BEST OF THE BROKERS September 1, 2009 BAE SYSTEMSBank of America Merrill Lynch rates BAE Systems a “buy” saying that the firm has three key areas which will support its long-term growth above the US and UK defence spending rate. The broker saw long-term value in the shares, but also potential further earnings downgrades. It reduced its price objective for the stock [...]
Bank applicants dropped September 1, 2009 The country’s leading banks are dropping around nine per cent of applicants for top management positions for fear the regulator will reject them and publicly damage reputations, a llaw firm said yesterday. Calling for a confidential appeals process, law firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain said 12 candidates for senior jobs in top financial firms saw their [...]
Military warn on budget cuts September 1, 2009 Budget cuts could damage Britain’s armed forces and investing in the defence industry could help lead Britain out of recession, leading figures from the UK’s armaments sector said yesterday. “The defence industry requires support and leadership from political leaders and we are looking for future governments to take that forward,” Ian King, chief executive of [...]
UK heads for power shortage September 1, 2009 The UK could face widespread power shortages within eight years due to the country’s switch to cleaner energy generation, according to forecasts contained in a government report. The closure of coal- and gas-fired power stations and the wait for nuclear plants to be built will both hit power supplies, the report said. The UK has [...]
Apple’s store on Regent St bears fruit September 1, 2009 APPLE’S flagship store in London is so successful that it rakes in more than double the amount of cash per square foot than most of its rivals. The Regent Street store took £60m for the year ending September 2008, giving it a sales density of £2,000 per square foot. In comparison, the average Currys store [...]
CIT to defer interest payout on notes as it fights to escape bankruptcy filing September 1, 2009 FLOUNDERING US bank CIT has said that it will not be able to make a 15 September interest payment on a tranche of 2067 notes. The bank said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that it could not find an alternative method of payment, meaning that it would have to “mandatorily [...]
Rosneft’s profits tumble but margins beat rival September 1, 2009 RUSSIA’S largest oil producer Rosneft yesterday reported net profits of $1.61bn (£1bn) for the second quarter of 2009, missing the average $1.72bn forecast in a poll of analysts. The company said the drop in net income, from $4.31bn a year ago and $2.06bn in the first quarter, was mainly due to the effective income tax [...]
AIGshares dive on bearish note as new chief exec apologises for angry remarks September 1, 2009 AILING US insurer AIG saw its shares plummet by over 20 per cent yesterday after a scathing analyst note, as new chief executive Robert Benmosche issued a humiliating apology for criticisms of the New York attorney general. The bailed-out firm saw its shares fall from $45.3 to just $36 in a few hours’ trading yesterday, [...]
Buyout firms circle Citi’s $1bn Tokyo call centre September 1, 2009 SEVERAL private equity firms are circling Citigroup after it announced its intention to sell off a Japanese call centre. Major buyout firms Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), Permira, Blackstone and Bain Capital are all understood to be interested in buying the centre, which is valued at up to $1bn (£620m). Sources familiar with the situation said [...]
Stanford forces Antigua change September 1, 2009 Antigua and Barbuda has appointed an experienced banker to head the tiny Caribbean nation’s financial regulatory body, replacing Leroy King, who is under house arrest facing US charges of abetting accused swindler Allen Stanford. A government statement said John Benjamin, a banker with more than 40 years of experience, will become administrator and chief executive [...]
