Short sellers bet on return of dot.com bubble June 21, 2011 SHORT sellers are targeting global technology stocks, as traders bet on a return to dot.com boom and bust. The tech sector recorded the highest proportion of new stock loans out of all other sectors last week, according to research provider DataExplorers. US technology software and services had short interest at 6.5 per cent of total [...]
Leadenhall Triangle sale completed June 21, 2011 HENDERSON Global Investors has completed the purchase of the Leadenhall Triangle site for around £190m, the fund manager announced yesterday. The Triangle, which encompasses five sites in the City including Leadenhall Street and Fenchurch Street, was sold following interest from 11 potential bidders. The plot’s previous owners, who were clients of Investream, hired debt-servicing specialist [...]
Product demand boosts Domino Printing June 21, 2011 Britain’s Domino Printing has seen a rise in profits on increased demand for its products. Domino, whose printers are used for stamping barcodes and expiry dates on foods and other products, raised its interim dividend by 20 per cent. Pre-tax profit for the six months to 30 April was £28.2m in comparison to the £25.1m [...]
China consumer confidence down as UK grows June 21, 2011 BRANDINDEX IN recent months when we have looked at the economic confidence figures from the Bloomberg/YouGov Household Economic Activity Tracker (HEAT) we have seen that the Chinese consumer is buoyant whilst the UK one is generally negative about the next 12 months. The figures from May show that this position remains with a 68 point [...]
Kier says trading is in line June 21, 2011 Support services group Kier has announced that trading remains in line with forecasts. It insists that its order books in services and construction remain resilient with net cash balances staying at healthy levels. Kier said it has secured all its expected construction revenue for the year to 30 June and 86 per cent of targeted [...]
Creston makes progress on profits June 21, 2011 Communications firm Creston has posted a sufficiently higher than expected full year profit, raised its dividend and said it expected revenue growth next year from foreign markets and marketing services. Like-for-like revenues rose seven per cent, giving a pre-tax profit one per cent ahead of last year at £10.4m. The company said it would pay [...]
Capital Pubs in profits lift June 21, 2011 CAPITAL Pub Company yesterday reported a profit surge that could send its price tag up as Fuller, Smith & Turner looks to buy the business. Fuller made public a £54m bid last week but Capital’s chief executive Clive Watson has steadfastly refused to entertain the offer. His bargaining hand is now stronger given that in [...]
VERSACE TO DESIGN FOR H&M June 21, 2011 H&M yesterday announced that Versace would be its next guest designer. The Versace line will hit some 300 H&M stores worldwide in November and “will look back on the heritage of the brand, full of leather, print, colour and exuberance in exclusive materials”. A further collection, also designed by Donatella Versace (above, centre left), will [...]
Whitbread in sales lift as Costa grows June 21, 2011 STRONG turnover and new stores at Costa Coffee have helped Whitbread raise its sales by 9.2 per cent. Total sales at its coffee chain in the last three months were 22.5 per cent up on a year ago. Costa was boosted by the opening of 73 new branches during the period, as well as new [...]
ANALYST VIEWS: IS WHITBREAD ON A SUSTAINABLE GROWTH TRAIL? June 21, 2011 NIGEL PARSON | EVOLUTION SECURITIES We are trimming our forecasts to reflect a more cautious view of the UK economy ex-London but the stock remains good value. Whitbread’s strong value proposition remains relevant and the increasing roll-out will compensate for more muted like for like sales. RICHARD HUNTER | HARGREAVES LANSDOWN Total sales showed an [...]
