French prices slip as German prices are flat October 11, 2012 FRANCE experienced mild deflation in September, according to data out yesterday, while prices were completely flat in Germany, and edged up in Spain. Consumer prices sagged 0.3 per cent in France last month, data from official statistics body INSEE revealed, but even after this fall they were 1.9 per cent higher than September last year. This fall [...]
German think tanks dampen the country’s growth outlook October 11, 2012 GERMANY’S leading economic institutes have cut their growth forecasts for Europe’s largest economy to 0.8 per cent this year and to one per cent in 2013, the business daily Handelsblatt said yesterday. These figures compare with the institutes’ previous spring forecasts of 0.9 per cent growth for 2012 and two per cent for 2013. The [...]
BBA’s Browne set to face MPs October 11, 2012 THE NEW head of the British Bankers’ Association will tell MPs next week what the industry body thinks of new powers set to be handed to the Bank of England. A new committee within the Bank could soon be able to impose capital rules for lenders and set charges to dampen lending in overheated parts [...]
WH Smith boss Kate Swann to leave retailer October 11, 2012 WH Smith yesterday announced Kate Swann is to step down as chief executive next year after heading the retailer for almost a decade. Swann will hand over the reins to Steve Clarke, managing director of the group’s high street division, next July after overseeing its crucial Christmas period and ensuring “a smooth transition” of the [...]
Swann leaves WH Smith with a vision but no visionary October 11, 2012 UNDER its list of principal risks and uncertainties, yesterday’s WH Smith preliminary results included “reliance on key personnel”. The market agreed: despite a 10 per cent increase in profit before tax and a full-year dividend up 20 per cent, shares dropped sharply on the accompanying news that long-serving chief executive Kate Swann will step down [...]
Greggs warns of continuing sales decline October 11, 2012 GREGGS warned yesterday that sales will continue to fall for the rest of the year as cash-strapped customers cut back further on their visits to the group’s bakery stores along with the dampening effect of poor weather conditions. The UK’s largest bakery chain posted 2.6 per cent fall in like-for-like sales in the 14 weeks [...]
Treasury MP aims to see tech firms before committee next year October 11, 2012 TECHNOLOGY bosses are set to face Treasury MPs early next year, with parliamentary support over calls for US firms to pay more taxes in the UK broadening, Treasury Select Committee John Mann said yesterday. Labour MP Mann told City A.M. yesterday that politicians from all parties are keen to introduce measures designed to cut down [...]
AFC Energy gets lift as Roman Abramovich invests almost £9m October 11, 2012 AN industrial fuel cell firm that counts a Tory MP as its chairman received a boost to its coffers – and its shares – yesterday, after an fund led by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich invested almost £9m. Aim-listed AFC Energy said yesterday that Ervington Investments was pouring £8.7m into the firm, a move it said would [...]
Clegg backs tough rules on payments October 11, 2012 BRITAIN will support tough legislation for energy, mining and forestry companies to declare payments made to governments for extracting natural resources – strengthening prospects Europe will adopt rules at least as rigorous as those in the United States. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said yesterday the coalition supports strict new rules as a way to [...]
City Views | Does the direct line float show public appetite for buying shares? October 11, 2012 NEIL CONNOLEY MORGAN STANLEY Floating is all well and good, but until we know where the economic climate is going the markets are still anyone’s game. Floating one firm isn’t a good guide really. JITAN KUNDALIA IBOS SOLUTIONS A successful and sizeable IPO for a company essentially owned by the taxpayers has to be a [...]
