BEST of the BROKERS April 1, 2012 GDF SUEZ UBS rates the energy group “buy” and has a 12-month price target of €23. The broker thinks GDF’s bid for the remainder of London-listed peer International Power has come earlier than expected, although the offer itself is hardly surprising. UBS reckons the offer price of 390p per share is likely to rise, and [...]
WALL STREET WEEK AHEAD April 1, 2012 AFTER the best first quarter in 14 years, the S&P 500 may be poised for a pullback as investors look to a slew of economic data for insight on the strength of the domestic economy. The Dow and the S&P 500 closed out their best first quarter since 1998 and the Nasdaq had its best [...]
It’s not all doom and gloom: Our mid-sized firms are flourishing April 1, 2012 THIS week, Investec is publishing our analysis of the UK’s 100 fastest-growing privately-owned mid-sized companies. They provide hope that the country continues to develop world-class businesses that, with proprietary technology and an appetite for international markets, will be global players of the future. For those who believe the UK no longer manufactures anything, or is [...]
The inspiring tale of Falklands vet’s business triumph April 1, 2012 MY DAD was in the RAF, and I wanted to be a pilot. But after a school medical found I was colour-blind, my hopes were shattered. My dad pushed me to become an accountant, and I eventually gave in and enrolled in an accountancy degree in Dundee. From the start, I knew I wasn’t going [...]
The City prospers when it is serving the needs of the world’s economy April 1, 2012 IN THE City of London,we have always described the capital as a world city. It has never seemed so apt: 2012 brings with it many causes to celebrate and, with just over 100 days to go until the start of the Olympic Games, the capital will soon be awash with talented international athletes. It’s not [...]
Is George Galloway’s victory a sign that the major parties are out of touch with voters? April 1, 2012 YES Nigel Farage The Bradford West result has given the system a bit of a kick up the backside. George Galloway is a seasoned and clever performer and knows which buttons to press. It’s hard to ignore his bandwagon when it rolls into town. Respect and Ukip were the only parties to increase their votes [...]
RAPID responses April 1, 2012 Action not reaction [Re: An incompetent government hit by Spring of Discontent, Friday] Didn’t things seem to be going well a few months ago? I’m not convinced that a series of strike actions shows we’ve returned to the 70s. I lived through that decade, and things felt very different. Politicians got everything wrong. At least [...]
Give your finances a spring clean: A guide to tidying up all the mess April 1, 2012 SAVINGS Tom Stevenson, investment director, Fidelity WITH a new tax year approaching, the sun shining and a string of bank holidays ahead, spring is certainly in the air. Now is the perfect time for you to take control of your savings. The first step of any spring clean should be ensuring that your money is [...]
Advice for budding businesses April 1, 2012 ACCOUNTING ACCOUNTING is an unloved but essential discipline for entrepreneurs. Businesses that fail to keep the financial score are flying blind. Record and track your results to monitor your financial status. Measure sales, costs and working capital. Identify the key performance indicators (KPIs) that will keep your business on track, including orders, sales and gross [...]
The strength of Levi isn’t rooted in his Reggae Reggae Sauce April 1, 2012 WHEN Levi Roots sang his way onto the set of Dragons’ Den in 2007 with “put some music in your food for me, I’ve got some Reggae Reggae Sauce, Reggae Reggae Sauce, It’s so good I named it twice”, I didn’t think he was an entrepreneur. Along with the other dragons, I tasted his spicy [...]
