UK coal shares rise on merger approach March 9, 2010 BRITAIN’S largest coal mining company UK Coal said yesterday it was assessing a merger approach which would reduce its exposure to “the volatile performance of its deep mines”. The coal miner emphasised that it hadn’t received a cash offer from its major shareholder or any other party. It denied reports that John Whittaker’s Peel Holdings [...]
Npower follows in footsteps of rivals as cuts gas prices March 9, 2010 GERMAN energy provider Npower has been forced to follow its competitors and cut household gas prices by seven per cent from March 26. This month has seen a string of gas providers reduce prices and out of the “big six” only EDF Energy and Scottish Power have yet to make the move. Eon cut its [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS March 9, 2010 RBC Wealth Management Jonathan Gold is joining the wealth management firm, part of the Royal Bank of Canada, as a director in its London-based UK onshore business. Gold was previously a vice president at Alliance Bernstein Global Wealth Management. He specialises in tax-efficient investment planning, philanthropy, cross-border issues and charities. BoA Merrill Lynch The bank [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS March 9, 2010 PETROFAC Morgan Stanley reiterates its “underweight” rating on?Petrofac despite income for 2009 coming in eight per cent ahead of its expectations. Says the strong outlook for the firm is already priced into the shares, making its valuation pricey compared to peers. Believes investors will find better value elsewhere in the sector. BOVIS HOMES Citigroup advises [...]
Aim market crucial for SMEs March 9, 2010 London’s Alternative Investment Market (Aim) will this morning receive a ringing endorsement from the City of London Corporation, highlighting the junior market’s important role in supporting smaller businesses which it says are crucial to getting the economy back on track. A report by the corporation said Aim’s comparatively low costs for admission, fundraising and transactions [...]
Johnson Services profits rise March 9, 2010 Laundry and textile rental group Johnson Services doubled its profit in 2009, it said yesterday. Adjusted pre-tax profit rose to £12.2m for the financial year ending 31 December 2009 from £6m the year before. Revenue for the year fell to £236.4m from £252.3m a year earlier. Chairman John Talbot said textile rental fared well, with [...]
Bendtner hits hat-trick in Gunners romp March 9, 2010 ARSENAL (5) vs FC PORTO (0) Arsenal win 6-2 on agg MUCH-MALIGNED striker Nicklas Bendtner shot down his critics with a first career hat-trick as Arsenal overwhelmed Porto to reach the Champions League last eight – but even that was not enough to earn unqualified praise from his exacting manager, Arsene Wenger. Bendtner’s trio, a [...]
Beckham-mania leaves comeback king David excited by Old Trafford return March 9, 2010 MANCHESTER UTD vs AC MILAN DAVID BECKHAM insists he will have no nerves when he faces Manchester United at Old Trafford for the first time with AC Milan tonight. The England midfielder makes his first return to his former club since leaving for Real Madrid seven years ago, and was mobbed by fans as he [...]
Axed Moody’s reassured as Worsley gets nod for Scots March 9, 2010 ENGLAND coach Martin Johnson insists the door is not closed on Lewis Moody after the Leicester flanker was dropped for Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland. Moody was withdrawn after just 55 minutes of Saturday’s defeat to Ireland, and has now been replaced in the starting line-up by Joe Worsley, who returns for the first [...]
Capello given World Cup reassurance after England hit by bugging scandal March 9, 2010 ENGLAND chiefs have been promised round-the-clock protection at this summer’s World Cup amid fresh security fears surrounding the squad. The Football Association has launched an investigation into how spies were able to plant a bug at the team’s Hertfordshire hotel. The bug is thought to have been used to illegally eavesdrop on meetings between manager [...]
