London cost of living rises but quality decays: Singapore ranked world’s most expensive city March 3, 2015 London has become the world’s 11th most expensive city after jumping four places in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s latest survey. However, a separate report ranked the capital just 40th in terms of quality of living. The bi-annual World Cost of Living report, released yesterday, shows that London is now as expensive as Tokyo, Frankfurt and [...]
Regus targets universities and libraries as operating profits soar March 3, 2015 Regus said yesterday it planned to bridge the gap between higher education and working life by launching offices in universities and public libraries. The serviced office provider signed its first deal with Helsinki University last year and has also partnered with the Singapore Government to open facilities within their public libraries. It is now eyeing [...]
Tullett Prebon share price falls as broker chops staff to slash costs March 3, 2015 Revenues dived at Tullett Prebon last year as demand from banks and other traders slumped, the interdealer broker said yesterday. Pre-tax profits fell 13 per cent to £86.6m, as revenues tumbled 12.5 per cent to £703.5m. The broker responded by slashing costs – 217 staff have been cut, and the firm has cut back [...]
Trading division helps Glencore weather prices March 3, 2015 COMMODITIES powerhouse Glencore yesterday revealed that a 15 per cent jump in earnings for its trading division had partially shouldered the financial hit sustained from falling commodity prices. The offset allowed the Anglo-Swiss multinational to finish the year two per cent down in core profit. The company posted 2014 adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation [...]
Taylor Wimpey shrugs off market slowdown as profits jump 54pc March 3, 2015 TAYLOR Wimpey became the latest housebuilder yesterday to post a hike in full-year profits as low interest rates and high levels of employment fuelled demand for new homes. The company, which has 24 regional businesses across the UK, said it completed sales on 12,454 new homes last year, up 6.5 per cent from 2013 while [...]
Devro profits hurt by cost of new factories March 3, 2015 SAUSAGE skin-maker Devro said sales volumes have begun to bounce back after investments in new manufacturing technology and the strength of the pound against other currencies hurt full-year profits. The company, which makes collagen casings for all types of sausages, including dried salami, cumberlands and frankfurters, posted a 94 per cent fall in pre-tax profit [...]
Paddy Power bets on €390m share buyback March 3, 2015 IN TYPICALLY exuberant style, Irish bookie Paddy Power announced yesterday that it would return €392m (£285m) to shareholders after it could not find any compelling acquisitions to spend its cash on following a year of record profit growth. Declaring it had “more ups and downs than Taylor Swift’s love life” in 2014 and describing a run [...]
Moneysupermarket takes a hit as share holders shop around March 3, 2015 SHARES in price comparison website Moneysupermarket tumbled yesterday, despite annual results showing double-digit revenue and profit growth, as investors shied away from the prospect of slower growth and government regulation. In an otherwise upbeat statement, Moneysupermarket said last year’s success meant it would be harder to replicate in 2015. It forecast that increasing activity in [...]
Vesuvius profits erupt in 2014 March 3, 2015 ENGINEERING firm Vesuvius saw pre-tax profits rise in 2014, despite declining revenues, as the company capitalised on lower costs. The company, which specialises in molten flow technology, saw profits lifted due to its Asian unit. Overall revenue saw a decline of 4.4 per cent on the year to £1.4bn, as a result of a stronger [...]
Pace profits bound ahead March 3, 2015 PAY TV technology provider Pace saw shares leap yesterday after yearly results saw pre-tax profits up by over a third. The FTSE 250 British company, which specialises in the production of set-top boxes and pay-TV software, attributed the good results to its acquisition of Aurora Networks, supply chain efficiency and a seven per cent fall [...]
