME Out magazine co-owner Oakley Capital yesterday said its listed fund vehicle rose nine per cent in value last year close to £250m. The business, which is set to welcome top fund manager Neil Woodford to the firm in May, said the net asset value (Nav) of its funds will be between £245m and £247m at [...]
Beazley beats analyst forecasts thanks to fewer catastrophes February 6, 2014 BEAZLEY saw its share price jump 5.76 per cent yesterday, after it issued strong results for 2013 trading. The specialist insurer beat analysts’ expectations to issue a pre-tax profit of $313.3m (£191.9m) for last year, up 25 per cent on 2012. Chief executive Andrew Horton said: “Beazley delivered an exceptional underwriting performance in 2013, reflected [...]
Towers Watson suffers as spend on Obamacare platform rolls on February 6, 2014 TOWERS Watson plunged in trading yesterday after reporting weak second quarter results. The US company, which has a strong UK presence, closed over eight per cent lower after year-on-year revenues fell 2.5 per cent for the three months ending December down to $888m (£543.4m). It blamed a particularly strong second quarter last year, which saw [...]
Superdry boss says Germany to overtake UK February 6, 2014 SUPERGROUP chief executive Julian Dunkerton yesterday laid out his ambitions for the fashion retailer’s German business to overtake its home market, as it revealed a 22 per cent jump in third quarter sales to £141m. Dunkerton said the Superdry owner will be shifting its focus away from the UK towards international expansion and that around [...]
EU pushes new petrol as green solution yet study says it is worse for the environment February 6, 2014 A SUPPOSEDLY greener petrol set to be introduced in the UK this year to meet EU regulations actually increases carbon dioxide emissions and will raise costs for motorists, according to new research. The E10 fuel contains 10 per cent bio-ethanol – compared to the current five per cent – and is being rolled out across the [...]
Chinese developer ABP sets up global headquarters in Newham February 6, 2014 THE BOSSES of Advanced Business Park (ABP), the Chinese developer that wants to overhaul London’s Royal Albert Docks, are to move into Newham today after a striking a deal to open global headquarters there. At a formal signing ceremony yesterday between ABP chairman Xu Weiping and Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales, the developer announced it [...]
Imagination shares lift as Apple extends its iPhone chip contract February 6, 2014 IMAGINATION Technologies saw its shares rocket as much as 20 per cent yesterday after it renewed a multi-year contract with Apple to supply the iPhone-maker with graphics chips for its devices. Since the beginning of 2012 Imagination’s share price has plummeted by over 75 per cent on fears that the chip maker was losing market [...]
Easyjet and Ryanair lifted by rain February 6, 2014 Budget airlines Easyjet and Ryanair both saw a surge in passengers last month as Britons rushed to escape to sunnier climes. At Easyjet, passengers rose 3.7 per cent compared to January last year, while rival Ryanair’s rose five per cent. Easyjet’s load factor, a measure of how full its planes are, also rose, climbing by [...]
Enterprise Inns misses forecasts February 6, 2014 Shares in UK pub group Enterprise Inns fell almost four per cent yesterday after trading in the 18 weeks to 1 February fell short of analyst expectations. The landlord to some 5,500 pubs said like-for-like net income rose one per cent, in line with its expectations but below analyst forecasts of two per cent. The [...]
