BEST OF THE BROKERS July 26, 2010 DANA PETROLEUM Evolution Securities has given Dana Petroleum a “sell” recommendation and said that the Korean National Oil Company has tabled a conditional 1,800p offer for full issued and to be issued share capital in Dana. Evo said that the risk for investors could be that if Dana frustrates the Koreans, they could walk away. [...]
Europe’s banks are at a crossroads after tests July 26, 2010 IF THE results of European bank stress tests were designed to draw a line under fears about the robustness of the system, then they failed miserably. The tests conducted on 91 banks across Europe were met with a hefty dose of scepticism from the investment community after only seven banks failed and the combined funding [...]
STRENGTH IN EQUITIES IS SURPRISING July 26, 2010 AFTER a shaky start, last week saw the second quarter US earnings season come alive and galvanise equity markets. The strong rally that began on Thursday was thanks to better-than-expected bottom line, top line and forward guidance from bellwether stocks such as Caterpillar, UPS, Microsoft and 3M. But it also highlighted a contradiction that is [...]
Those with the stomach for it should go long on food demand July 26, 2010 WELSH lamb-farmers have every reason to celebrate as they edge closer to signing a lucrative export deal with China. The deal is just another of many signs that emerging markets’ growing demand for hard commodities like steel and oil is leading to a boost in demand for soft commodities like wheat and cocoa. As infrastructure [...]
THE TIPSTER July 26, 2010 ALTHOUGH recent traffic figures have revealed poor punctuality at budget airline easyJet, the company should be releasing its trading statement bang on time tomorrow. EasyJet will be looking to calm investors’ nerves and the airline appears to have overcome the troubles faced during air travel suspensions when the volcanic ash cloud covered the skies of [...]
Banks lead the way as resurgent FTSE gives bulls a glimpse of higher plains July 26, 2010 BRITAIN’S top share index hit its highest close in 10 weeks yesterday, led by banks after European stress tests passed without major incident, and as strong economic data from the US boosted investor confidence. The FTSE 100 index ended up 0.7 per cent, or 38.50 points, at 5,351.12, its highest closing level since 13 May. [...]
Home sales and an upbeat FedEx buoy US equities July 26, 2010 A N upbeat outlook from FedEx, coupled with encouraging home sales, lifted US stocks yesterday, keeping t he S&P 500 above 1,100 for a second day and suggesting the rally could last. FedEx raised its outlook, boosting its stock by 5.6 per cent. The news from the package delivery and business services company validates the [...]
Office pain that has no gain July 26, 2010 ARE you sitting comfortably? If you’re reading this at your desk, it’s quite possible that you’re anything but. The modern office remains a place where back pains, repetitive strain injury and other blights born of bad posture and worse furniture cause no end of problems. According to Tom Stewart, executive chairman of ergonomics organisation System [...]
FIT IN THE CITY July 26, 2010 FITNESS & DIET EXPERT TWEET WHAT YOU EAT Yes, there really is a website and Twitter community that goes by this name. A US study of 1,700 people found that keeping a note of what they’d eaten helped participants see where additional calories were creeping in and how they could deal with specific situations. Tweetwhatyoueat [...]
OUT OF OFFICE July 26, 2010 DANTON’S DEATH AT THE NATIONAL Doesn’t Toby Stephens ever rest? Having only just finished a run in Tom Stoppard’s play The Real Thing at The Old Vic, he’s straight into dishevelled hair, frock coat and the bloody purges of the French Revolution in this new production of the play by 19th century German writer, Georg [...]