ISG improves in difficult market September 10, 2013 Building group ISG reported a doubling of profits yesterday on unchanged sales of £1.2bn for the year to the end of June. The company made profits of £2.5m in the first half of 2013, up from 2012’s £1.2m. “After a difficult year in Europe, with a strengthened management team and the benefit of the newly [...]
Online gambling boosts NetPlay September 10, 2013 Online gambling company NetPlay announced interim results yesterday showing an increase in profit for the first half of the year of £2.3m, compared to £1.6m in 2012. “Our investment in mobile and tablet continues to deliver positive results,” said NetPlay chief executive Charles Butler. Revenue for the company improved 36 per cent to £14.2m in [...]
Another vehicle recall for Toyota September 10, 2013 Toyota has announced the second recall of 780,584 cars in the US as fears of a suspension defect still linger around two of the company’s vehicle models. The car manufacturer originally recalled models of the RAV4 and Lexus HS in 2012, however in a letter to dealers yesterday the company said they had reports “indicating [...]
Banknotes turn plastic fantastic September 10, 2013 THE BANK of England has done a superb job of protecting sterling since governor Mark Carney took over in July, albeit somewhat inadvertently. The Canadian has seen a strengthening pound climb 3.3 per cent against the US dollar as pesky investors defy his assurance over super-loose policy. An opportune time for a shopping trip to [...]
All eyes turn to PM’s new specs September 10, 2013 FRESH from being roasted lobster red on a Cornwall beach, PM David Cameron made his next big fashion statement yesterday by donning a pair of glasses. Cameron, who was being grilled by MPs, said on Twitter he’d been wearing them since June but had only decided to unveil them publicly today. What a spectacle!
Advertising group joins Twitter’s growing flock September 10, 2013 TWITTER has bought the mobile advertising exchange MoPub in what is widely seen as another move towards its initial public offering (IPO) expected early next year. MoPub is a mobile-focused advertising exchange with a stated goal of “enabling the development of a new ads economy in mobile”. “The big issue for an IPO is if [...]
Ashmore bats away emerging market worries September 10, 2013 FUND manager Ashmore Group yesterday defied sceptics to deliver a solid set of full year results, despite fragile investment markets threatening to reduce the pot of money it manages. Ashmore, led by billionaire chief executive Mark Coombs, posted a 22 per cent rise in assets under management (AUM) to $77.4bn (£49.2bn) for the full year [...]
Manchester’s Arrow Global in £400m float September 10, 2013 DEBT management business Arrow Global yesterday unveiled plans to float on the London Stock Exchange in an IPO that could value the company in the region of £400m. The Manchester business typically buys up personal loans, credit card debt and outstanding mobile phone bills for as little as 10p in the pound. Arrow – one [...]
Europe getting even hungrier for McDonald’s September 10, 2013 FAST food giant McDonald’s yesterday reported a bigger-than-expected 1.9 per cent increase in global sales at established restaurants in August, after a revival in France helped drive solid results in Europe, its top market. Although the results from the world’s biggest fast-food chain soundly beat the average estimate of a 0.3 per cent increase from [...]
Snoozebox hopes to make beds for hospitals and local authorities September 10, 2013 PORTABLE hotel company Snoozebox hopes that a move into construction sites, hospitals and temporary housing will bed down the new management’s plans for growth. The company, which started life offering beds in shipping containers during motoring events, is hunting for new business after replacing its top team in April amid “serious financial and commercial issues”. [...]
