Investors happy as mining giant BHP cuts capex February 24, 2015 SHARES in miner BHP Billiton were up by 6.24 per cent yesterday after the Australian firm revealed it had slashed capital expenditure (capex) for 2015 to $12.6bn (£8.2bn). The company reported capex of $16bn in the year ended June 2014. However, in the six months to December 2014, it paid out just $6.4bn, down 23 [...]
Greece and miners’ rally help London surge to record high – London Report February 24, 2015 Britain’s top equity index yesterday hit a record high as a rally in mining companies helped the three-decade-old blue chip index to surpass its previous high, set in late 1999. Reports that Greece had secured a lifeline from its creditors and increasing belief that the UK’s economic recovery was gaining momentum also helped the index [...]
FTSE 100 closes at record high February 24, 2015 Having smashed its closing record earlier this week, the FTSE closed at a record high, finishing at 6,949.6 points. Earlier, it had breezed past its intraday record of 6,950 topping 6,957 in late afternoon trading. The index passed its 1999 closing record of 6,930.2 yesterday, gaining more than 20 points today after decision-makers in Brussels [...]
GDP and consumer confidence rises reflect UK growth – London Report February 22, 2015 GDP growth is this week likely to be confirmed at 0.5 per cent quarter-on-quarter for the final three months of 2014. That growth is likely to be reflected further on Friday with consumer confidence for February at a 12-year high. The corporate week starts today with reports from Associated British Foods, Bovis Homes, HSBC and [...]
Car review: The new Porsche Cayenne GTS is a two-tonne ballerina on ice February 16, 2015 Ice, snow and a 434bhp, 163mph SUV might seem like a combination best suited to a disaster movie, but this is no ordinary SUV. Porsche has brought its latest Cayenne in GTS form to its winter driving centre in Skellefteå, northern Sweden, even though in the UK it’s more likely to experience a nice heated [...]
Energy, oil and Sky’s football bill hurt FTSE – London Report February 11, 2015 THE UK and Gas index fell 0.6 per cent after crude dropped 2.3 per cent on expectations of persistent oversupply, a stronger dollar and a report showing US crude stockpiles at a record high yesterday. Meanwhile the main index was dragged lower by energy company movements as well as the fallout from Sky bidding for [...]
Car review: The BMW X6 M is a sledgehammer on stilts February 9, 2015 There’s no point wisecracking about BMW’s coupe-like X6 SUV – BMW has heard all the jokes. And while you might find this “lifestyle” proposition a 4×4 too far, its German maker is happy to have the last laugh; the X6 sells well, just not in traditional 4×4 markets. You’ll need to look further afield to [...]
FTSE creeps higher as miners dig deep after price recovery – London Report January 28, 2015 BRITAIN’S top share index edged slightly higher yesterday, with miners gaining ground following a recovery in prices of key industrial metals such as copper and aluminium. The blue chip FTSE 100 index, which climbed to its highest level since mid-September on Tuesday, closed 0.2 per cent higher at 6,825.94 points. The UK mining index rose [...]
Car review: Why the Mercedes-Maybach S600 is far more than a car January 26, 2015 Luxury is a word bandied around for just about every new car launch these days. Mercedes is the real deal. When is a car not a car? The primary purpose of the humble automobile is to mobilise people; to allow them to transport themselves to their destinations. But some cars leave that idea so far [...]