… but profit warnings are on the up too October 22, 2012 BRITISH firms issued 68 profit warnings between July and September, the worst third quarter since the peak of the financial crisis in 2008. One of the wettest summers on record contributed to the struggles of listed companies but most of the blame lies with the “underlying weakness of the UK and global economy”, a report [...]
Cameron faces backlash over Mitchell resignation October 22, 2012 DAVID Cameron yesterday faced continued criticism over his handling of Andrew Mitchell’s resignation, as divisions within the cabinet surfaced over the fate of the former chief whip. Home secretary Theresa May repeatedly declined to comment on claims that she had led senior colleagues in calling for Mitchell to go. “I’m not going to talk about [...]
We need to do more to encourage firms to spend in the UK October 22, 2012 THIS is the week Britain will finally exit its double-dip recession – or at least, so we must all hope. Barring the most extraordinary upset in the history of British economic forecasting, figures out on Thursday will show that the economy grew at least a little during the third quarter, making up some of the [...]
Spanish voters support Rajoy in home region October 22, 2012 SPANISH Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy last night secured backing for his austerity drive in a vote in his home region of Galicia, but a clear win for nationalist parties in the Basque Country could soon prove a headache for the central government. According to exit polls, Spain’s ruling centre-right People’s Party was set to retain [...]
What the other papers say this morning October 22, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES Lloyds eyes banker bonus shake-up Lloyds Banking Group is examining whether to ditch the concept of annual bonuses for senior staff and extend the timeframe of longer-term incentives to up to 10 years, according to people briefed on a project to overhaul remuneration. Xstrata unfairly disparaged says boss The board of Xstrata has [...]
Merkel backs Ireland on bank deal October 22, 2012 German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny issued a joint statement yesterday reaffirming that Eurozone leaders would examine ways of improving Ireland’s bank rescue and recognising that it is a “special case”. The news will come as a boost for Kenny, who has come under pressure since Merkel said on Friday that [...]
Law firms shun private equity October 22, 2012 British law firms are unlikely to sell to private equity investors, a survey said today, dealing a blow to the buyout firms that are searching for deals in the sector. Some 77 per cent of law firms polled by legal publisher Thomson Reuters Sweet & Maxwell said they do not think private equity is an [...]
Beirut funeral leads to violence October 22, 2012 The state funeral in Beirut of an assassinated Lebanese intelligence chief, Brigadier General Wissam al- Hassan, ended in violence yesterday as angry mourners broke away and tried to storm the offices of Prime Minister Najib Mikati, prompting security forces to shoot in the air and fire tear gas to repulse them. The clashes fed into [...]
Nationwide is mulling its first bank purchase October 22, 2012 THE NATIONWIDE building society is considering buying the 316 RBS branches which are up for sale, joining a small field of potential investors. The building society has expanded by merging with other mutuals over the years – but it is not thought that a building society has ever before acquired a bank, or such a [...]
Banks struggling to cope with volume of PPI misselling claims October 22, 2012 CONTRACTORS hired by banks to process PPI claims are having trouble attracting and keeping staff, according to research published today. Annual staff turnover has reached more than 50 per cent at the outsourced contractors, financial services recruiter BrightPool said, as there are few staff available who are competent at processing claims and can cope with [...]
