BT shares jump as consumer revenue grows for the first time in a decade May 8, 2014 BT shares have climbed over three per cent after the telecoms giant reported its first growth in consumer revenues for over ten years. The company enjoyed a rise in profit before tax of six per cent to £2.8bn for the year ended 31 March. The group benefitted from a healthy demand for fibre broadband. BT [...]
What you need to know before the open May 8, 2014 A higher open is expected for European markets, following yesterday’s bumpy trading. A more appeasing message from President Putin yesterday, urging Ukrainian separatists to postpone plans for a referendum, has helped buoy markets. On top of that, better than predicted trade data from China – although expectations were very low – has caused some optimism. [...]
London Report: Supermarkets’ results to show split in fortunes May 5, 2014 THE varying fortunes of the UK’s supermarkets will be revealed this week as Morrisons gives its quarterly results while Sainsbury’s announces full-year figures. Sainsbury’s annual results are forecast to show that underlying pre-tax profits rose 3.5 per cent to £782m. However investors will be anxious to see the company’s plans for the next year, especially [...]
Sky’s costs soar as battle with BT Sport weighs May 1, 2014 BSKYB’S battle with BT continued to take its toll on the pay-TV broadcaster during the nine months to March as profits tumbled 8.5 per cent to £910m amid higher advertising and programming costs. While the broadcaster added 74,000 new television customers during the three months to March, its total customer base grew by only 68,000, [...]
What you need to know before the open May 1, 2014 A flat open is expected this morning after a further taper from the Fed yesterday. Investors didn’t seem to focus too much on the weather-induced shock drop in first quarter growth in the US – to just 0.1 per cent, looking instead at the more confident Fed statement, strong ADP employment report and Chicago manufacturing [...]
BT extends free TV sport offering until 2015 for its 5m subscribers April 30, 2014 BT’S BROADBAND customers will get free BT Sport channels for another year after the company said it has no plans to charge over the next sporting season. The telecoms giant yesterday announced that its sports coverage, for which it has invested around £2bn on securing sporting rights, will continue to be free for new and [...]
City Moves for 29 April 2014 | Who’s switching jobs April 28, 2014 Interactive Investor The execution-only stockbroker has announced the appointment of Linda Summers as chief marketing officer. She was most recently at Skype, where she was director of product and partner marketing. Prior to that, Summers held roles at O2/Telefonica and BT. GLG Partners The investment management firm has appointed Andy Li as co-manager of its [...]
City Moves for 28 April 2014 | Who’s switching jobs April 28, 2014 Octopus Investments The fund management company has appointed Alex Miller as chief operating officer. He was most recently at Lloyds Bank, where he was director of strategy and operational performance. Prior to that, Miller held senior roles at BT Group and Orange UK. HSBC The bank has announced the appointment of Ian Stuart as head [...]
Spotlight on Financial Fair Play in Football: Uefa forced to defend FFP’s independence April 24, 2014 EUROPEAN football’s governing body Uefa was forced into a PR offensive yesterday after their president Michel Platini appeared to state that no clubs would be banned for breaking new financial fair play (FFP) rules. The suggestion raised significant questions about Uefa’s willingness to get tough on serious offenders, and what influence, if any, Platini might [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 16 April 2014 April 15, 2014 FINANCIAL TIMES Market troubles dent Moelis flotation Boutique investment bank Moelis raised $163m from its US initial public offering after last-minute investor concerns forced it to shrink the size of its share sale and cut the price of the deal below its expected range. The IPO is the latest to come under pressure on the [...]