Vacancies bounce back in October November 13, 2012 The UK labour market could continue to recover from recession in October, due to rebounding vacancies, according to data from ICAP out yesterday. Vacancies grew 7.6 per cent between September and October, the broker said, compared to a 5.2 per cent drop into September – but vacancies are still 1.1 per cent lower than at [...]
Brazilians keep up retail growth November 13, 2012 Retail sales in Brazil rose for the fourth consecutive month in September, official data revealed yesterday, giving hopeful signs of modest recovery in South America’s biggest economy. Volumes of sales were up 0.3 per cent between August and September, the data from state statistics agency IBGE showed, following a 0.2 per cent rise into August [...]
Producer price rises slow down November 13, 2012 The output prices faced by UK manufacturers rose more slowly in October, data revealed yesterday, while input prices rose marginally after last month’s fall. Output prices increased just 0.1 per cent between September and October, down from the 0.5 per cent growth between August and September. Input prices increased by the same percentage, but this [...]
Lonmin urges support for its rights issue November 13, 2012 PLATINUM miner Lonmin has warned that it will be in a “highly vulnerable position” if its shareholders do not agree to the $817m (£514m) rights issue to shore up its balance sheet in the wake of industrial action at Marikana. Last week, Lonmin rejected several proposals from its largest shareholder Xstrata, which holds 25 per [...]
Persimmon positive on future growth despite tough market November 13, 2012 HOUSEBUILDER Persimmon yesterday warned that the housing market continues to be challenging with mortgage availability the key constraint, but it was optimistic of future growth. In a third quarter update, the group said weekly sales rates were around four per cent higher on the previous year, down slightly from the five per cent reported in [...]
Nanotech boosts Ox Instruments November 13, 2012 Industry technology firm Oxford Instruments yesterday reported adjusted pre-tax profit of £23.1m over the six months to September, up 23.5 per cent from the previous year. Revenue was up 7.4 per cent to £170.8m over the period, driven by a continued increase in global demand for nanotechnology tools. In this division – which represents 47 [...]
Salamander plugs Thai well November 13, 2012 Asia-focused Salamander Energy yesterday confirmed it had plugged and abandoned a well offshore the Gulf of Thailand, as it was deemed a sub-commercial discovery. The oil and gas exploration firm said a sand-rich section of the NW-1 well had led to a leakage, and Salamander said the well was not commercially viable. James Menzies, chief [...]
Revenue jumps at Lonrho November 13, 2012 Revenue at African conglomerate Lonrho jumped 14.4 per cent to £43.6m in the third quarter, up from £38m over the same period last year. Export demand from Europe was weaker over the period, but was offset by stronger volumes to the US, ASEAN and Chinese markets. The agribusiness division contributed 65 per cent of the [...]
Uptick in public sector activity boosts Capita November 13, 2012 BUSINESS processing outsourcing firm Capita said yesterday it had benefited from an uptick in outsourcing activity from local governments, as it said it saw a “buoyant” public sector this year. The group, which runs contracts ranging from civil service training schemes to disability assessments, said there was a “good flow of opportunities” from both public [...]
Analyst Views | Is Capita’s trading statement as positive as first thought? November 13, 2012 MIKE ALLEN PANMURE GORDON The third quarter trading statement from Capita confirms it is trading in line with expectations. The pipeline of opportunities going into 2013 looks busy, albeit this will be primarily driven by the public sector in our view. We maintain our forecasts and target price of 620p on the back of these [...]
