Asset manager fears industry is losing focus October 22, 2012 THE ASSET management industry no longer looks after consumers, instead simply aiming to sell products, industry group the 300 Club argues in a paper published today. The influential group accuses the industry of failing to boost savers’ investments, lagging the market as a whole and failing to consider the core purpose of their business. “A [...]
Canada closes the door as Russia keeps playing the field October 22, 2012 CANADIAN politicians were in damage limitation mode yesterday, taking to the country’s airwaves to tell anyone who’d listen that The True North is open for business. Their protestations come in the wake of industry minister Christian Paradis’ last minute decision on Friday to block Malaysian state oil company Petronas’ bid for Progress Energy, a natural [...]
New derivatives rules may up banks’ capital commitment October 22, 2012 DERIVATIVES volatility is set to rise and dealing houses’ capital requirements may triple under new derivatives regulations, according to a report out today from Ernst & Young. Basel III introduces a credit valuation adjustment volatility charge which seeks to cover potential changes in the value of a firm’s value at risk, which the report warns [...]
Apple to reveal new iPad mini in crucial week October 22, 2012 APPLE is set for a test of investor confidence over the next week as chief executive Tim Cook gears up to announce a new version of the iPad just two days before the company releases its annual results. The Californian firm last week sent out invitations to a special event scheduled for tomorrow. It is [...]
Vodafone boosted by improved chance of payout from Verizon October 22, 2012 VODAFONE is a lot more confident of a healthy payout from the telecoms company’s stake in US mobile operator Verizon Wireless (VZW) after figures showed VZW to be in ruder health than expected. Thursday’s release of results from VZW majority owner Verizon Communications showed that VZW significantly outperformed the parent company. Sources say this raises [...]
PayPal founder close to Airbnb investment October 22, 2012 Peter Thiel, the PayPal co-founder and Facebook’s first outside investor, is close to investing roughly $150m (£93.7m) in Airbnb in a deal that would value the lodging rental start-up at about $2.5bn, according to people familiar with the matter. Details of the investment round, which has not yet closed, were first reported by the Wall [...]
AIM declines as market slump hits small firms October 22, 2012 THE ALTERNATIVE Investment Market (AIM) shrank last month, with more firms leaving the index than joining, according to analysis published today by Allenby Capital. Seven firms listed on the market in September, while 10 left, leaving the size of AIM at 1,106 at the end of the month. And only one of those companies left [...]
Hammerson to present revised proposals for Whitgift Centre October 22, 2012 HAMMERSON will this week reveal revised plans for the redevelopment of Croydon’s Whitgift Centre, stepping up its battle with rival Westfield over the highly-contested shopping mall. The developer will return to Croydon council’s strategic planning committee with amended proposals for the tired 1960s mall on Thursday before submitting a planning application in December. Westfield submitted [...]
Why investing in obesity is a safer bet than equity markets October 22, 2012 A FEW weeks ago I was interviewing Sarbjit Nahal, an equity strategist from BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research. Nahal had helped put together a new research report called Globesity – The Global Fight Against Obesity, which outlines the increasing efforts to tackle obesity as a new investment theme for fund managers. BofA Merrill Lynch think [...]
Canada blocks $5bn Petronas bid for Progress October 22, 2012 CANADA insisted over the weekend that it still invites foreign investment in natural resources despite its surprise rejection of a C$5.17bn (£3.25bn) takeover of Progress Energy Resources by Malaysia’s Petronas, a deal that had been expected to pass muster easily. The rejection late on Friday of the buyout of Progress, a natural gas producer, has [...]
