RWE to scale back its asset sell-off plans March 6, 2012 RWE, Germany’s second-biggest utility, plans to sell fewer assets after finding another €1bn (£834m) of cost cuts and raising its capital as it positions itself for a future without nuclear power in its home market. The company, which owns British utility NPower, reported a 45 per cent drop in 2011 net profit yesterday. It now [...]
Apple can even generate buzz with no product March 6, 2012 APPLE’S new iPad has had an impact even before it is unveiled. The product’s overall Buzz score on YouGov’s BrandIndex has increased by two points since the announcement of its release less than a week ago. Looking at longer term trends over the last year, we have seen the uninterrupted rise in its recommend scores [...]
EasyJet back in traffic growth March 6, 2012 BUDGET airline EasyJet has reported a 3.7 per cent year-on-year rise in passenger numbers for February. EasyJet carried 3.97m passengers last month, compared with 3.83m a year ago. The figures mark a return to strong passenger growth for the airline, after it posted a fall of 0.4 per cent in January. Its load factor, a [...]
Aviation boosts John Menzies March 6, 2012 JOHN Menzies yesterday posted a full-year pre-tax profit that topped expectations, boosted by contract wins in its airline ground handling business. John Menzies, which also distributes newspapers in the UK, said it made a positive start to the year and was trading in line with its expectations. Its Menzies Aviation unit reported a 31 per [...]
Fresnillo sees silver price lift its profits March 6, 2012 FRESNILLO, the world’s largest primary silver producer, said high metals prices boosted 2011 profit and helped more than double its final dividend, offsetting rising electricity prices, wages and the cost of tighter safety controls. The Mexican miner has no debt and $685m (£434m) in cash on its balance sheet at the end of 2011, but [...]
Wood Group profits rise is fuelled by engineering unit March 6, 2012 OIL industry services group John Wood yesterday reported a better than expected 16 per cent rise in full-year profits, helped by a strong performance at its core engineering unit where it expects to see further growth this year. The company, which designs, builds and maintains oil and gas facilities and pipelines, said increased exploration and [...]
Meggitt growth lifts off March 6, 2012 British aircraft parts supplier Meggitt expects to benefit from airlines renewing fleets with more fuel-efficient planes this year, after that trend helped it deliver strong growth in 2011 profit. The company, which supplies flight displays and wheels to planemakers Airbus and Boeing, said yesterday 2011 pre-tax profit rose 26 per cent to £323m on sales [...]
Cape sees record revenues March 6, 2012 Industrial service firm Cape said yesterday it had achieved record revenues in its first year in the FTSE 250. The company provides insulation, painting, industrial cleaning and training. Revenue jumped 11.1 per cent to £722.5m in 2011 with adjusted pre-tax profits of £69.4m compared with £69.1m the year before. In spite of delays to key [...]
Ashstead helped by weather March 6, 2012 Plant hire group Ashtead yesterday reported record third quarter pre-tax profits. For the three months to 31 January the group saw profits of £21m compared with a £2m loss the same period a year ago. Improved weather conditions helped the company as more outdoor building work was possible. Meanwhile revenue rose 21 per cent to [...]
Lib Dems and Labour back industry aid March 6, 2012 LEADING politicians from Labour and the Liberal Democrats yesterday promised manufacturers they will resurrect the idea of an active industrial policy, using the government’s influence and funds to support British business. Labour leader Ed Miliband told the EEF conference that spending money to boost jobs, rather than just supplying good public services, is a patriotic [...]
