EasyJet passenger numbers continue to rise April 4, 2014 Budget airline EasyJet has announced a rise in passenger numbers of 4.8 per cent to 5.1m for March 2014. The FTSE 100 company enjoyed growth of 3.5 per cent to over 61m passengers for the 12 months ended March. Part of the company's growing popularity is attributable to the success of its new system of [...]
RBS snaps up Ewen Stevenson as new CFO April 4, 2014 The Royal Bank of Scotland has appointed Ewen Stevenson as the company's new chief finance officer (CFO). Stevenson joins the state-backed bank from Credit Suisse where he is co-head of EMEA Investment Banking and its Global Financial Institutions Group, Investment Banking division. Ross McEwan, RBS chief executive, commented on the appointment: I am pleased to [...]
City & Gild: Brands can reflect economic green shoots as well as they do the spring weather April 4, 2014 It’s official, I’m getting excited – and as someone who models himself on Geoffrey Palmer in Butterflies, this is Big News. What’s the occasion, I hear you cry? Just look around – as the gloom of winter recedes the green shoots of brighter days can be seen everywhere. The sack-cloth and ashes of baggy jumpers [...]
Any Other Business – 04/04 April 4, 2014 The Bank of England published its records yesterday on the hundreds of clerks who were given “war leave” – many of whom returned to Threadneedle Street after 1918. One of those young men was Kenneth Peppiatt, aged 20 or 21 in 1914, who older readers may recognise from his signature on bank notes: Peppiatt became [...]
Asian markets fall as investors await US jobs data April 4, 2014 Asian markets are suffering a small decline as investors wait for US jobs data. Analysts estimate payrolls to rise by around 200,000, which may raise confidence in the strength of the US economy. However, a better than expected hike in payrolls may renew fears that the Federal Reserve will contemplate a rise in interest rates [...]
BSkyB faces “significant risks” over Premier League auction April 3, 2014 HSBC has reiterated its bearish position on BSkyB with an "underweight" rating. The bank expects concerns over the Premier League rights auction will resurface resulting in significant risks to BSkyB. Despite a rise of 8.2 per cent in BSkyB's share price since the beginning of 2014 HSBC believe that once the bidding begins for the [...]
EU Commission makes U-turn on carbon emissions April 3, 2014 The European Commission has reversed its position over plans to charge international flights for their carbon emissions. The Commission recommended the European parliament vote to exempt international flights over the EU from the scheme. Under the Commission's original proposals flights into and out of the EU would have been charged for their carbon use through [...]
Booker boosts sales as customer satisfaction reaches record levels April 3, 2014 UK food wholesaler Booker Group has seen a rise in like-for-like sales of 1.9 per cent for the 12 weeks to 28 March. The group's total sales climbed 16 per cent. The company highlighted the fact that it achieved its best ever customer satisfaction scores. However, non tobacco sales at Makro fell by eight per [...]
What you need to know before the open April 3, 2014 Markets are set to open higher this morning as investors turn their eyes to the European Central Bank (ECB). Many are hoping that the ECB will take measures to tackle deflationary pressures in the Eurozone. Corporate data Vodafone has announced it will to open 150 new shops across the UK, creating 1,400 jobs. B&Q and [...]
Dunelm sales jump with rising superstores April 3, 2014 Homewares retailer Dunelm group has reported sales growth of 9.9 per cent for the third quarter of the financial year. Total sales value for the 13 week period to 29 March climbed to £195m. Like-for-like sales grew by five per cent. Dunelm has had four store openings over the period including two superstores. The company [...]
