Wage growth levels out in manufacturing sector July 17, 2011 PAY growth in Britain’s factories remained steady at 2.5 per cent in the three months to June, industry group EEF announced today. “Whilst there is undoubted pressure to give higher settlements, there is an equal dose of realism amongst companies and their employees in response to economic uncertainty and competitive pressures,” commented EEF’s chief economist [...]
Mobile phone internet searches more than treble, boosting UK’s retail sector July 17, 2011 SHOPPERS’ internet searches from mobile phones and tablets more than trebled in the second quarter of the year, as booming online sales offer some hope to the UK’s retail sector. Mobile retail searches were up 216 per cent annualised, driving the total number of retail searches up by 27 per cent. “Volumes were down in [...]
OBAMA SEEKS GRAND DEBT COMPROMISE July 17, 2011 US PRESIDENT Barack Obama will hold out for a “grand compromise” over the country’s deficit reduction and debt ceiling talks this week, despite ongoing disagreements. White House budget director Jack Lew yesterday moved to reassure markets there was still time for a comprehensive resolution between Democrats and Republicans. Lew is confident that “responsible” members of [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS July 17, 2011 Anesco The energy efficiency solutions firm has appointed Hedley Major as chief financial officer to oversee all financial operations of the company. Hedley previously worked for software company System C, where he negotiated the firm’s acquisition by McKesso. Prior to that, Major was finance director at Octopus Investments. Anesco’s principal investors are Scottish & Southern [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS July 17, 2011 ASSOCIATED BRITISH FOODS Nomura said the recent run of group earnings downgrades looks to be coming to an end. It said like-for-like sales growth of between 2-3 per cent in ABF’s retail division and favourable EU sugar pricing would offset weakness in its ingredients division. It said it was optimistic about a recovery in 2012 [...]
Stress test relief to provide a lift to markets on open July 17, 2011 AND the winner is…” direction for stocks this morning will be driven by the results of the European bank stress tests, which were released at 5pm on Friday, after European stock markets closed. A grand total of eight banks failed the tests, but that number was well below the worst fears of some analysts who [...]
Catch extra profits swing trading with a pitch on India’s cricket tour July 17, 2011 THESE are halcyon days for the England cricket team. Its excellent run has been a very rewarding one for the Barmy Army’s supporters – and for spread betters who have got with the team along the way. With a huge selection of volatile markets and a wide range of different scores recorded, cricket is the [...]
THE WEEK AHEAD in association with GFT July 17, 2011 COMPANIES ● Today, Iceland Foods announces. Investors will hope it doesn’t get frosty results after news that Morrison may bid for some of its individual stores. ● IG reports tomorrow. The spread betting provider could soon be in the FTSE 100. ● On Thursday, the business process outsourcing company Capita will announce. It has been [...]
LEGAL EAGLE SETS THE PACE IN THE STANDARD CHARTERED CITY RACE July 17, 2011 CAN ANYBODY stop Emily Wicks of Punter Southall? Not content with fitting in extra study on top of her long-hours day job at the law firm, Wicks runs an average of 80 miles a week and represents Great Britain at cross country. So it was no surprise that the trainee actuary won this year’s Standard [...]
BILL OF THE WEEK July 17, 2011 STAYING in is the new going out for one investment bank, which entertained clients over a lunch for eight in its boardroom, organised by Sissi Fabulous Food (founders Gregory and Sissi Schaad-Jackson pictured above). The bank brought in two chefs and a butler to prepare and serve the three-course lunch, spending over £500 on sterling [...]
