Iceland eyes bond issue May 31, 2011 ICELAND is planning to meet investors this month about a possible Eurobond, one of the lead managers said yesterday, as the country prepares its first international sale of bonds since its economic meltdown. Iceland, which is recovering from its worst-ever downturn following the collapse of its top banks, has planned investor meetings for June 1-8 [...]
Serco jumps on Indian buy May 31, 2011 SERCO shares were among the top risers in the FTSE 100 yesterday after the outsourcing giant bought Indian back-office company Intelenet for £385m. Serco, which has been gunning for more work overseas, said it expects the business process outsourcing (BPO) marketplace to grow up to 15 per cent a year to reach $291bn (£177bn) globally [...]
Aldermore says loans to SMEs have risen 75pc May 31, 2011 BRITISH bank Aldermore said its loan book to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) was up 75 per cent to £469m at the end of the first-quarter. “Aldermore is continuing to lend at record levels to small businesses – our outstanding loan book to SMEs has increased 75 per cent over the last year – but [...]
Aldermore loan book up 75pc May 31, 2011 Finacial services company Aldermore said its loan book to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) was up 75 per cent to £469m at the end of the first quarter. “Aldermore is continuing to lend at record levels to small businesses – our outstanding loan book to SMEs has increased 75 per cent over the last year [...]
Travel firms to target organic growth in 2012 May 30, 2011 THE UK travel industry expects no further growth for this year but has so far shied away from mergers as a way to weather the rocky market. Over half of travel agencies, airlines and cruise companies expect to see no growth in passenger numbers this year, claims research by Barclays Corporate today, while a further [...]
BARCLAYS MAKES HAY AS THE PLOT THICKENS May 30, 2011 THE PLOT thickens at the Hay Festival, with news that Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall will be making an appearance today at the famous literary event. But Camilla isn’t the only surprise addition to the programme at the Hay-on-Wye books festival. Next Saturday, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange will make a rare public appearance when he gives [...]
Barca aren’t only ones with stars May 26, 2011 Champions League winner with Man Utd says Catalans aren’t in league of their own IHAVE to laugh when I hear people dismissing this Manchester United team as the weakest title-winning group Sir Alex Ferguson has built. There is no such thing as weak Premier League champions and to my mind this is the most underrated [...]
Carnwath gives up senior role after decade May 26, 2011 ALISON Carnwath yesterday announced she was standing down as Man Group’s senior independent director after 10 years in the role. She will be replaced by Patrick O’Sullivan. Carnwath, who is also a director of Barclays and chairman of Land Securities, is staying on the board at Man. Under best practice in corporate governance, directors that [...]
Italian business morale takes a dip May 26, 2011 Italian business confidence sank by more than expected this month, according to data from the ISTAT office released yesterday. The index measured 101.3 in May, from a downwardly revised 102.6 in April. “It is important for Italy that foreign orders stay on an upward trajectory,” said Fabio Fois of Barclays Capital. “The economic recovery has [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS May 26, 2011 JP Morgan Asset Management Professor Paul Sweeting has been appointed as European head of the Strategic Investment Advisory Group for JP Morgan Asset Management. Based in London, Sweeting will advise the firm’s European institutional clients on asset allocation, risk management and investment strategies. Sweeting previously held positions at Munich Reinsurance Company and Fidelity Investments International. [...]