US expects to sue BP over spill September 14, 2010 OIL giant BP learned last night it could be hit by a civil lawsuit from the US Justice Department, as outgoing chief executive Tony Hayward prepares to face MPs over the Deepwater Horizon disaster today. The department said in a court filing on Monday that the US government “expects that it may file a civil [...]
Potash claims rivals will bid September 14, 2010 FERTILISER company Potash Corp is not considering a large stake sale to a third party or long-term production sharing agreements as serious options to block a sale to BHP Billiton, investors who met with the company said yesterday. Potash Corp chief financial officer Wayne Brownlee was in New York meeting with investors on Monday and [...]
We need real reforms as well as cuts September 14, 2010 IMAGINE a failing, near-bankrupt corporation, saddled with out of control and deeply inefficient subsidiaries. A new management team has just been sent in. The previous incumbents failed miserably; the firm’s divisions are loss-making, following their own insular agenda and producing poor products at too high a cost. In the private sector, the solution would be [...]
Warren eyes watchdog job September 14, 2010 AMERICAN President Barack Obama is close to appointing Wall Street critic Elizabeth Warren as his interim consumer finance regulator, according to reports last night. Lawmakers have pressed Obama to instead hire a permanent head for the new consumer financial protection agency, which would mean a fierce debate in the Senate over Warren’s suitability. Warren, 61, [...]
Phantom trades on metal market September 14, 2010 American derivatives exchange operator CME Group accidentally placed dummy test orders on its active energy and metals markets on Monday afternoon. A spokesperson could not verify whether there had been any price impact from the test orders being placed on its live trading system.
S&P downgrades Bank of Ireland September 14, 2010 Credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s downgraded its outlook on Bank of Ireland to negative yesterday, on the back of worries about the Irish economy and large state support. S&P has kept its rating as A- / A-2 but said it was revising its outlook from stable to negative due to the “considerable challenges” the [...]
EU plans to monitor short selling September 14, 2010 The European Commission will today publish draft rules on derivatives and short-selling, which are expected to suggest boosting national regulators’ powers. European officials hope to monitor the derivatives market to assess the extent of short selling. Germany has already banned some types of the trade.
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING September 14, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES TESCO ADVANCES IN CARREFOUR ASIAN AUCTION Tesco is among the bidders through to the second round of the auction for Carrefour’s south-east Asian assets, which are for sale for up to $1bn (£642m). Tesco, the world’s third-biggest supermarket chain by sales after Walmart and Carrefour, was one of more than 10 first-round bidders [...]
Hedgie body to clash with FSA over pay September 14, 2010 HEDGE fund industry body the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) is set to clash with the FSA over proposed rules on pay. AIMA is furious that new European rules designed to prevent reckless behaviour in the banking industry will affect its members. AIMA said yesterday it will meet with the FSA to suggest ways to [...]
Gold surges to fresh high as investors seek safety September 14, 2010 Gold hit record highs above $1,270 an ounce yesterday in its biggest one-day rally in four months, as the US dollar declined broadly after upbeat data failed to convince investors to shift into risk-linked assets. Gold is now on course for a 15 per cent gain in 2010, fuelled largely by investor nervousness that stemmed [...]
