Diamond backs new venture with own cash December 17, 2013 BOB DIAMOND’S latest venture raised $325m (£200m) from investors yesterday, around $100m more than initially expected. The former Barclays boss has stumped up $16m of his own cash, invested through a company he owns, to set up Atlas Mara. He has joined forces with African billionaire Ashish Thakkar, who has also provided $4m of funding. [...]
Debenhams demands a little help from its suppliers (again) December 17, 2013 SUPPLIERS to Debenhams got a nasty shock yesterday when the retail giant wrote to them asking for a contribution to the group’s recent investment programme. It’s not the first time they have been asked for extra support. Earlier this year they were asked to extend payment terms from 90 to 120 days. In the latest [...]
Best of the Brokers for 18 December 2013 December 17, 2013 To appear in Best of the Brokers, email your research to notes@cityam.com ASOS Panmure Gordon has downgraded the online fashion store from a buy to a hold rating,but as increased its target price from 5,950p to 6,126p. After a 124 per cent rise in the share price this year, Panmure thinks this momentum is unsustainable, [...]
Standard Chartered would do better being more upfront December 16, 2013 BEFORE and during the financial crisis, which rocked so many banks to their foundations, Standard Chartered could seemingly do nothing wrong. While their rivals dodged in and around write-downs, rescue rights issues and increased impairment charges, the stock of both chief executive Peter Sands and his ebullient finance director Richard Meddings rose sky-high. So highly [...]
City Moves for 17 December 2013 | Who’s switching jobs December 16, 2013 Conning Asset Management The investment management company has appointed Ben Hamilton as a portfolio manager in its London team. He was previously an assistant investment manager and research analyst for fixed income and multi-asset funds at Premier Asset Management. State Street Global Advisors State Street’s asset management business has appointed Mark Fortier as managing director, [...]
Best of the Brokers for 16 December 2013 December 15, 2013 To appear in Best of the Brokers, email your research to notes@cityam.com BARCLAYS Numis has raised the bank’s rating to “hold” with a 274p target price. The analyst said the forecast reductions reflect potentially weak fourth quarter revenue from fixed income and currencies as well as deleveraging, but some of the uncertainty has already been [...]
London Week Ahead: UK’s Christmas gift of boost to GDP and jobs December 15, 2013 FURTHER evidence that the recovery is gaining traction is expected this week with inflation figures and the release of the employment rate, which may top 30m for the first time ever. While the inflation rate, measured by the consumer prices index (CPI), is forecast to remain at 2.2 per cent – the lowest since September [...]
Victory for the City as EU backs down on banker bonuses December 13, 2013 The European Banking Authority has revised its position on capping banker bonuses. Bankers earning over €500,000 (£420,000) a year could be exempted from the cap if they are deemed not be major risk takers. Institutions will need to seek the permission of the EBA to exempt staff members from the cap. The original restriction sought [...]
Inside Track: Bank of America Merrill Lynch closes 2013 with a flurry December 12, 2013 THE timing appeared so impeccable, you almost felt it must have been staged. Just as Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s head of equity capital markets was running through a presentation on how the bank has gained market share over the year, one of the mobiles on the desk in front of him rang. With that [...]
As Barclays backs out of bike deal, here are 4 ways TfL can attract greater sponsorship December 11, 2013 In the wake of the announcement that Barclays will not renew its sponsorship of the London bike hire scheme, here are four ways that Transport for London (TfL) could attract greater commercial investment. 1. TfL should be more active in seeking sponsorship In a report for GLA Conservatives, Gareth Bacon suggested TfL should be more [...]