What caused the 2008 financial crisis? Not short selling, it turns out August 8, 2014 It has been asserted that the 2008 financial crisis was precipitated, at least in part, by too many traders using naked short sales to make a profit. According to economist Veljko Fotak from the University at Buffalo School of Management in the US, a number of financial institutions blamed this activity when they had to [...]
How London’s stockbrokers went to war – and conflict came to the City August 6, 2014 KEEP your heads. There is no need for panic. Try and go on in the ordinary way.” These were the words of the lord mayor of London, Sir Thomas Vansittart Bowater, to citizens on the outbreak of war in 1914. For all the lord mayor’s words of encouragement, life did not go on in the [...]
P&G share price rises after plans to cut 100 brands revealed August 1, 2014 Procter and Gamble, the world's largest consumer goods company, is looking to cut up to 100 of its smaller brands. The maker of Tide detergent and Gilette razors will focus on the 70 or 80 brands responsible for 90 per cent of the company's sales and 95 per cent of its profits. Of those [...]
Manchester United share price rises as club looks set to pocket £88m July 31, 2014 The Glazer family is set to sell five per cent of Manchester United. In news that will delight the suits in the Old Trafford boardrooms and be met with indifference in the stands, it was announced yesterday that the American owners of the Premier League club could raise up to $150m (£88.7m) by the [...]
Manchester United share price rise could see the club generate more revenue than four season’s worth of player sales July 31, 2014 The Glazer family is set to sell 5% of Manchester United. In news that will delight the suits in the boardrooms of Old Trafford and be met with indifference in the stands, it was announced yesterday that the American owners of the Premier League club could raise up to $150m (£88.7m) by the sale [...]
American Express profits rise as customers won’t leave home without it July 29, 2014 Credit card giant American Express yesterday reported a bigger-than-expected nine per cent rise in quarterly profit as more customers used its credit cards in a recovering US economy. Card member spending rose nine per cent globally, after adjusting for foreign currency, compared to seven per cent growth in the preceding quarter and eight per cent [...]
Recovering markets in Europe drive rise in international floats July 27, 2014 CROSS-border flotations raised $25.7bn (£15.1bn) in the first half of 2014, up 151 per cent on the year, law firm Baker McKenzie said today. The fastest growth came in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) where 31 flotations brought in $10.5bn, up 300 per cent on the year. Of those flotations, 21 were on [...]
Leaner Nokia sees share price rise as it beats market expectations July 24, 2014 Nokia has surprised the market by posting better than expected second quarter results, just days after announcing half of its staff would lose their jobs. The Finnish company was recently bought by Microsoft, who announced plans to cut half of the staff from Nokia's mobile phone division. Investors were impressed by a leaner operation, shown by [...]
Coca-Cola share price slides as profits miss expectations July 22, 2014 Coca-Cola saw its shares slide as much as 4.2 per cent in early trading this afternoon after its second quarter results showed profits were down on last year. Profits fell to 58 cents a share from 59 cents a year earlier, a drop from $2.67bn to $2.59bn. Revenue was also down, falling one per cent [...]
Manchester United drop to third in Forbes’ world’s most valuable sports teams list July 18, 2014 They may be signing up sponsors like they're going out of fashion this week, but Manchester United have dropped one place to third in the annual Forbes list of the world's most valuable sports teams. The Premier League club have endured their worst season for over two decades, finishing seventh and missing out on a [...]