Dragon Oil sees profits surge February 21, 2012 Dragon Oil said yesterday its profits surged 76 per cent in 2011, helped by a production ramp up at its Turkmenistan oil field and a higher oil price, though was silent on whether it would proceed with a takeover bid for explorer Bowleven. Dragon Oil posted full-year operating profit of $856.2m (£542m). It said in [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS February 21, 2012 Quindell Portfolio The Aim-listed consultancy, software and outsourcing business has appointed Gillian Baker as head of investor relations and chair of the company’s newly formed strategy and integration advisory board. Baker started her career at IBM, working with clients in the finance and insurance sectors, before joining the Innovation Group in 2000 as senior vice [...]
FTSE corrects as Greek deal struck February 21, 2012 BRITAIN’S top share index edged lower yesterday, with investors taking profit on banks and cyclicals after Greece secured a long-awaited bailout deal that averted the immediate risk of a messy default but offered no long-term panacea. London’s blue chip index closed down 17.05 points, or 0.3 per cent at 5,928.20, retreating from a seven-month closing [...]
Dow Jones climbs despite Wal-Mart February 21, 2012 US stocks ended little changed yesterday, paring gains after the Dow topped 13,000 for the first time since May 2008, and as higher oil prices damped prospects for the economy. Greece’s securing of a bailout to avoid a disorderly default provided some support to stocks, but investors said the news had mostly been priced in [...]
A market solution will save money and end the dispute over Falklands sovereignty February 21, 2012 A S SOON as The Iron Lady hit the silver screen, it brought back memories of the Falklands War — a war that officially commenced on 2 April, 1982, only three short years after Margaret Thatcher assumed the reins as Prime Minister. Since 1833, Britain has been able to maintain its colonial settlement of the [...]
Liberate the law from regulation that shackles it February 21, 2012 AS THE British economy faces tough economic challenges, promoting areas of potential economic growth is not only important – it is essential. With an annual turnover of £25bn (roughly the equivalent to two per cent of our country’s GDP) the legal services industry in England and Wales is an example of one such area. The [...]
A heretic’s view of the National Health Service February 21, 2012 YESTERDAY, the Prime Minister met healthcare professionals concerned about the proposed reforms of the National Health Service (NHS). He reassured them that “this is about improving and enhancing our NHS, not in any way endangering it”. He is right that these reforms will preserve the NHS. Those who use it will still pay nothing. This [...]
RAPID RESPONSES February 21, 2012 The pay agenda I would like to respond to your coverage of our research into directors’ pay. Our findings are based on meticulous research and a rigorous methodology. There is nothing meaningless about averages if that is what the data is saying, I know of no statistics textbook that actually says otherwise. Our average 49 [...]
The Greek deal built on a bed of sand February 21, 2012 CAPITAL SPREADS ANGUS CAMPBELL The jump in the euro was as short lived as the expectations that this bailout deal will actually solve Greece’s problems. Euro-dollar failed at the major resistance level of $1.3300 creating a double top that bears feel could be a tough one to break through to the upside. We’ve heard of [...]
THE TIPSTER AUSSIE DOLLAR TRADERS CAUGHT ON THE HOP February 21, 2012 THE Aussie dollar-Japanese yen pair remains a key measure of investor risk appetite and both sides of the currency pair have been in the news recently. Last week, the Bank of Japan surprised markets by announcing additional easing. This followed news of the country’s unexpectedly large fall in GDP. Traders were also caught on the [...]
