EasyJet passenger numbers climb ever higher March 6, 2014 Budget airline EasyJet has reported a rise in passenger numbers of 2.9 per cent to 4.2m for February 2014. The FTSE 100 company enjoyed an even greater rise in passenger numbers of 3.5 per cent to 61.5m for the 12 months ended February. Part of the company's growing popularity is attributable to the success of [...]
Balfour Beatty profits hammered as UK construction disappoints March 6, 2014 Infrastructure company Balfour Beatty has suffered a collapse in reported pre-tax profit of 78 per cent to £32m, according to the company's results for the full year ended 31 December. The company cited tough economic conditions and operational issues in the UK as reasons for the poor financial performance. However, Balfour Beatty said it was [...]
Betfair plans to double TV voice as mobile revenue booms March 6, 2014 Online gambling company Betfair has reported a boom in mobile revenue of 68 per cent and now represents 60 per cent of Sportsbook revenue. The company's interim management statement for the three months ended 31 January 2014 showed a rise in revenue of five per cent driven by a 12 per cent jump in sustainable [...]
Any Other Business – 06/03 March 6, 2014 MEMBERS of the newly launched Golden Network, a new community aimed at the finance industry, galvanised their support last night when it put on a Hennessy Cognac tasting at McQueen in Shoreditch. City goers from the likes of Santander, RBS and JP Morgan and others popped along to taste the distiller’s finest with Moët brand [...]
Asian markets rise as Ukraine tensions ease March 6, 2014 Asian markets are rising on the back of fresh diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Ukraine and Russia. Although there has been no resolution to the crisis, investors took heart from US secretary of state John Kerry's remarks that talks between Washington and Moscow would continue in the coming days. EU leaders yesterday agreed a [...]
Here’s why a sugar tax would be a big fat failure March 5, 2014 The chief medical officer for England Dame Sally Davies recently told a committee of MPs that a tax on sugar may be necessary to limit obesity rates. Speaking to MPs Davies said: We need to be both strong and prepared to regulate. I think that the science is going such that that we will find [...]
Energy markets safe from Ukraine crisis says Goldman Sachs March 5, 2014 Despite the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine the impact on energy markets is likely to minimal, according to a research note from Goldman Sachs. A view that may carry considerable weight given yesterday's sharp rally in natural gas prices. Goldman believe there is no real reason to be concerned about the safety of natural [...]
Cuadrilla geologist ups shale gas estimate by 50 per cent March 5, 2014 Estimates of shale gas reserves in parts of the North West of England have been raised by 50 per cent. A geologist with shale gas explorer Cuadrilla, said there could be as much as 330 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of shale gas in the company's licensed area, according to the BBC. Using data from fracking [...]
“Year of the baked potato” sees Admiral profits rise March 5, 2014 FTSE 100 car insurer Admiral has reported a rise in profit before tax of seven per cent to £370m, according to the company's preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2013. Earnings per share were up 10 per cent at 104.6p and group vehicle count was also rose four per cent. 7,000 staff are [...]
Legal & General profits jump as it eyes infrastructure projects March 5, 2014 British multinational financial services company Legal & General has reported a jump of 10 per cent in profit before tax to £1.1bn, according to the company's preliminary results for 2013. The UK's largest institutional investor has managed to triple net cash since the financial crisis, growing from £320m in 2008 to £1bn in 2013. Legal [...]