Mid-sized firms pick up profits in technology and outsourcing April 1, 2012 THE FASTEST-GROWING mid-sized companies in Britain have brushed off the downturn over the last four years to increase sales by an average 44 per cent, according to research by Investec. Energy, commodities and financial companies feature prominently among rising private businesses, with London-based solar firm Alternergy topping Investec’s Hot 100 table, released today. The research [...]
EASTON DREAMS: NEW BVCA CHAIRMAN NAMED April 1, 2012 PRIVATE equity industry group the BVCA has named an ex-investment banker as its new chair. Robert Easton, a managing director at Carlyle Group, has succeeded Richard Anton. Dr Easton has been with Carlyle since 2000 and is now co-head of Carlyle Europe Technology Partners. He trained as a chemist and previously worked at CSFB and [...]
Market indexes likely to prove mixed in short trading week April 1, 2012 TODAY The purchasing managers index (PMI) manufacturing reading is expected at 50.7 against 51.2 previously. This is a sector that performed strongly after the banking crisis, but which is now struggling. A reading less than 50 would indicate that the UK manufacturing sector is contracting. Earnings: Punch Taverns. TUESDAY The PMI construction reading is expected [...]
Greggs in the City up in arms over pasty tax April 1, 2012 THE Capitalist attends the swankiest openings on the calendar, from galleries in Mayfair to fashion shows in Milan. But we’ve never seen anything like the hysteria on display at the launch of Greggs’ 200th London store on Cheapside in the heart of the City last Friday. As staff proffered free pastries and passers-by queued to [...]
Fool’s gold: Virgin launches new currency this April, the Branson April 1, 2012 SIR Richard is rarely spotted without a toothy grin on his face – and who can blame him? If The Capitalist were the fourth richest person in the UK, we’d be smiling too. And now you can get your hands on some of Sir Richard’s cash, although not from his own $4.2bn pot. Virgin Holidays [...]
From petrol pumps to beer taps – it’s time to panic buy April 1, 2012 AMID the misery of massive queues for the petrol forecourt and “sold out” signs at many stations, at least one retailer has kept a sense of humour – and marketing initiative. Eager to cash in on the panic buying frenzy sweeping the nation, The Lounge in Chislehurst, Kent, responded with this cheeky advert for its [...]
ABERDEEN TO SPONSOR THE SCOTTISH OPEN April 1, 2012 ABERDEEN Asset Management’s chief executive Martin Gilbert (left) has come to the rescue of the Scottish Open, the annual golf tournament, in a sponsorship deal that will protect the competition for at least two years. Gilbert is pictured here with Alex Salmond, Scotland’s First Minister (in the centre) and competition organiser European Tour chief executive [...]
Advertising on mobile proving better than PC April 1, 2012 ADVERTISING on mobile devices is overtaking the success of using desktop computers for marketing, with the UK leading the charge in Europe according to a report from Marin Software, published this morning. Some 15.1 per cent of Google’s paid clicks in the UK in December came from adverts on smartphone and tablets – a 280 [...]
Caledonia lifts gold output despite delays April 1, 2012 AFRICAN miner Caledonia has doubled its gold production in the last year and more than quadrupled its profit, the firm said today. Caledonia, which is joint-listed in London and Toronto, said it produced 35,826 ounces of gold during 2011, up 102 per cent on a year ago, while gross profit jumped from C$6.3m to C$29.1m [...]
CITY MOVES WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS April 1, 2012 Essar Energy The India-focused integrated energy company has announced that it has appointed Steve Lucas as its fifth non-executive director with immediate effect. Lucas was finance director at the power and transmission network operator National Grid from 2002 to 2010 and has significant experience in the international energy sector. Prior to his position at National [...]
