ENTREPRENEUR | OF THE YEAR September 21, 2011 DANIEL EK SPOTIFY The stand-out in an impressive field was Daniel Ek, the co-founder of online music business Spotify, which is redefining a business model. The company has been valued at $1bn and launched in the US in July. SHORTLIST Simon Calver, LoveFilm Nick Robertson, Asos Iain Dodsworth, Tweetdeck Michael Acton Smith, Mind Candy
THE TIPSTER September 4, 2011 TRADERS in oil explorer Rockhopper probably don’t know whether they’re coming or going. The share price of the AIM listed oil and gas exploration company, based in the United Kingdom with licences to explore for oil and gas in the North Falkland Basin, have rocketed from 35p all the way up to 550p and back [...]
Anchors away: get in the nautical mood for Cowes July 28, 2011 1. Ralph Lauren Laurel blazer, £125.50, johnlewis.com 2. Top Shop red button shorts, £35 3. Watercolour chain scarf in cream, John Lewis, £50, johnlewis.com 4. Aspinal nautical charm, £19, aspinaloflondon.com 5. Alexander McQueen double skull ring, £150, Matches, matchesfashion.com 6. BC Milkshake wedge deck shoes, £65, asos.com 7. Timney rope handle stripe tote bag, £65, houseoffraser.co.uk [...]
More shop chains winding up July 24, 2011 THE number of retail companies which plunged into administration in the second quarter of this year increased by eight per cent compared with same period last year, according to figures from Deloitte. A total of 43 were affected, with household names like Oddbins and Focus being hit by the downturn in consumer spending. Moben, Habitat [...]
Asos gets boost from overseas sales July 14, 2011 ONLINE fashion retailer Asos saw sales soar in the first quarter, but boss Nick Robertson dismissed speculation that the company was being seriously eyed as a takeover target. Asos, which targets young trendy customers, said its retail sales increased 69 per cent to £104.2m in the three months to 30 June. International sales soared 160 [...]
Asos in sales jump July 14, 2011 Online fashion firm ASOS posted a leap in first quarter sales and said it was confident about the outlook, showing there are still winners in the retail sector, even in straitened times. ASOS, which targets internet-savvy 16 to 34-year-old women looking to emulate the designer looks of celebrities such as Kate Moss, Sienna Miller and [...]
THE WEEK AHEAD in association with GFT July 10, 2011 COMPANIES ● Today, Michael Page International delivers its second quarter trading update. The company was formed in 1976 by Michael Page and Bill McGregor. ● On Wednesday, Sainsbury holds its AGM. On the same day Marks & Spencer will report. It will be hoping for not just ordinary results, but… ● Also on Wednesday, J [...]
RISING STAR OF THE YEAR | THE SHORTLIST DAY 2 June 20, 2011 LUCKILY for all of us the City is full of rising stars, people we all think will make it to the top. This year’s selection includes Sam Smith, who has been making waves as head of the small cap broker finnCap. We’ve chosen two high-flying lawyers, one investment analyst and a fast rising star from [...]
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR June 20, 2011 ENTREPRENEURSHIP has hogged the political limelight over the last year. David Cameron called on the nation’s “doers and grafters” to “roll up their sleeves” and fix our broken economy. The companies on our list have been pushing ahead, creating the jobs and wealth we desperately need. We are all the winners from their enterprise. We’ve [...]
Rewarding deductions at Baker Street June 15, 2011 FROM their offices in Baker Street, Richard Hallett and his colleagues at Hargreave Hale are successfully detecting the right companies to bring in considerable returns. Alongside Giles Hargreave, Hallett manages the Marlborough Leading Companies fund. Although he is concerned about the macroeconomic outlook – particularly in Europe – he sees plenty of companies that offer [...]