An unwanted hotel surprise in Kyrgyzstan hotel room November 21, 2012 Anot-so-jolly work jolly for an intrepid pair from City financial services firm Merchant Securities, who jetted off to Central Asia recently. Chris Theis, head of international sales and research at Merchant Securities, and his mining analyst colleague Kurt Burge, recently returned to British soil (no doubt kissing the ground at Heathrow when they landed) after [...]
Fifty Shades of Lloyd’s – Former insurance broker’s debut novel November 21, 2012 AN interesting piece of literature arrived on The Capitalist’s desk yesterday morning. A self-published novel from former Lloyd’s broker Victoria Neville. Thursday Nights, Monday Mornings promises tales from the “shambolic playground of the London insurance market”. Delving into the pages to see protagonists with names such as Sarah “Shagger” Smith it appears to be an [...]
Halfords profit drops despite high bike sales November 21, 2012 STRONG bike sales following the summer of sport failed to make up for the wet weather at the beginning of the year, as Halfords yesterday reported that profits dropped by 23 per cent in its half year results. The bicycle to car-parts retailer said it made pre-tax profits of £42.4m for the six months to [...]
JD Sports sprints ahead but its fashion arm runs out of breath November 21, 2012 JD SPORTS, the sportswear and fashion retailer, yesterday posted a rise in sales despite a steep drop in trading at its fashion division. The retailer said like-for-like sales in the UK rose 1.5 per cent in the 16 weeks to 17 November. But while sales at its sports stores, which include JD and Size?, rose [...]
Autumn chill helps French Connection to reverse recent decline November 21, 2012 THE ONSET of Autumn has helped the struggling fashion retailer French Connection post an uptick in trading in the third quarter of the year, as shoppers stocked up on coats and knitwear. The company, which has issued three profit warnings within the last 18 months, said like-for-like sales at its UK and European retail business [...]
New image reveals London skyline after Nine Elms makeover November 21, 2012 THE BATTERSEA Power Station and the new US embassy are just two elements in a huge regeneration plan set to transform a vast stretch of the River Thames between Battersea Park and Lambeth Bridge. The Nine Elms Opportunity Area, which straddles the boroughs of Lambeth and Wandsworth has been coined “The New South Bank” and [...]
Why is Citi backing our appeal? November 21, 2012 THE CAPITALIST asks Bob Annibale, Citi’s global director of microfinance, why the bank is supporting the City A.M. Christmas Appeal this year. Citi has been supporting Opportunity International since 1994. The Citi Foundation and Opportunity’s missions were then, and continue to be, well aligned, with both organisations supporting the economic empowerment and financial inclusion of [...]
BDO’s global ambitions help revenues soar November 21, 2012 MID-TIER accountancy group BDO’s ambitions in Asia appear to be paying off, with the firm posting 14 per cent annual revenue growth across its global businesses, propelled by expansion in the region. BDO, the sixth-biggest accountant in the UK and fifth-largest worldwide, said revenues across all of its member firms increased 14 per cent to [...]
Signia Wealth swoops on rival to hire right hand man to founder November 21, 2012 SIGNIA Wealth, the wealth management group, has hired Rupert Robinson, former chief executive of Schroders UK Private Bank, to be the right hand man to founder Nathalie Dauriac-Stoebe, according to industry sources. Robinson, whose impending hire is being viewed as Signia’s most senior appointment to date, will be based in the group’s London office, where [...]
Intermediate Capital hit by impairments November 21, 2012 INTERMEDIATE Capital Group (ICG) profits have slumped due to impairments and a lethargic investment market, but the specialist financier has still managed to attract €2.3bn (£1.8bn) to its latest fund. ICG said pre-tax profits for the six months to the end of September fell 64 per cent to £39.6m, after it booked impairments of £64.8m [...]
